Cudahy (an independent scholar with a PhD in philosophy and a passion for transportation) looks at the early days of the cruise ship industry and discusses contemporary cruise ship design, cruise markets, and the evolution of the burgeoning, recreation-oriented business. Coverage also includes the challenges of managing cruise lines and regulations governing the industry. A detailed appendix presents an instant history of the major cruise line ships, including notes on specifications, builders, registry, and passenger capacity. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.