I have been cruising annually for the past decade and ever so often in the years before that, so it's a subject I know something about. About myself, I'm a trial lawyer in Philadelphia, in my early 60s, and my wife and I are very athletic, trim and fit. Our three kids are all lawyers, and one twice made us proud grandparents.

I know that people sail for as many reasons as there are ships and cruise lines. They have been reviewed extensively on excellent websites like this one, so there's no need for me to repeat them. Your budget, the time of year, the size of ship, the length of cruise, the location of your cabin, your destination and the reputation of the cruise line all factor in to how and where you will choose to spend your vacation dollars.

So with that preface I am pleased to sing the praises of Celebrity's Constellation, a ship I have sailed on five times. A sixth two-week cruise is planned for January 2012. Read more