I learned this back in April 2022, when I embarked on my first-ever sea voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
Several passengers I spoke with told me that every vacation they take is a cruise. They return to the same cruise lines over and over again because it's the only way they want to travel. These seasoned voyagers told me that they've spent hundreds of nights at sea in the process.
During my first voyage, I saw why cruising is so popular. There was something special about waking up in the middle of the ocean.
At the same time, sleepless nights due to rough waters, crowded communal decks, raucous kids, and a lack of activities that interested me led me to the conclusion that cruising simply wasn't for me.
However, just over a year after my first cruise, I decided to try again — but this time, on a different type of ship with a new set of cruisers.
I hoped that a ship with upscale details that was free of children and had more activities geared towards adults would change my mind about the vacation style.
Turns out, I was right.
I preferred being on a smaller ship with fewer crowds. The pool deck onboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship.
Joey Hadden/Insider
The first difference I noticed between my two voyages was the size of each ship.
Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world back in 2022. At 1,200 feet long and 210 feet tall, the 235,600-gross-ton ship has eight "neighborhoods," 18 decks, and can hold up to 7,000 passengers, according to the cruise line.
On my Royal Caribbean cruise, I learned from the crew that there were roughly 5,000 people onboard. Although the ship wasn't at capacity, it certainly felt like it to me. Finding an empty chair near one of the three large pools was nearly impossible after 10 a.m. And even though the ship had 24 elevators, there was often a line to take them.
In fact, there was a line to do pretty much everything, from activities to the breakfast buffet. And shows required reservations, which quickly filled up.
The size of the ship was daunting, too. Getting around felt like wandering a maze. By the time I got used to the sprawling layout, the cruise was over.
On my Virgin Voyages cruise, the Valiant Lady ship's smaller size felt more manageable. At 125 feet tall and 910 feet long, the 110,000 gross-ton ship had 17 decks with a maximum capacity of 2,700, although there were only about 1,000 onboard during my voyage, representatives from the cruise line told Business Insider.
The intimate ship size meant fewer activities, but I didn't mind since navigating the decks was easier. There were only two pools, but they were far less crowded, and I had an easier time finding empty pool chairs throughout the day.
While I could make reservations for meals and shows on Valiant Lady, I quickly realized I didn't need to. The restaurants often had empty tables, and I could wander into any venue when I heard interesting live tunes. This made my days feel more spontaneous, and the whole trip felt more relaxing since I wasn't rushing around.
Without kids onboard Valiant Lady, the upper decks seemed more relaxing.A calm communal deck on the Virgin Voyages ship.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Based on the numerous pools, activities, and shows onboard the Wonder of the Seas, it felt to me like the ship was very much geared towards families. Everywhere I went, I noticed lots of young kids.
Children bumped into me while running to the pool, I stepped in ice cream they dropped on the deck, and screaming filled my ears when I tried to relax on the top decks. All together, it made my vacation feel less relaxing than it could have been.
My annoyance would have been enough to write off cruising until I learned about adult-only cruises.
On the Virgin Voyages cruise, cruisers are limited to guests ages 18 and up.
As a result, I experienced quiet pool decks, relaxing dinners, and the whole ship felt calmer and less crowded.
While I enjoyed Virgin's adult-only crowd, the activities onboard made me feel like a kid. A giant chess set on the Valiant Lady ship.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Splash pools, water slides, and zip lines filled the upper decks of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. This made the ship ideal for families with thrill-seeking kids — but I don't like thrills.
And every time I got in line to do an activity, I felt awkward as a solo adult traveler standing among children. It made me hyper-aware of my age.
But with Virgin Voyages, I was only with fellow adults. I wondered if that might create a stuffy environment but the ship's child-like see-saws and swings, kickboxing bags, and games like foosball, basketball, and a gigantic chess board made me feel young again.
I loved having the chance to relax and unwind in a playful way, and sitting on a swing with an ocean view was way more fun than standing in line for a 30-second waterslide ride.
The comforts of a luxury cruise ship made sleeping through the night easier. The author relaxes in her stateroom.
Joey Hadden/Insider
On my first cruise, I hardly slept. Getting used to the sway of the ship was challenging enough as I closed my eyes at night. But the added discomfort of my bed — two twin mattresses pushed together — made it even harder. And when I did get some shut-eye, I woke up in the crevice between the beds.
On the Virgin Voyages ship, I had one queen-sized bed, which was much more comfortable than the two mattresses in my Royal Caribbean cabin.
Other comforting details made my Virgin Voyages cabin feel fit for a VIP, including mood lighting, a tablet with smart controls, and a private balcony where I was able to get some air when I felt seasick.
These details made my stay cozy and restful. And getting enough sleep made it easier for me to appreciate the whole trip more than my first cruise.
With two cruises under my belt, I can see now that not all voyages are the same. The author onboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
To enjoy the cruising lifestyle for yourself, it takes finding a ship that matches your desires as a traveler.
I'm glad I didn't write off cruises completely and going forward, you just might find me on one, so long as it's a smaller ship and ideally, for adults only.
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