An indispensable guide for cruising enthusiasts.
A boating magazine editor/marine journalist takes the guesswork out of private yacht charter vacations one knot at a time.
Kavin is no advocate of large commercial cruise ship vacations, especially after juxtaposing them to her field of expertise–chartered yacht voyages. Quick to acknowledge that private yacht charters seem daunting and a luxury solely intended for the "ultra-rich,” Kavin tidily dispels that impression with a comprehensive presentation of the manageable and affordable side of this distinct industry. The benefits of private charter rentals, she explains, are numerous. At-sea vacationers can receive the personalized attention of a ship captain and eat delicious food prepared by an onboard chef while venturing to secluded harbor destinations larger commercial vessels have failed to access, like remote destination Anegada in the Virgin Islands, all while enjoying the independence of self-directed expeditions. Kavin discusses the industry’s inception some 50 years ago then contrasts “bareboating,” setting off with a scant onboard team, to the more contemporary fully crewed yacht management and brokerage businesses. Leaving no detail unexplored, Kavin’s exuberance is palpable and with her 10 years experience in the business, sailing locally as well as internationally, she makes a confident tour guide through yachting vacations for every taste and budget. Charts, diagrams and illustrations provide the basics of boat styles and accommodations, preparing readers for more intensive chapters detailing destination hot spots, pricing comparisons and charter party troubleshooting. Kavin includes several sample itineraries plotting out weeklong excursions in time-tested favorites like the Caribbean and New England to more far-flung destinations like Alaska and the North African coast. The concluding section names reputable charter companies, booking agents and resources galore for those anxious to take the plunge. Without a doubt, Kavin is the ultimate layperson’s liaison to the yachting charter business.
An indispensable guide for cruising enthusiasts.Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-58348-984-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: iUniverse Star
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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