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It all started a few months ago, when I was desperately trying to come up with an original birthday present for a boyfriend who already had it all.

A cruise sounded good, so I started looking online for the best packages. And there are about a million out there: A Google search for “cruise package” generated nearly 2.6 million results. After a lot of research, I opted to buy a relaxing four-day, three-night vacation aboard the Carnival Fascination. A short cruise from Miami to the Bahamas seemed like the perfect way to approach our first cruising vacation. The one I picked docked in Nassau, spent a day there and a day at sea and arrived back in Miami on the fourth day.

As much traveling as we both had done since we were young, neither one of us had ever been on board a big cruise ship that’s 10 decks high and holds a little more than 2,000 people. Two thousand.

I’m going to be honest here: I had always had a somewhat snobbish attitude toward cruise ships and people who spend their money and time on them. But when I saw an online offer of an all-inclusive package with an ocean-view cabin, food and gratuities for a little over $300 per person for the whole vacation, I gave in. It was time to overcome my preconceptions and give this whole cruising vacation the old college try.

My biggest fear was finding myself stuck in a nightmare of overly zealous activities directors forcing me to have a good time playing tennis with frying pans or learning to foxtrot. My second biggest fear was that the food would be similar to the chow served on airplanes: microwaved, chewy and altogether flavorless. Third, I worried that after a few hours on the ship I would grow tired of being stranded in this happy, shiny, fun machine, which could be quite a drag when you are stuck somewhere in the middle of the ocean.

I was glad to find out that I was wrong on all counts.

As we boarded the Fascination on a gorgeous Friday afternoon in April, I couldn’t help being awestruck by the size of the ship. Of course, I knew that it was going to be big, but as I was standing next to this maritime giant at the Port of Miami, I actually realized that the Fascination wasn’t just big. It was humongous.

The Fascination was inaugurated in 1994 and was thoroughly refurbished in 2006. Once we passed through the short covered bridge to the ship, the decor reminded me of a cross between the lobby of the Vegas hotel and “Miami Vice’s” idea of a beach mansion, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Throngs of young girls already in their bikinis and enthusiastic booze hounds sprinted by us en route to the Lido deck where all the pool-side action takes place — day and night, in rain or shine.

Although the Fascination was nearly at capacity, it was clear from the get-go that there were plenty of spots on the ship where we could enjoy ourselves without feeling as if we landed in Cozumel during spring break. The Fascination offered a variety of sundecks for people to catch a tan, read a book and sip on the mandatory tropical fruit and rum concoction. As we left port and said goodbye to Miami, the party kicked into full gear around the main pool, with hordes of passengers of all ages dancing happily to reggae music with a cocktail in one hand and a camera in the other.

It may sound like the cruise was targeted to college kids with an inclination towards cheap booze and cheesy tunes, but there were plenty of activities offered on the Fascination that catered to a more mature and sophisticated audience. We indulged in a full body massage at the spa our first afternoon on the cruise. It was one hour of bliss to help us leave behind all that work-related stress. Refreshed and rejuvenated after 60 minutes of aromatherapy and deep tissue manipulation, we were ready to come face to face with another big fear of ours: dinner.

The choice was pretty simple: dinner at the buffet, which was open any time between 6 a.m. and midnight; or the formal dining room where the ship staff served dinner at any time arranged when booking. We opted for formal dining at 8:30 p.m. so that we’d have time to enjoy the day. Also, with formal dining, we could avoid kids jacked up on vacation and soda as well as the all-you-can-eat zombies who must have every single item on the buffet whether they eat it or not.

Again, I was pleasantly surprised. The formal dining room served an amazing array of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts a la carte — all appropriately seasoned. And like the casual dining, you had your pick of anything on the menu.

After finishing a thick slab of medium rare prime rib, my boyfriend leaned toward me. “Do you think I could get another steak,” he asked, his voice low and tentative.

“Probably,” I said, nodding.

I was right. And when we ordered a second steak, the waiter didn’t even blink.

On another night, we had an appetizer of Parma prosciutto and melon, which reminded me of a beloved summer meal my mother used to serve when I was a little girl. I ordered one of my favorite dishes: I ordered the snapper puttanesca, a sautéed fish fillet with tomatoes, black olives and capers. It was so good that I can’t even remember what my boyfriend ordered.

And every night the offerings changed, leaving us with so many choices and a very full stomach. Even the wine list, something most people didn’t ask for because alcohol is not part of cruise price, was remarkable and offered interesting New and Old World wines by the glass for less than $10, and by the bottle for about $30.

After dinner, we always went dancing at one of the three nightclubs offering different genres of music. One night we wandered to the cigar bar, which featured more than 30 cigars from all over the world as well cognac big squishy leather chairs to enjoy the luxury.

And there’s more. There’s a casino, floor shows, comedy shows, karaoke and seminars on where to buy jewelry and other items once you docked at Nassau.

After some dancing, a nightcap and a stroll on the higher deck for a view of the stars reflecting on the ocean, we retired to our cabin. It was not, as we’d feared, a closet with a pillow and a washcloth. It turned out to be a cozy and comfortable room with a view and a plush, king-sized bed with silky Egyptian cotton beddings.

The list of shore excursions once we were docked was impressive and ranged from shop-till-you-drop to boating, snorkeling and walking tours. Never ones to ignore our inner child, we opted to visit Atlantis, the larger-than-life resort and water park recently built on Paradise Island, which is connected to Nassau by bridge. The $105 per person entry fee proved more than worth it: the Mayan-inspired resort, the pools and the water slides were breathtaking and downright fun. When we had to return to the ship around 6 p.m., I was frowning as much as the 8-year-old girl sitting next to me in the water taxi.

Most of the time, we weren’t ambitious enough to engage in a volleyball match on the Lido deck or patient enough to play a game of mini-golf on the sports deck. Instead, we lounged in a pool chair with a strawberry daiquiri and a book, watching the world go by. People watching, too, is something of a sport on a cruise, especially during a day at sea.

There were strange moments as well.

Watching other passengers line up at the 24-hour pizzeria at four in the morning.

Seeing the same handful of people camped out and eating, whenever we went into the dining room.

Passing by the same people glued to the slot machines, day or night, in the casino.

Weren’t we on vacation? In the Caribbean? But maybe that’s the vacation for some people: Not frolicking in the sun and the sand, but the certain comfort of an all-you-can world. You can eat and gamble and shop to your heart’s content without ever leaving the ship.

For us, though, it was about the allure of being away from home — free of any obligations and able to see and do new things.

I even decided to gamble on my last night. It was the first time I ever gambled, and I sat down at a blackjack table with $50 in chips, determined not to spend a dime more than I had allowed myself. My boyfriend sat next to me and watched.

I played. I risked. I was over $60 at one point. Then I quickly lost a couple of hands and decided to fold when I was down $10. The guy next to me, a tanned 60-year-old in pricey resort wear, was down $500 and didn’t seem to care.

“You’re not a real gambler,” he said, grinning at me as I left the table. He was right. I’m not. I guess my biggest gamble was paying $700 for this vacation, and hoping that the service, the food and the sheer unknown of it all would be worth it.

It was.

Losing $10 never felt so good.

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If you go

There are a lot of cruise packages out there. We’ve listed a handful with the price, as of press time. Dates vary. All listed leave from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or both. Deals abound, however, and the best advice is to do your research and start combing the Web or talk to your travel agent.

• Carnival Cruises

Three-day cruise to the Bahamas, from $349 per person

(888) CARNIVAL

www.carnival.com

• Disney Cruise Lines

Three-day cruise to the Bahamas, from $389 per person

(800) 951-3532

www.disneycruise.com

• Norwegian Cruise Lines

Three-day cruise to the Bahamas, from $379 per person

(866) 234-7350

www.ncl.com

• Princess Cruises

Seven-day cruise to the Caribbean, from $648 per person

(800) PRINCESS

www.princess.com

• Royal Caribbean Cruises

Three-day cruise to the Bahamas, from $384 per person

(866) 562-7625

www.royalcaribbean.com