It all started in February when I shouted, after a long teleconference from working at home, "I need a vacation!"

Truth be told, I haven't had a vacation where I went anywhere since Maui more than two years ago. Sure, I've done the "stay-cations" where I simply took a week off and stayed home, but then I ended up doing the mundane - housework, taking kids to school, make dinner. It was all well and good but getting out there, spending some money, and getting taken care of is what I needed.

The frustrating scream was heard by none other than my wife, who enticed by saying, "How about we take a cruise to the Caribbeans?" Read more