Faced with graduating college without a clue of what to do next, Micha Berman decides that he wants to be just like Cruise Director Julie McCoy of “The Love Boat.” This petite tome takes us from his over-the-top job hunt through his adventures as an assistant cruise director for Carnival Cruise Lines.

Although Berman covers such potentially exciting topics as exotic Caribbean ports of call, onboard romance, rescues at sea and wacky ship activities, he fails to go far enough in depth to truly draw the reader in. Berman breaks the key rule of show, don’t tell, and thus what could have stood as an intimate journal reads more like a day planner.

Characters are wooden, themes are reinforced to the point of redundancy and bodily functions are described with alarming detail, for no apparent reason. Where was a good editor when Berman needed one?

This work will be of use primarily to those who take an avid interest in the cruising profession, but they should expect simply one person’s viewpoint, without delving into the industry at large. Others may find Permanent Passenger too brief and self-indulgent to follow from cover to cover.

Grade: C

Permanent Passenger: My Life on a Cruise Ship is currently available.