Ready for a cruise? Now you have to pick one — and it’s harder than you think.

Deciding to take a cruise is the easy part. Choosing which type of cruise can be overwhelming. Will it be the Walker Stalker Cruise (for fans of “The Walking Dead”) or Star Trek: The Cruise featuring William Shatner, a 50th-anniversary celebration of “Star Trek”? Or perhaps the Gayribbean Halloween Gay Cruise to Western Caribbean, or Craftours: Quiltville Alaska, or a river cruise/bike tour along the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam? There are religious cruises, intellectual cruises, party cruises, celebrity-themed cruises, political cruises and the list goes on, with options numbering in the thousands.

This year, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the largest cruise trade industry in the world, cruises are expected to accommodate nearly 24 million passengers, which is about 1 million more than in 2015. Many of those passengers will be new to cruising.

Lorri Christou, senior vice president, strategic marketing and communications with CLIA, says that for new cruise-goers, research and preparation is key when it comes to ship selection. “If you want to go on a cruise and you just randomly pick, you can get into a situation that’s not the best fit for who you are,” she says.

[How to choose the right cruise: a flow chart]

CLIA recently polled cruise travel professionals for advice on how first-time cruise-goers can make the most out of their floating vacation. Christou shared the following tips.

Use a travel agent who specializes in cruising. Sifting through cruise information can be overwhelming, especially for a newbie. There are more than 60 different cruise lines to choose from, and each brand has its own personality. Travel agents can help cruise-goers get up to speed on the different ship options and destinations, as well as assist in booking flights and making recommendations on cabin location and dining options on the ship. Christou adds that travel agents can often help clients get better deals than they would be able to find on their own.

Don’t overcommit. It’s easy to schedule every moment of the day on a cruise, whether it’s at port or at sea. Christou says that before passengers begin filling their schedules to the brim, they should decide what they want to get out of the trip. Rest and relaxation? Adventure and socializing? A mix of the two? “If you go into it saying, ‘I want to do every single thing,’ you will get tired,” Christou says. “If you’re someone who likes to be busy all the time, that’s an option. If you’re someone who likes to really kind of relax and enjoy the sea air and read a book, that’s there for you as well.”

[Cruising Royal Caribbean’s mega-ship: At times, a little too mega]

Introverts can enjoy cruises, too. Because of the variety of cruises available, Christou emphasizes that there really is something for everyone. Even those who shy away from crowds. She says that most dining rooms offer a variety of table sizes, so guests can opt for a two-seat table, a 12-seat table or anything in between. In addition, some cruises are more social while others more low-key. Splurging on a room with a balcony can also offer more privacy.

Christou says that with a little planning, a cruise can be a convenient way for travelers to see multiple countries in a short amount of time. “It’s a great way to see the world,” she says. “You only unpack once and basically the ship does all the work for you.”

Silver is a freelance writer and author of “Frommer’s EasyGuide to Chicago.”

More from Travel: