I'm an introvert who hates crowds. Here's how I made my first cruise an enjoyable experience.

• As an introvert, I was nervous I'd be overwhelmed during my first cruise.
• To conserve my energy, I figured out the ship's busy times and planned accordingly.

I'm an introverted traveler who prefers remote islands to bustling cities. That's why when my in-laws, who love cruising, wanted to travel internationally, I knew the experience would push me outside my comfort zone.

I'd never been on a cruise before, but I assumed it would be continually crowded, noisy, and hard to get away from others.

However, during my time on board, I developed a few tips and tricks that helped me transition from introvert overload into mellow vacation mode.

Here's how I made my first cruising experience enjoyable.

I figured out the ship's busy times and planned accordingly

One of the first things I noticed on the cruise ship was that a few places — like the bars, pools, buffet lines, and gym — became crowded quickly.

Rather than trying to make myself feel comfortable in these situations, I determined alternate times to visit. For example, my husband and I often got up early to use the gym or head to the buffet before joining my in-laws later in the day.

Instead of eating in the common areas, I also took food back to the room with me, giving me time to recharge.

I saved my energy by only participating in a few activities each day

I conserved my energy by choosing only a few activities to participate in each day. When planning our trip, my husband and I clarified which activities we wanted to do on our own and kept an open invitation for my in-laws to join us at other times.

Although I did go on a few excursions organized by the cruise line, I found it more convenient to book my own activities ahead of time. I found I was able to see more because I was only traveling with my husband, and we also got a tailored experience and could take extra time in preferred locations.

Additionally, by choosing between group excursions and hikes with my partner, I could control how much time I spent with people.

Although I may have participated in fewer activities overall, being selective allowed me to be present instead of feeling exhausted and overextended.

I took some time to recharge by myself

Luckily, I had a small balcony outside my room, which I could use to relax after being around people. I thought the upgrade was well worth it so that I could recharge my social battery.

I also carried a backpack with a book and a journal and spent time in the adult-only sections of the ship, which tended to be a bit quieter.

In the evenings, I even found myself going to the pool alone while my husband and in-laws socialized.

Overall, my first cruise was a great experience

I was certainly hesitant about going on my first cruise, but I came to enjoy the experience. With some simple strategies, I was able to appreciate my time on board and at ports of call.

Not much brings more solitude than being on a boat in the middle of the ocean once you know how to manage the crowds.

I was able to visit new places with people I love even though I was traveling in a style that seemed counterintuitive to my introverted nature.

By the end of the trip, I discovered that not much brings more solitude than being on a boat in the middle of the ocean — once I figured out how to manage the crowds.