INSIDER

I took my first Caribbean cruise, and quickly learned that cruising is a lifestyle that's not for me

• I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the largest ship of its kind.

• My inaugural cruise showed me how the lifestyle is appealing for many, but not for me.

• Cruising involves thrilling activities, planning ahead, managing crowds ... and constant motion.

I went on a Caribbean cruise for the first time in April. I found it's a unique type of vacation.

Cruise novice here! Before stepping on board my first Caribbean cruise in April, I had never even seen this type of ship in real life. I joined the cruise for a reporting trip with multiple stops in the Caribbean Sea.

I embarked on a seven-night voyage on the largest cruise ship of its kind, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. We sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

It felt surreal to be on such a large vessel in the middle of the ocean. And a week of sun and cool breezes was just what I needed after a winter at home in New York City.

Many people love cruising, and I can see the appeal. In January 2020, before the pandemic disrupted the cruise industry, Forbes reported that 30 million people take a cruise each year, up from 17.8 million in 2009.

But cruising comes with pros and cons, and ultimately I realized it's not my ideal type of vacation. Here's why.

Read more: Step aboard the world's largest cruise ship, which is so big it has 8 'neighborhoods' spread across 18 stories

The passengers I met love cruising. I didn't find any other first-timers.

After talking to several fellow passengers, I quickly understood that cruising is a lifestyle. Most people I met were well-seasoned cruise travelers. They told me that they take cruises for every vacation, racking up hundreds of nights on board cruise ships and earning points on their loyalty programs.

I probably shouldn't have been surprised. Cruising remains a popular vacation option, even after two years of the pandemic. My ship had more than 5,000 passengers.

(editor：)