First time taking a cruise? Here's what you need to know

You always remember your first - whether it's a kiss, a car or a cruise - because of that heady combination of anticipation and trepidation. (My first cruise was to the Caribbean in 1999.) For a first-timer, all the decisions that come with taking a cruise - ship, cabin, clothes, tipping and so on - can be overwhelming, especially when you're clueless about how a cruise works.