Cruising expert, Kristin Secor shares helpful tips

Kristin Secor, who lives in upstate New York, was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy which affects her strength, balance, endurance and breathing. She is a full-time ventilator user.

Travelling is a huge part of Kristin's life. "It's a way for me to keep life in perspective because I think it's so easy to get wrapped up in your own circumstances. Travelling abroad allows me to see that there is a much bigger picture out there so it helps me keep my circumstances in perspective to the bigger picture. It's like my reset button. When I feel stressed, I travel. I love it. It's a great educational tool. I've gained so much self-confidence from travel and I just love being exposed to new cultures, new places and all of that."

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A LUXURY VACATION?

My definition is going to be a little more skewed, not necessarily monetarily. It's the luxury of having accessibility. I think the world can be accessible, but there's a long way to go. So finding your dream destination that is accessible and can meet your needs, that is luxury because it doesn't exist everywhere. When I got back from my trip to Antarctica, I went to Iguazu Falls on the Argentina/Brazil border and stayed at the Gran Meliá Iguazú which was more expensive than what I usually spend on a hotel. But it was perfect because it overlooked the falls. Every room had a balcony and the view was beautiful, the falls, wildlife all around, monkeys climbing on your balcony, and most importantly, it was accessible. The room I stayed in had two bathrooms. One was a traditional bathroom and one was a fully accessible bathroom. Most of my hotel stays are really nice but at this resort, there were many little touches that I'm not used to. The environment, the views and staff were wonderful. I would say that's probably my most luxurious experience thus far. Plus, the food was delicious.

LOVE FOR CRUISING