Cruising can be one of life's great pleasures,as well as an incredible travel value. But picking the wrong cruise -- and even worse, overpaying -- can turn your long-awaited vacation at sea into a floating nightmare. Let us start by saying there is no right cruise for everyone. But if you understand what to look for, there should be a right cruise for you. The trick lies in finding it.

The Savvy Cruiser is ready to help. In seeking the right cruise, we look at the different personalities of cruise lines, the attributes of different ships, the diffences you may expect to find depending on length of cruise, time of year, and where the ship goes, and the differences between cruise travel agencies. Since we are not affiliated with a cruise line, you can rely on us as a source of independent advice on cruises. We don't pretend to have all the answers, but we can assist you in asking the right questions.

We also plan to post comments from our readers on the highlights and frustrations of their days at sea. Your input not only is welcomed, but can contribute greatly to helping fellow cruisers find the right cruise.

--The Savvy Cruiser