Cruising can be a delightfully carefree vacation experience: The crew tends to your every need, and you get to visit multiple destinations without having to haul your bags between them. But don't make the mistake of thinking that any ship will do the trick. Your choice can affect everything, including the type of food you eat, your accommodations, and where you travel, so make the decision carefully. And remember that ships within the same fleet can vary greatly (a brand-new vessel with state-of-the-art facilities feels nothing like a ship built in the 1990s). Here are our five steps to help you pick exactly the right ship.