I've been on nearly 100 cruises. These are my 5 best tips for first-timers who don't really want to go.

• I have tips for people taking their first cruise, especially if they're hesitant.
• Try booking a new ship and balcony room to figure out what you like while enjoying extra amenities.
• Choose an itinerary with limited sea days and take advantage of the kids' club if you're a parent.

Thinking about trying a cruise but worried you're not a "cruise person"? Well, keep reading.

I've been on nearly 100 cruises, and these floating cities are incredible places to spend a week — especially if you know how to stack the deck in your favor.

As someone who has sailed on my fair share of ships, here are my top tips for first-time cruisers, including those who are hesitant and may not want to go.

Book the newest ship you can

Cruise lines launch new ships every year and the newer ones are almost always big improvements on what came before.

In many cases, this means newer rooms, better itineraries, upgraded amenities, more interesting dining options, and cooler shows. Take advantage of the fact that cruise lines do massive amounts of guest research and build those learnings into the new fleet.

Plus, newer ships oftentimes come with special booking deals, discounts, and offers.

Spring for the balcony room

Although not every frequent cruiser will agree, I swear by booking a balcony room — especially for your first sailing.

It often costs just a few hundred dollars more than an interior or ocean-view room (especially on newer ships), and it could make a huge difference in your experience, particularly if you're cruise-wary.

A balcony can serve as a private escape and the backdrop to some of the best moments of your vacation, whether you're sipping a glass of wine or reading a book in peace while overlooking the ocean.

Plus, use this as a chance to learn if you're OK skipping a balcony for a cabin with a view or a windowless interior room to save money on your next cruise.

When booking a cruise, prioritize itinerary

One of the coolest parts about vacationing via ship is that you travel while you sleep and wake up in a new destination every day.

For your first trip, prioritize an itinerary with great locations and as few sea days (entire days when the ship doesn't dock anywhere) as possible.

Although sea days can mean you spend more time exploring the ship, you'll usually get plenty of time to enjoy it in the evenings.

One or two sea days are fine during a weeklong sojourn — you need some time to get your spa sessions in, of course! — but you may be itching to explore if it's any more than that.

(Plus, this will limit your time in the open water, which will be a blessing to your future self if you end up experiencing seasickness.)

Carefully pack your carry-on

This tip doesn't just apply to packing for a cruise — but it's especially important to remember when you're traveling on a ship.

By design, you're separated from your luggage when you initially board the ship on embarkation morning. It might be minutes or hours before you're reunited with it.

So, it's important to really plan out what you'll need that first day and keep it with you. I suggest packing a swimsuit, change of clothes, and any other essentials (a phone charger, medication, sunscreen, etc).

That way, you won't spend your entire first day sweating in your cold-weather clothes watching everyone else hit the hot tub and sundeck.

Do not sleep on the kids' clubs

Often, vacationing with young kids feels like babysitting with palm trees, and it can be really hard for parents to truly relax.

The good news is that cruising is one of the best getaways for parents with littles.

Most cruises have kids' clubs on board, which are separated by age (often from toddler to teen) and staffed with counselors whose job is to make sure your kids (safely) have the best time ever.

Many of these staff members are CPR-trained with years of childcare experience. Plus, with a range of games and activities from teen discos to ice-cream parties, these clubs can be great for a range of kids.

Even if your children stay for just an hour at a time, that's more than enough to relax in a cabana for two or sneak in a private, adult dinner.