Like backpacking and budget travel guides, Cruising Guides can provide the crucial information that means the difference between a great cruise and a difficult one. Having a book written by someone who's been where you're going can greatly reduce the stress and increase the enjoyment of a voyage in unfamiliar waters. Typically these guides are not produced as high gloss books, but focus on delivering inside tips that won't be available from any other source. They can greatly enhance your navigation with hand-drawn charts of anchorages, notes on water depth in poorly charted areas, or tips on the anchoring ground and the protection against prevailing winds In addition, they divulge information about restaurants, points of interest and the quality of fishing, snorkeling and diving We have noticed mosquito warnings in cruising guides of the western Caribbean, a piece of information that is not directly related to navigation, but could make the difference between a pleasant or miserable night at anchor