During adolescence, my son wasn’t always the best traveler. He made a simple yet astute distinction between what was a ‘vacation’ and what was a ‘trip.’ He loved vacations, but not necessarily trips. His perspective has helped shape our travels as a family and as retirees.

For first-time cruisers, here are a few reasons why you might want to consider taking a cruise and some helpful tips for making you look and feel like an experienced cruiser.