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The closest thing I'd seen to a cruise ship was the Staten Island ferry.
That changed in April 2022, when I left my home in NYC to take my first cruise. I flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a seven-night voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. We sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.
I had a good time, but some things would've made my trip easier, cheaper, and more comfortable. Here's what I think all first-time cruisers should know before setting sail.
Some cruise ship cabins, like those at the front of the ship, can be rockier than others.
Before booking, I should have researched how a cabin's location can affect how much motion you feel while the ship is moving.
My ocean-view cabin was at the front of the ship, and I felt more movement than I expected. As a first-time cruiser, I found it uncomfortably rocky. Shaky nights made it tough to sleep.
Several seasoned cruisers on the voyage told me that the front of the ship was one of the worst places to feel motion. Higher decks in the middle of ...