Everything you need to know before you buy — or before you board.
A Gangway Guide is a no-fluff cruise port companion eBook built for cruisers who want to own their port day — without paying $100–$200 for a ship shore excursion.
Each guide covers everything from stepping off the gangway to getting back before all-aboard: multiple walking itineraries, GPS-verified maps, real prices (not "a few euros"), scam warnings, restaurant picks, transport options, and segment-specific tips for families, first-timers, and budget travelers.
At 19,000–22,000 words per port, these are 2–3x deeper than a typical Rick Steves chapter for the same destination — and they cost $4.99.
Three things: depth, honesty, and price.
Depth. Most port guides run 5,000–8,000 words of broad highlights. Our guides average 19,000–22,000 words with named streets, actual taxi rates, timed walking routes, and attraction-specific guidance — enough to plan a full port day with confidence.
Honesty. We flag the tourist traps by name, note the restaurants that have declined since they got famous, and give you real admission prices so you know when you're being overcharged. Cruise guides that are designed to complement ship excursions don't do this.
Price. At $4.99–$6.99 per port, a single guide costs less than one drink on the ship.
Each guide runs 19,000–22,000 words across 16–17 sections, typically covering: port arrival logistics, sail-in timing, multiple walking itineraries (active, scenic, and cultural options), in-depth site write-ups, restaurant reviews with price ranges, budget breakdowns, scam alerts, accessibility notes, connectivity tips, and 4–5 GPS-verified custom maps.
Expanded editions — for embarkation ports like Athens, Barcelona, Venice, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Valletta, Stockholm, and Copenhagen — add a full embarkation chapter (17th section) for cruisers starting or ending their voyage at that port.
We use modern tools including AI to research and produce our guides, combined with extensive human editorial review, GPS-verified mapping, and real photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons. AI helps us organize, cross-reference, and write at the depth and consistency that 24 port guides require. Every guide goes through human editorial passes to verify accuracy, tone, and the practical details that actually matter to cruisers.
We think that's the honest answer. The result is a guide that's more thorough and consistent than most traditionally produced travel content — and we're confident in what we've built.
All guides are delivered as EPUB files — the universal eBook format supported by every major reading device and app. EPUB is not locked to any single store or ecosystem.
It works on Kindle (via Send to Kindle), Apple Books on iPhone and iPad, Google Play Books on Android, Kobo e-readers natively, and any desktop app like Calibre. You don't need a special device — EPUB is supported everywhere.
After completing checkout via Stripe, you'll receive an email with a secure download link. The link is valid for 24 hours. Click it to download the EPUB directly to your device or computer.
If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder. If it's not there, email us at hello@gangwayguides.com with your order details — we'll send the file directly.
Yes — and that's by design. Gangway Guides are built offline-first. Once you've downloaded the EPUB to your device, it works completely without WiFi or cellular data. No app subscription, no cloud sync required, no roaming charges.
Open it on your Kindle, iPad, or phone the moment you step off the gangway. Works in airplane mode. Works in the middle of a Santorini caldera. Works anywhere.
EPUB works on virtually every reading device:
Yes. We offer six bundles built around real cruise itineraries:
All bundles are available on the homepage.
We offer a 7-day satisfaction guarantee on all purchases. If your guide isn't what you expected, email hello@gangwayguides.com within 7 days of purchase and we'll issue a full refund — no questions asked.
Because these are digital downloads, we ask that you reach out before disputing with your card issuer so we can make it right directly.
Each guide includes GPS-verified custom maps embedded in the EPUB. They show walking routes with numbered stops keyed to the itinerary text — you follow the numbers as you walk through the section.
We also maintain free interactive online companion maps at gangwayguides.com/maps/ for all 24 ports. These let you toggle layers for restaurants, sights, transport stops, and more, and are useful for pre-trip planning on a bigger screen. We recommend doing that planning at home or on ship WiFi, then using the offline EPUB guide while you're out in port.
Throughout each guide, callout boxes flag tips that are especially relevant to specific traveler types:
These let you skim for what matters to your travel style rather than reading every word linearly.
Our guides are researched and written using the most current available information, cross-referenced across multiple sources. Prices, hours, and schedules in the travel industry do change — we note this in each guide and recommend verifying any time-sensitive details (admission prices, restaurant hours, transit schedules) closer to your sailing date.
The walking routes, transport logistics, geographic details, and practical port-day framework are stable and unlikely to change significantly from season to season.
No. The EPUB guide works completely offline once downloaded to your device. No connection needed.
The free interactive maps at gangwayguides.com/maps/ do require an internet connection, but these are designed for pre-trip planning — at home or via ship WiFi before your port day. We recommend screenshotting or bookmarking specific map views you want to reference while ashore.
Gangway Guides is an independent publishing project built by cruisers who got tired of vague, filler-heavy port guides. We cover 24 ports across the Mediterranean and Baltic with the same no-fluff format: specific numbers, honest assessments, and enough depth to plan a full port day with confidence.
We combine deep research, AI-assisted writing tools, GPS-verified mapping, and human editorial review to produce guides that prioritize actionable information over promotional language.
Email us at hello@gangwayguides.com. We respond to all inquiries — purchase questions, download issues, refund requests, or feedback on any guide.
Yes. We offer a free Kotor sample at gangwayguides.com/free/ — no account required, just your email for the download link.
The sample includes the complete opening chapter, a GPS-verified port-to-Old Town walking map, fortress climb quick facts, and 3 scam warnings. It's a representative look at what every guide delivers.
We're happy to help. Email us and we'll get back to you quickly.
hello@gangwayguides.comReady to plan your port day?
From $4.99 per port. EPUB. Works on every device. Offline-first.