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First of all you probably wonder about:

• Is there a laundry or cleaners on board. Yes almost every ship offers both or at least one and some have free self-service laundries (Crystal and Silversea).
• Are there hairdryers, yes and if not in your cabin you can request one.
• Is there Wifi, yes. It does cost however except on some ships such as Silversea, all Regent Seven Seas, Crystal suites and penthouse deck staterooms. Most lines offer packages that bring the cost down and it’s a good idea if you expect to use the service often. Speed is always a major factor at sea where it moves at a snail’s pace often, especially on big ships with thousands of people on the web at once.
• Is everything included in the fare I paid? Not necessarily and only on cruise lines that indicate they are “all inclusive” such as Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, and Silverseas. On all of those you get all drinks and your tips picked up. On Regent Seven Seas you even get air, transfers, WiFi and more. On other lines such as Princess, Holland America, Carnival, Cunard, Celebrity etc. you are charged for drinks (even water), specialty coffees (espresso etc),tips which are charged to your account, and everything but meals and entertainment.
• Is there a spa or fitness center. Yes on nearly every new ship there is both, fitness center use is always free but some lines charge for yoga, Pilates and spinning, but do give you a few workouts free.
• Will I get seasick? Well that depends on if you have a propensity for it. If you do the ship has pills and there are gadgets you can buy before your cruise. Ships often rock especially during hurricane season. So be prepared.

Hopefully that answers most of your questions. Now here’s a little primer for shipboard behavior:
1. A ship is always refer to in the feminine as a ‘she’ or a ‘her’ etc. Sorry dudes it's just the way it is.
2. The Bridge is different than the Brig an you really want to be on the former rather than the latter because the bridge is the raised, transverse platform where the captain navigates the ship. The brig is where naughty people are locked up.
3. Aft is to the back or rear.
5. Starboard is right and doesn't mean a celebrity has boarded the ship.
6. Leeward means out of the wind.
7. Bow is the front of the boat--but when on board never call it a "boat" always say "ship" because that's the way the captain prefers his vessel to be called, and it's only proper.
9. Hull is the frame and body of the vessel.
10. Knot is how a ship's speed is measured and is equal to one nautical mile an hour.
14. Pitch, not a ball toss, but rather th rise and fall of the ship's bow.

Drive to a tropical island? How? Where? Why?

When considering the tropics, travelers picture sandy beaches, palm trees, flocks of birds, bright blossoms and reggae music. But literally, the tropics are the regions of the Earth surrounding the equator, between 23.5° north and south of that imaginary line, but not quite including the beautiful Florida Keys, the southernmost lands of the continental U.S. Even Key West, the last road-accessible island at the southern tip of the Keys, is 72 miles north of “geographically tropical.” But in mood and mode, the Keys certainly are tropical.
Keys are sandy, low-elevation islands that form on top of coral reefs. In Florida, you can drive on them and the bridges between them all the way to Key West. The road is no more dangerous than driving a two-lane road through your neighborhood. The Overseas Highway, or U.S. Highway 1, is 127 miles long, framed by sparkling blue water, lovely seaside homes, impressive boats prancing under the bridges, and the largest coral reef chain in the U.S. The Keys begin at the southeastern coast of Florida, 15 miles south of Miami, and stretch southwest, composed of around 1,700 islands, of which 145 are habitable, with 43 of the islands connected by 42 bridges. Approximately 79,000 residents inhabit the islands, tourism fueling the economy.
Fans of tropical islands want to come. Especially travelers who don’t like to fly or take a cruise ship or who want to save money may drive to the Keys from home. Others fly to Miami or nearby airports and rent a car or take a shuttle or public bus to reach the Keys. They’re like Caribbean islands, but with American money, electricity, and safety.
Highlights are Seven Mile Bridge and Key West, an island but also the largest city in the Keys, containing many residences, businesses and attractions. No island tour is complete without visiting it.
Beaches, the ocean, trails and forests entice outdoor people. If you prefer partying, dining at fine restaurants or partaking of manmade delights, the developed islands beckon.
Check with travel agents, go to helpful websites or contact large chains, by phone or online, for information and reviews on hotels, motels, condos, and RV parks. Hotel accommodations cost from $75 to $500 or more per night. Remember, you’ll likely get what you pay for. RV sites cost up to $150 for a luxury ocean-front site near Key West, with $38.50 for state park campsites and even tent sites in RV parks for $45 to $70, all with amenities. You’ll find hundreds of hotels and motels and scores of RV parks and campgrounds, but be sure to make reservations well in advance, as many are booked up a year ahead.
A variety of attractions draw visitors, including aquariums, nature centers, museums and art galleries. Bike tours, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, watching wildlife (including sharks, whales, dolphins, turtles, and birds such as pelicans, gulls, eagles and cormorants), deep-sea or surf fishing and crabbing are all popular. Visiting local bars and restaurants, especially for fresh seafood, are preferred pastimes. One favorite restaurant is award-winning, oceanfront Lazy Days on Islamorada (), where they’ll even cook your catch. And there are national chains like Outback Steakhouse, Pizza Hut and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Touring Key West is a real treat. The architecture, huge trees, history and locals in outrageous clothing welcome you. Join the festive evening crowd in Mallory Square, on the northwestern edge of the island, renowned for its spectacular sunsets, always accompanied by a dizzying variety of street performers, displays of arts and crafts, food carts and psychics. Head on down; it’s a hoot! Tiny shacks built from the driftwood of reef-wrecked ships still dot the island. The most famous resident was author Ernest Hemingway. Tour his home, claimed by descendants of his 6-toed cats. Hemingway’s typewriter still rests on his desk in the lovely second-floor study overlooking the courtyard, giving touring authors the urge to write. Farther on lies Hemingway’s favorite hangout, Sloppy Joe’s Café on Duval Street, open since 1933, still welcoming those who thirst. And check out Southernmost Point, where a brightly colored buoy marks the spot that is considered the most southerly point in the continental U.S. and where hundreds of tourists have photos made.
Throughout the Keys, especially in Key West, watch for signs and banners referring to the Conch Republic (pronounced “conk,” a large marine snail that is commonly eaten in the Keys). This is a tongue-in-cheek political situation which first arose in 1982, in which Key West seceded from the Union for one day, originally in protest. But the attitude, and the fun, continues.
For nature lovers, 8 state parks, 2 national parks, a national marine sanctuary and a national-wildlife-refuge complex with four separate refuges are enticing. However both Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks, the marine sanctuary, 3 of the wildlife refuges, and two of the state parks are not accessible from the Overseas Highway, so consider them for another trip.
Reservations are recommended for state-park camping, especially from September through May.