There’s a great voyage with your name on it

Sometimes I get so caught up with new ships, mergers, bankruptcies and other changes in the cruise industry that I tend to forget what keeps the cruise world afloat: the passenger.

As cruise lines expand, they face the problem of finding more passengers to fill berths. They have to recruit new cruisers who may not have thought about vacationing aboard a ship.

Today’s big ships have taken steps to deal with first-timers’ basic fears: boredom, seasickness, gaining weight and the possibility of being stuck on a vacation they will not enjoy.

Ships today offer plenty of options and activities to keep boredom at bay, and most are big enough to ride steady in the heaviest seas (or you can book a cruise that stays in calm waters, such as Alaska’s Inside Passage, or that plies rivers). Luxurious shipboard spas, gyms and exercise activities, along with special low-fat, low-calorie menus, can keep you trim, and if you don’t like your cruise, some lines, Carnival for one, allow you to disembark at the first port of call and get a refund for the rest of your fare.

But the best way to ensure that you’ll have a happy cruise is to select the right one. Here are 10 questions to ask yourself before you book a cruise.

What are you looking for? Sunny beaches, duty-free shopping, a stress-free, do-nothing getaway, a razzle-dazzle good time with plenty of entertainment?

You can get them all, but not always on the same ship. A working couple with young children might choose a family cruise combined with a Disney World package. A grade-school teacher seeking a break from work might want to set sail on a ship geared for adults. Know what you want.

How long can you vacation?

Itineraries can last three, seven, 14 or, for world cruises, even 100 days or longer. First-timers should choose a short sailing to see if they like the experience.

Where do you want to go?

Weekend or mini-cruises usually depart from Florida for the Bahamas or from Los Angeles for Catalina Island and Baja California. Seven-day cruises with air-and-sea packages let you sail around the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, the South Pacific or Europe. It usually takes 10 to 14 days for a Panama Canal cruise with a full transit, although several ships offer cruises into part of the canal during a seven-day Caribbean itinerary.

Are you traveling solo, as one of a pair or as part of a group?

Your companions may have different needs or desires, so confer with them before booking. On-board activities good for singles may not work for families.

What kind of shipboard lifestyle do you want?

Jot down your most important requirements for a good vacation. Although many stressed-out travelers picture a cruise ship as a place to lounge quietly by the pool with a good book, after a couple of days they may be ready for livelier activities. Almost all cruise ships offer gyms, aerobics, lectures, shore-side golf and tennis, dancing, bridge or crafts classes, casinos and even shopping.

Do you want a large, medium or small ship?

Big ships have more entertainment, bigger casinos and spas and longer lines; medium-size ships have scaled-down versions of the same. Small ships are more apt to be free from regimentation and dress codes, but you may be on your own for entertainment.

Small to mid-size vessels usually have a more relaxed ambience, while glittering mega-liners throb with music and bright lights most of the night. But there’s not a vessel afloat that doesn’t have a sunny, secluded corner for reading or a lively spot around the bar for socializing.

Do you want a classic (older) or contemporary (newer) ship?

Most new ships will remind you of a chain resort hotel, complete with atrium, glass elevators and identical modular cabins. Ships built 20 or more years ago have ocean-liner looks, odd-size cabins and nostalgic promenade decks.

Do you want frequent opportunities to wear your party clothes or would you prefer to stay casual day and night?

Deluxe small ships are dressy, expedition and sailing ships casual; big ships usually have two dress-up evenings a week. Sometimes people who work in an office that requires business attire every day welcome casual or adventure sailings where the dress code may only request no bathing suits or bare feet at dinner.

Do you want to go island-hopping on a ship that stops at a lot of ports or spend your time relaxing aboard ship?

If relaxing is more important, look for itineraries that designate one or two days at sea during a seven-day cruise. You’ll still have ports to visit, but you can get some rest in between.

What do you want to learn about the places you’ll visit?

If history, culture, flora and fauna are important, look for expedition ships that emphasize natural history lectures and bird-watching boat rides. Adventure and expedition cruises always seem to attract a lot of doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals who diligently attend all the lectures, then splash ashore in rubber landing craft to go on nature hikes.

If you prefer to know where to pick up Colombian emeralds or brand names like Rolex or Lladro, any big mainstream cruise ship will fill the bill with its “guaranteed shopping” programs subsidized by the merchants being recommended.

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Harry Basch travels as a guest of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.