If you think that a list of cruise ship lines -- which you can get at your local library -- is worth $13.00, then by all means buy this book. Otherwise, save your money.
If I had turned out a piece of work this flimsy and full of technical errors, I wouldn't admit, as Mr. Marin has, to having a Ph.D. Maybe he had a better proof reader for his Ph.D thesis than he did for this book.
Although he has attempted to provide useful information, most of what he supplies is available elsewhere. I can only hope that Mr. Marin's music-making is more satisfying than his writing.
For me, this book did not open the gates of mystery to helping me envision life on board a cruise ship, although it did address it. It also did not really tell me how I should apply for the jobs, how I should prepare myself for such a job, what are the secrets to getting a job.
It tried to cover all the information in a few short pages. Overall the information was too general. The only subset of employees it addresses with any depth is entertainers - especially musicians.
An overview of the chapters: 1- "Working on a cruise ship" briefly addresses some particulars of the cruise ship industry, such as what flag they fly under and why. 2- "Who's Who on Board the Ship" A short paragraph describing most job titles, from "Captain" to "Snorkling Instructor" to "Radio Officer" to "Youth Counselor". 3- "Show Biz on the High Seas" - The chapter that would have made this book useful to me if I were a musician. Tells you about life as an entertainer on a cruise ship and how to apply. 4- "Entertainment Agencies" addresses 5- "Concessions" some addresses for beauty salon & fitness, boutique & gift shop, photography, casino, lecturers, scuba & snorkeling, bridge instructor, and gentleman host workers. 6- "Cruise line directory" Addresses of most if not all cruise lines, including some specific instructions for applying for certain jobs. 7- "Life on Board" answers basic questions like "will I have to share a cabin?" and "Can I receive mail?"