Joe Kita wanted to give his son, Paul, a 22-year-old recent college graduate, some wisdom he couldn't learn in a classroom. The perfect opportunity came when the pair set sail for a 108-day cruise around the world.

On board and ashore, Joe sought to teach Paul what he knew about, among other life lessons, ambition, pride, money, friendship, and love.

Joe, a 48-year-old freelance writer, and Paul, a journalism major, each penned a series of essays that encompass the experiences a trip that docked in nearly 50 ports in roughly 30 countries—covering about 35,000 miles.

Using the backdrops of North Africa, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean, Joe and Paul took us along to teach us a thing or two about the sea of life.