Ocean liners Crossing and cruising the seven seas

Zimmermann adds to his tally of books on modern and steam-driven ships and trains with this useful if superficial overview of the development of passenger ocean liners and cruise ships. After opening with the debatable claim that these ships are the largest objects in the world that move, he traces the 19th-century growth of the Atlantic Ferry, a collection of ships that carried millions of vacationers and immigrants over the seas before being transformed into the still-booming cruise-ship industry in response to the arrival of the passenger airplane. As Zimmermann's focus largely sticks to the ships' public areas and the many color photos resemble commercial shots of hulls and luxurious interiors, true ship fans looking for a behind-the-scenes tour will be disappointed. Still, younger readers wondering what the fuss over luxury cruises is all about or those with such a trip in their future will come away impressed with the magnificence of these floating hotels.--Peters, John Copyright 2008 Booklist