My wife and I want to go on a cruise for our 40th wedding anniversary. Is there anywhere I can get non-biased advice on different cruise ships? I have a lot of glossy brochures, but can¹t seem to find anywhere to find impartial information on what the ships are actually like. Bill Merrydew, London

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: You should get hold of a copy of the Berlitz Guide to Cruising (£16.99). It's been going since 1985, is updated annually, and compiled by the Douglas Ward, a man who has quite an eye for detail and has been cruising for 40 years.

There is useful information for first time cruisers, and old hands alike, but in the second part of the guide, 270 vessels are individually reviewed.

From a fact box on each, you can find out the facts like when it was built, if it has a casino, or library, and how many cabins, passengers, and staff.

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Then there are the very detailed reviews of the ship in general, the cabins, cuisine, entertainment, and spa/fitness facilities. It's thoroughly researched alright ­ where else could you discover that the Fred Olsen Cruise Line's Black Prince has "an ironing room provided ­ another useful addition for the ship's mainly British passengers"; that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Bremen has a library in which there are 12 bookcases, but most of the books are in German; and that three times around the Princess Cruises Grand Princess teakwood promenade deck is equal to a mile?

Though not in the same league, there are short reviews of some ships at www.cruiseshipguide.com, and some good general information at www.cruise.co.uk, www.cruisecritic.co.uk, and www.discover-cruises.co.uk.

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