Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise
Joey Hadden
- I took a seven-day voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, my first cruise ever.
- I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads.
I booked my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port stops in Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I expected breathtaking views of the world between relaxing swimming and sunbathing sessions.
But my experience didn't quite meet my expectations.
Instead, I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated, and I saw much of the world from behind other people's heads.
Here's an overview of the most disappointing aspects of my cruise, from getting to the port to sailing across the region
The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise.
Since I don't live near my cruise's departure city, my trip began with a flight and a budget hotel room near my departure port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.
This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port.
There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise.
Inside the cruise terminal, there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here."
Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.
My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale made me feel as frustrated as standing behind tall patrons at a concert.
The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.
But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.
As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even a mega-ship could feel overcrowded.
While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.
The outdoor decks had 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests. These spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.
A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment.
There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went.
From the buffet to activities like water slides and mini-golf, I felt like I spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the ship. For example, I waited in line for three hours to play a round of laser tag that was less than 20 minutes long.
At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. I found this less annoying than the other wait times since it made me feel safer.
The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.
I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions.
It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.
A Royal Caribbean representative told BI the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.
And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was sometimes blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.
I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but it wasn't possible without losing my tour crew.
According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded.
I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might enjoy it more.
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