[dtennent]

We cruise to get away to visit several places, have good to excellent food, and only unpack once. We are currently cruising the Nile River on Viking and having a great time.
A couple of points to consider…
1) To echo a few others, research the different lines as they all have their own atmosphere with pluses and minuses. Food age group, ship size, entertainment, casinos, etc. For us, we won’t touch a huge ship. For other folks it is paradise.
2) If you don’t have it already, get your passport . You will eventually want it if you do much cruising.
3) Are you and your wife prone to motion sickness? Then prepare before you go. You can buy Bonine is most drug stores. Or get a patch which you wear behind your ear. BTW, river cruising has virtually no motion so motion sickness isn’t a problem.
4) How much do you want to spend on your room? Booking an inside cabin 4 to 6 weeks before sailing will get you a tiny room at a very good price. Want a Veranda suite? That is quite a bit more.
5) Just be aware that cruise lines will try to get you to spend extra money during your trip. You might want to consider any alcohol packages that are offered. We often will buy a wine package for dinner. Also, going with a local vendor while in port can save you lots of money. Just realize that if you don’t take an excursion through the cruise line, you will be out of luck if you get back after the ship departs.
6) You might want to consider insurance for your trip. We never got it when we were younger but have now started to buy it. Check out what is available through the cruise line and compare it to third parties such as Allianz.

We love cruising and have been to all 7 continents on 40+ cruises (and some land tours). Hope you find something that you enjoy.