I was raised during the Depression when my family struggled to get enough to eat. Since then, I’ve always believed it's foolish to put hard-earned money into gambling.

On previous cruises, I’ve always steered away from the onboard casinos. Now I’m set to go to the Caribbean with a group from my senior community, and all they talk about are the casinos, both onboard and in the islands. They laugh at me when I tell them it’s a no-win situation. I’m still not sure about going. What do you think? LMJ, Milwaukee WI

A: Go on the cruise and enjoy the ocean breezes, buffets, entertainment and sights. You can still mingle with your friends when they’re not in the casinos. Don’t nag them about it, even though you’re right about chances of winning.

As with Reno, Las Vegas, Native American and other casinos throughout the world, the odds are always stacked against the cruise ship gambler. According to various statistics, over a period of betting, you typically get 80 to 90 percent of the money back per blackjack hand or slot play.

My husband’s family has invited us to join them on a cruise from San Diego to Acapulco. My first and last cruise was more than 35 years ago from New York to England. We hit stormy weather and I was violently seasick.

I never wanted to cruise again, but everyone says it won’t happen again this time. If I go, how can I keep from getting sick? MLB, Waco TX

A: First, Mexico’s Baja Peninsula cruising is usually much calmer than on the Atlantic Ocean. Also, with advanced technology, today’s cruise ships sail more smoothly. That said, here are several simple ways to avoid mal de mer.

1. Cruise meals are elegant, but overeating can cause upset stomachs. Eat simple, fresh food and go easy on seconds. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking. Also, limit the wine and booze. When you go ashore in tourist areas, please do not eat anything from outside carts nor drink local water.

Q: Airline ticket prices just keep rising and rising. We’re no experts, but always try to schedule flights to get the best possible fares. According to online travel info gurus, the basic rule is that the cheapest flights are on Wednesday nights.

However, on our past two trips, we got lowest fares on a Sunday night and Tuesday morning. What’s the latest on getting the cheapest tickets? PRJ, Richmond VA

A: Frankly, PRJ, booking cheap flights is mostly luck these days. Because of continuing digital advances in online info gathering, airline beancounters are now as crafty as Vegas blackjack dealers. They’re continuously in instant touch as people buy tickets and reserve seats, and they manipulate prices to the airlines’ advantage. Their ultimate task is to fill each flight’s seat with the highest-paying customer.

In other words, while your research about mid-week and red-eye flights may sometimes result in lower fares, it ain’t necessarily so. Your best bet is to take time to shop online prices and special offers, then book when you believe you have the best to meet your schedule.

For more details about how airline pricing pros deal out fares, go to www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-28/how-to-find-the-cheapest-airline-flights#r=rss

My spouse and I want to celebrate our anniversary with a ten-day cruise. This isn’t our first, but we’ve never before sailed for more than four days. On those, we always took an inside cabin, and were only in it to sleep. We figured we could view enough ocean scenes at any time by going up on deck.

On our new cruise, should we book a cabin with a balcony, so we can get private vistas day and night?  PRJ, Harrisburg PA

A: First, understand that balcony cabins can cost $100 a day more than inside ones, so determine if you think it’s worth the extra charge. One way to consider it depends on the ship’s destination.

If your next cruise is entirely on the ocean from port to port, do you want to sit on your balcony for ten days and nights and see nothing but water and sky? We’d suggest considering a balcony cabin if your ship visits many ports and/or frequently sails along waters with scenic views of nearby land.