I have cruised over 30 times, using a Canadian TA for the first several cruises. Since we tend to use two cruise lines repeatedly, I now feel comfortable dealing directly with the cruise lines myself. Strongly suggest you use a bricks and mortar agency to start. You should feel comfortable with your TA and be confident that he or she will not steer you to cruise line that you won't like. Your TA should be able to explain the pros and cons of several products. I know that DCL and Norwegian are the favored products on these boards, but that doesn't make either of them a good choice for you. Selecting a cruise line is a highly individual decision.