I took my first cruise one year ago because of a new opportunity, and it was so much more different than I expected.
I felt anxious before my first sailing, unsure of what to expect, despite doing careful research beforehand.
Beginning to cruise came with a lot of surprises, and some hard-learned lessons, whether through personal expenses or wasted time.
Now I've sailed on eight cruises, experiencing unique itineraries and ship classes with the cruise line.
Read more: 15 things that surprised me after my first cruise
After sailing Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class, Freedom Class, Radiance Class, and Vision Class, I've grown comfortable on Royal Caribbean ships.
Each sailing is its own adventure that holds something unexpected—but here are the 10 things I found most surprising about cruising.
It's not hard to find quality food onboard
To bring food onboard for a cruise, cruise lines have to order, load, and cook dishes all onboard a ship, preparing thousands of meals throughout a sailing.
It sounds like a huge endeavor, so I didn't have high expectations regarding the cuisine onboard.
However, I was surprised to see that you can find excellent food while on a cruise ship—dining is one of the most popular aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise!
While not all of the complimentary venues are high-quality, I usually enjoy a meal in the Main Dining Room, and you can always splurge on a specialty restaurant for something more elegant.
I get more comfortable with every cruise
On my first cruise, I was surprised to feel claustrophobic while onboard.
The thought that I was stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean started to overwhelm me since we could only leave on port days or at the end of a cruise.
But as I began to cruise more and more, and I stuck with Royal Caribbean, this feeling of claustrophobia turned into one of comfort.
Each ship felt more and more homelike, as I recognized the familiar Royal Caribbean designs and layouts.
Instead of feeling trapped on the ship, I saw each vessel as a home away from home, a little world I could explore.
Although I was anxious on my first cruise, I quickly realized how safe and comfortable cruise ships can feel.
The cruising community is beyond welcoming
On my cruising journey, I've been pleasantly surprised by how many friendly faces I met along the way.
From conversations made in elevators to shared tables in the Windjammer Buffet, I realized that part of the joy of a cruise is getting to chat with and recognize others onboard.
And when I started joining Hyperlink events or making conversation in the hot tubs, I quickly discovered that it's easy to make friends on a cruise.
Read more: Plan ahead but embrace the unexpected: what first-time cruisers need to know
For someone like myself, who loves meeting new people and learning about other cultures, it's been an unexpected joy on each sailing.
Crew members are committed to quality service
I'm always caught off guard by just how kind, patient, and thoughtful Royal Caribbean's crew members are.
On my first cruise, I was almost uncomfortably surprised by the level of service onboard.
I have two waiters at my table? The stateroom attendant cleans the room every day?
I've also been able to make unexpected connections with crew members onboard, and I enjoy seeing them go above and beyond to make sure passengers have an amazing time.
I've witnessed waiters folding animals out of napkins for children at their tables and had bartenders make me incredible custom drinks.
It can't be an easy job, but I'm always grateful for interactions with crew members.
Staterooms vary greatly and have a huge influence on your experience
Cruises are very adjustable to a passenger's preferences and budget, and staterooms are a big part of that.
You can opt for the cheapest possible cabin: a small, interior guarantee, or splurge on a huge two-bedroom suite.
However, your stateroom selection has a huge influence on the entire cruise. Since it's your home for the length of the sailing, sometimes it's worth paying more for a better cabin.
For example, the cabin on my Wonder of the Seas cruise was a small, windowless interior room located at the very front of the ship.
Not only did we hear the noise of the anchor banging at night, but I also suffered increased seasickness due to the cabin's position.
Each ship class is distinct, but vessels are remarkably similar within the same class
Royal Caribbean groups its ships into eight separate classes.
Each class varies greatly in terms of size, design, activities, and amenities.
However, ships within the same class feel surprisingly familiar to me.
After sailing on Wonder and Allure of the Seas, getting on Oasis (another Oasis-Class ship) felt like returning home rather than experiencing a new vessel.
I walked around the ship thinking that it felt like a classic Oasis Class experience.
The bigger ships have an overwhelming amount of activities onboard
It still surprises me just how much you can do while on a cruise ship.
Cruise lines seem to compete to see how much they can cram onto one floating vessel.
On Royal Caribbean's Icon, Quantum, and Oasis Classes, in particular, you can find activities for any interest.
These include ice skating, laser tag, zip lining, trivia, chess, waterslides, escape rooms, bumper cars, surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls, and more.
If you're trying to pack for all of these events, it gets overwhelming quickly!
But the beauty of sailing on a mega-ship is that you can choose to do exactly what interests you.
A lot is included in your fare, but onboard expenses can add up
When I first started cruising, I felt surprised at how much was included in the base cruise fare; dining, stateroom, room service, entertainment, activities, and visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
However, you shouldn't let all of your budget go to the base fare. Onboard expenses like drinks, WiFi, and shopping can quickly add up.
For example, if you're sailing on a 7-day cruise and want to purchase an Internet package for the full week, you're looking at a $140 minimum, for just one device.
Solo cruises are worth it—they're one of my favorite ways to travel
Although I felt frightened to take a cruise alone, I quickly discovered that solo cruises are one of my favorite ways to travel.
As a young woman, cruises feel like a safe way to get around, with security guards and cameras everywhere.
Plus, you get a room to yourself, and the chance to go at your own pace.
And cruising solo doesn't necessarily mean you'll be lonely, it's actually a great way to encourage yourself to meet new people!
Days on shore are short, but you can still have amazing experiences
At first, cruising was a shock to my traveler spirit.
The ship's itinerary only allows for 8 hours or less at most ports—hardly enough time to fully explore an area!
But with careful research and some amazing tours, I've been able to see once-in-a-lifetime places.
I've visited Mayan ruins, seen classical art in Florence, and touched tropical fish while snorkeling in Mexico.
And each visit has planted a seed, just in case I ever want to go back for a longer visit.
Read more: 7 surprising things I learned when booking a cruise for the first time
