Alison Gootee
If you hate crowds, stick to cruise lines with smaller ships (such as Windstar, Seabourn, Clipper, and Windjammer) or other boats with a high space-to-guest ratio (ask your travel agent).
If you're prone to seasickness, stay in the Caribbean, where the seas are calmer (except during hurricane season). If you're sailing on an older (pre-1970s) or smaller ship, book a cabin midship and on a lower deck, since these areas are more stable. Newer ships have advanced stabilizing technology that makes for smooth sailing no matter where you are on the boat.
Look for boats with larger standard-size cabins. (Many cruise-line websites show room layouts with the square footage.) Avoid inside cabins and splurge on a cabin with private outdoor space if one is available.
Written by George C. Hobica