I wasn’t a cruise person… until I actually tried one
If you had asked me a few years ago if cruising was “for me,” my answer would have been a hard no.
Not because I thought cruises were bad, but because of all the stories you hear. And let’s be honest, the horror stories are the ones that stick.
My family and I were more of the fly somewhere, check into a resort, lay on the beach all week kind of travelers. Give me a beach, a waiter bringing margaritas, a good book, and I’m happy.
Cruising felt like the opposite of relaxing.
What I had always heard about cruising
I had heard that:
- People get seasick constantly
- Ships are packed with thousands of people
- You are stuck on a boat with no escape
- Everyone gets sick, hello norovirus headlines
- Cabins are tiny
- There are lines and crowds everywhere
As someone who has dealt with vertigo before, and who once got very seasick on a fishing boat, the idea of spending days on a moving ship sounded like an expensive nightmare. Add in my dislike for crowds and confined spaces, and cruising just didn’t appeal to me at all.
So yeah… no thank you.
What finally changed my mind
What finally changed my mind was social media and friends I actually trusted.
I started seeing people post about all the places they visited in one single week. Different ports. Different countries. Beautiful beaches. And as a self proclaimed beach girlie, that part got my attention.
The idea of trying out multiple destinations in one trip, almost like a sampler platter, made a lot of sense. I could see what I liked and decide where I would want to go back for a longer stay later.
Then we had friends tell us they felt the same way I did, until they went on their first cruise. They loved it so much they booked another one before they even got off the ship. That definitely made me pause.
So we decided to try it once. Just once. So we could honestly say we gave cruising a fair shot.
We purposely chose a short cruise because if we hated it or I got seasick, at least we wouldn’t be stuck for a full week. Expectations were low. We already assumed the rooms would be small, there would be crowds, and lines would be unavoidable.
But I was up for an adventure, and honestly, I wanted to finally know if cruising was really as bad as I had built it up to be.
Why our first cruise changed everything for me
Our first cruise was a three day Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, with stops in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We found a relatively good last minute deal and both had time off, so we went for it.
What surprised me the most was not even the ship itself. It was the boarding process.
Boarding day mindset was open minded but skeptical.
I had mentally prepared myself for something like the worst TSA line you have ever experienced, except floating. Instead, embarkation was shockingly smooth.
From the moment we stepped out of our Uber, there were friendly staff members everywhere directing us where to go. We didn’t know what we were doing, where our luggage went, or what to expect, but we didn’t need to. Royal Caribbean’s staff made the entire process feel efficient, welcoming, and fast.
Yes, there were a lot of people, but there were no long, miserable lines. Everything moved quickly. That first impression alone set the tone for the entire cruise.
The fear I had about feeling trapped
And then there was the big fear, feeling trapped or claustrophobic.
Once the ship started moving, I will be honest, I felt the motion and had a brief internal panic. I even grabbed my seasickness meds just in case. But what I felt was more anxiety than actual motion sickness. Once I calmed down, I realized I felt totally fine.
Even more surprising, I never felt crowded.
Sure, peak dinner time at the buffet could get packed, but outside of that there were so many different areas on the ship that people naturally spread out. Different shows, activities, lounges, decks, and quiet spots made it easy to find your own space.
The boredom myth
Another huge misconception I had was that we would get bored.
That couldn’t have been more wrong.
There was so much to do day and night that we didn’t even make it to some of the shows we had talked about seeing. By the end of the cruise, we realized three days wasn’t long enough to both explore the ports and fully enjoy the ship.
Ironically, we were exhausted, not bored.
What I overthought… and what actually mattered
I definitely overthought people and packing.
Before our cruise, I watched all the cruise essentials videos. You know the ones. And because I wanted to be prepared, I ordered a ton of stuff on Amazon.
Reality check. I didn’t need half of it.
Some items are genuinely helpful. Others are nice to have. And some are absolutely not necessary at all. I also packed way too much for a three day cruise, which I would not do again. I would much rather have extra room in my suitcase for shopping and souvenirs.
Another thing I worried about was being around so many people all the time, because let’s be honest, people can be a lot when traveling.
But something weird and wonderful happens on a cruise.
It is like everyone collectively agrees we are all on vacation. Stress levels drop. Little annoyances roll off your back. People are friendlier. More relaxed. Almost like everyone is on some unspoken don’t care medication.
I loved that feeling.
What I wish I had paid attention to earlier
What I really wish someone had told me beforehand was how important the cruise app and the pre boarding check in process are.
Cruising isn’t like booking a normal flight and hotel where you just check in the day before. There are specific timelines for:
- Uploading passport information
- Taking a verification selfie
- Choosing your boarding time
- Booking shows and excursions
- Reserving dining
- Printing luggage tags
We received emails, but some got buried in my inbox and I didn’t realize how important certain ones were. By the time we started exploring the app more seriously, some excursions we were interested in were already fully booked.
That alone could have changed part of our experience, and it is something I really wish I had known sooner.
If you are on the fence and decide to give cruising a try
If you have made it this far and are thinking, “Okay, maybe I would try a cruise,” here are a few things I truly believe can make your first experience so much better.
Consider using a travel agent for your first cruise
If cruising feels overwhelming, this is my biggest piece of advice.
I highly suggest using a travel agent who specializes in cruising, or even better, one who specializes in the cruise line you are interested in.
A lot of people assume using a travel agent costs more, but in most cases it does not. The commission is already built into the cruise fare whether you book it yourself or use a travel agent. You are not paying extra just because you have help.
Some travel agents do charge a planning fee, and honestly, they are usually worth it because of the level of service they provide. But there are also many agents who help plan cruises for no additional fee at all.
If it is your first cruise, having someone guide you through the booking process, deadlines, ship choices, and small details can save you stress and help you avoid common mistakes.
Choosing the right ship really matters
This is something I did not fully understand until I started cruising.
Ships are not all the same, not even within the same cruise line.
I have been on three different classes of Royal Caribbean ships in a single year, and they all felt completely different. Different layouts. Different energy. Different activities. Different vibes.
Your interests, who you are traveling with, the ages in your group, and even how many port days you have all matter when choosing a ship.
For example, my husband and I took a cruise on Grandeur of the Seas, one of the oldest and smallest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. We chose it because the itinerary was incredible. It sailed from Tampa to Costa Maya, Belize, Roatan Honduras, and Cozumel, with two sea days.
We were not worried about the ship because we had so many port days. But once we were on board, we quickly noticed the difference. There were fewer activities, fewer shows, and much less to do compared to Liberty of the Seas, which we had sailed on before.
We found ourselves bored on the ship, which surprised us.
That said, Grandeur has a huge fan base and is affectionately called Lady G because of its cozy, intimate, and classic feel. Many people absolutely love it for that reason.
This is why the ship matters.
With seven different classes of ships in the Royal Caribbean lineup alone, choosing the right one for your travel style can truly make or break your vacation. A good travel agent can help match you to the right ship, not just the right destination.
Have an open mind
This is the part where I admit I was wrong.
I was the “I’m not a cruise person” girl.
And now, I love cruising.
I have been on four cruises in the last seven months, with more already booked, which honestly still makes me laugh.
Trying one cruise didn’t just change my opinion. It changed how I travel.
You do not need to do cruising perfectly. Your first cruise does not have to be the ultimate trip of a lifetime. It just needs to be a starting point.
You will learn what you like. You will learn what you would do differently next time. And you will probably surprise yourself.
If you are even a little curious, my advice is simple. Try one. Choose wisely. Keep your expectations realistic. And give yourself permission to enjoy it in your own way.
You might end up loving it. And if not, at least you will know from experience, not assumptions.