A cruise is the ultimate vacation of convenience: The captain does the driving, the chef cooks your meals, and the shore excursion staff tells you where to go. All you have to do is show up, unpack your stuff and sit back to enjoy the ride. Before you take the plunge, see what the experts have to say about choosing the best cabin, getting to the ship, and having a great time once you're on board.

Stay on the Ship's Radar
A big benefit of booking airfare through the cruise line is you'll be on the ship's radar if your flight is delayed or canceled. It's the cruise line's responsibility to get you on the ship one way or another. If you book your own airfare and miss the boat (and didn't purchase cancellation insurance), meeting up with the ship at the next port is on your own dime.

Go a Day Early
"I always book clients in a hotel the night before the cruise no matter where they are sailing from, it takes the stress out of misconnections, bad weather and lost luggage," says Mary Jean Tully, chairman and CEO of Ontario-based Cruise Professionals. "Who wants to fly all the way to Barcelona and get right on the ship? It's nice to wake up in the city where the ship is sailing from, have a leisurely breakfast, relax or do a city tour."

Cruise Off-Season
Everyone knows what Europe is like in August -- jam-packed and too hot. Walter Littlejohn, president of Chartwell Vacations in Rutherford, N.J. recommends doing a European cruise in April, May, or from mid-September through November. Not only will the crowds be thinner, chances are cruise rates and airfare will be lower. In Alaska, April, May and September are considered low season.

Choose the Right Cabin
All-Travel's Eric Maryanov says never take a room on the promenade deck. To hedge against seasickness, choose a cabin amidships (in the middle of a deck) and on a lower deck, as close as possible to the ship's center of rotation. Definitely avoid cabins directly below the loud pool deck, sports deck, gym or restaurants, and with a connecting door if you don't know your neighbor.

Indemnify Yourself
It makes sense to protect your investment with third-party insurance. Cost of insurance is generally about 6 percent of the total cost of the cruise. You'll be covered if you have to cancel the cruise for medical reasons, missed flights, work commitments, cruise line bankruptcy and other issues.