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.