Wednesday, September 19, 2007

From the Monday night in Miami department:

Bob Dickinson and Andy Vladimir recently updated their 11-year-old book, "Selling the Sea: An Inside Look at the Cruise Industry," and Monday night they did a book signing at Books & Books in Coral Gables (FL). They also answered questions from the dozens of people (the same number who watch "30 Rock") who turned out.

Bob Dickinson (right) is the retiring former president of Carnival Cruise Lines, and Andy Vladimir is an associate professor emeritus of marketing and management (left) at Florida International University. Here they sign a copy of their book for Pamela Brown of Miami Lakes.

If you read the original book, this is a complete update. In either case, it's a fascinating look at the cruise industry, and a must-read especially for those with an interest in the industry. At $40 for the 340-page soft-cover book, it's pricey, but there's definitely good value for the dollar - and it's cheaper than a cruise. (It was just pointed out to me that the price has recently been reduced at several online sellers. At Amazon, the current price is $26.40 and $23.76 at Buy.com.)