Live in DFW and thinking about cruising from Galveston? Get my advice on the drive, where to stay, parking, terminals, current ships, cabin selection, and when Galveston may or may not be your best option.

Luxury Cruises: Oceania, Regent, Silversea, Windstar & Viking - What each line includes, who it fits, and how the all-in cost compares to a mainstream cruise.

Booking a room is the easy part. I break down where to stay, which hotels offer cruise parking or shuttles, and when a hotel package actually beats booking Port parking separately.

Here's how a cruise gets sold to you online. You pick a sailing. You pick a category — interior, ocean view, balcony, suite. You see a price. You maybe get a little deck map with some highlighted blocks, and you pick one, or you let the system pick for you.

What you are not shown, anywhere in that flow, is the single most important fact about the room: what is directly above it, directly below it, and directly beside it.

I remember getting an unpleasant surprise on a cruise once. Trying to be financially responsible and avoid credit card debt, I used my debit card for stateroom charges. Big mistake. I ended up getting hit with international transaction fees. Why?  

On my first cruise, I assumed the required gratuities covered everything — cruises get sold as "all-inclusive," after all. I was a little embarrassed to learn later that while extra tips aren't required, they're absolutely appreciated and often quietly expected. Here's the quick version of what I've figured out since.

Both start with the same nonstop flight from DFW, but they deliver very different weeks. I break down transfer times, beaches, resort styles and trip length so you can tell which one fits the vacation you have in mind.

Dreaming about a beach vacation without spending an entire day getting there? Living near DFW makes it surprisingly easy to trade North Texas for warm weather, clear water and an all-inclusive resort.

Sandals includes a lot, but not everything. See which extras can still cost you money, what is truly included in your stay, and how to compare the real total cost before choosing a resort.

A few years ago, a couple I was working with had a medical scare on a cruise — nothing dramatic, but enough to need the ship's medical center. When the bill showed up, they called their health insurance assuming it was covered. It wasn't.