Douglas Ward

Douglas Ward has been sailing aboard ocean-going cruise ships since 1965. Since 1985 he has been the author of the annual BERLITZ Cruising and Cruise Ships – the world’s most authoritative cruise guidebook – and BERLITZ River Cruising in Europe, first published in 2014.
His travels have taken him to over 1.800 ports around the world, and he spent a total of 17 years working at sea (partly as shore excursion manager for a cruise company). "I've learned about the cruise industry (and ports around the world) from the inside out," says Ward who studied the construction and operation of cruise ships.

A veteran of over 6.060 days at sea and more than 1.060 cruises (including 158 transatlantic crossings), he is considered the world's foremost independent authority on cruising and cruise ships and an industry icon.

He is typically "at sea" or in cruise industry meetings, gives speeches and presentations for up to 200 days each year and continually promotes better standards within the industry, including facilities for disabled passengers.