“Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon.” The lyrics to that old song keep running through my mind, but I substitute “cruisin’” for “groovin;’ ” and it’s Monday, not Sunday.

As I write, I’m aboard Crystal Symphony. We just weighed anchor after a gorgeous day off the coast of Santa Barbara. While many of our shipmates opted for land tours, my husband, Kevin, and I decided to settle into a make-believe world where the cruise ship is our private yacht and we don’t share Teo, our attentive butler, with guests in another half-dozen cabins — an easy jump because he effortlessly makes us feel like we’re his top priority.

Truth be told, this is my first-ever cruise, and I was a bit apprehensive. I’m used to setting my own schedule, so I worried about a regimented itinerary, assigned dinner seatings and people everywhere. Experience shows there is no mandatory itinerary; we can dine whenever and wherever we want; and even though the ship is at 80-plus percent occupancy, we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset from an aft deck with no one else around.

Travel, whether business or pleasure, is about embracing new experiences. I always thought that meant stretching the boundaries when it comes to exploring more exotic locations or eagerly anticipating challenges. Aboard Crystal Symphony, I realize it’s also about setting aside expectations and living in the moment.

There ain’t a place I’d like to be instead of cruisin’ on a Monday afternoon.