A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Cruise With Confidence" is from the July 2006 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

This is paradise! As I sit here under the shade of a thatched-roof cabana, a warm tropical breeze ruffles the turquoise sea. I'm sipping fruity rum punch and writing postcards. My home away from home—the mammoth cruise ship Caribbean Princess—floats just offshore waiting to ferry me to my next destination.

My assignment on this trip: Figure out what travelers should know about planning, booking, and taking their first cruise. Whether you're longing for a romantic getaway or planning a special family trip, cruises make fabulous vacations, and the South claims a number of convenient ports from which to sail.

Plunking down a large lump sum can be intimidating. But calculate your per diem cost for food, lodging, transportation, and entertainment. Compared to a traditional vacation, you'll find that cruising can be quite economical. In fact, with gas prices so high, it may be the best deal going right now.

We'll walk you through the basics of cruising here, but we encourage you to question friends and family who have cruised, surf the Internet for sources of information, and visit with a trusted travel agent. Before you know it, you'll set sail on the trip of a lifetime.