I took a 12-night cruise across Asia with my 64-year-old parents. I was exhausted, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

• I took a 12-night cruise across Asia with my parents. It was nice, but more tiring than I expected. • I find myself taking on more responsibility before and during our trips as my parents get older. • A cruise was ideal for our family, offering convenience and a relaxing way to travel together.

This spring, I embarked on a 12-night Royal Caribbean cruise from Singapore to Tokyo with my 64-year-old parents and sister.

It was a bucket-list trip for our family, but I wasn't prepared for just how tiring the cruise would be.

Our port-intensive itinerary included stops in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan — and every day ashore was packed with culturally rich experiences.

When visiting less familiar countries, I make it a priority to research and plan ahead so our fami