My First Cruise: Everything I Didn’t Expect

I’ll admit it, I never thought I’d be a cruise person.

For years, I pictured crowded pools, long buffet lines, waiting in lines for everything, and feeling stuck on a ship with thousands of people. As someone who loves relaxing in Hawaiʻi, sitting on a quiet lanai with a cup of coffee, or finding a peaceful spot overlooking the ocean, cruising simply never appealed to me.

Ironically, I became a travel advisor before ever taking a cruise. I had already helped clients book several cruises, and completed supplier training, but I wanted to experience it firsthand. ‌So, when the opportunity came along to sail with Virgin Voyages, I booked my very first cruise.

I chose Virgin for a couple of reasons, but mainly it was the adult-only atmosphere that appealed to me. It felt like the perfect opportunity to experience cruising through my own eyes.

Looking back now...I wish I hadn’t waited so long.

My biggest surprise? It never felt as crowded as I expected

If you’ve never cruised before, chances are you’ve had some of the same concerns I did.

How crowded is it really?
Will I constantly be waiting in line?
Will I ever find a quiet place to relax?

Those questions disappeared much faster than I expected.

Yes, there were busy times. Embarkation, dinner hours, Scarlet Night, and PJ Party naturally attracted larger crowds. But I quickly learned that cruising is all about timing.

If I wanted a lively atmosphere, I could find it.
If I wanted peace and quiet, I could find that too.

That flexibility completely changed my perspective.

Boarding was much easier than I imagined

Embarkation was probably the part I was most nervous about, but it ended up being incredibly organized.

After arriving at the Virgin Voyages terminal in Miami, porters immediately collected luggage, and the check-in process moved quickly. Once my passport was verified, I received the Virgin wristband that serves as your room key and onboard payment method throughout the cruise.

From there, it was simply a matter of passing through security, waiting briefly for my boarding group to be called, and walking onto the ship.

As a first-time cruiser, I expected to feel overwhelmed, but the staff were friendly and always willing to point me in the right direction.

One tip I would recommend is taking advantage of Priority Boarding if it’s available to you. It made embarkation even smoother and allowed me to start enjoying the ship sooner.

Embarkation

Waiting in the Virgin Voyages lounge to board ship

The cabin was more comfortable than I expected

Like many first-time cruisers, I assumed our cabin would feel tiny.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.

I booked a Central Sea Terrace cabin, and while it certainly wasn’t oversized, every inch had been thoughtfully designed. Storage was cleverly tucked into closets, drawers, shelves, and even underneath the bed, making it easy to unpack and keep everything organized.

The balcony quickly became one of my favorite places onboard.

In fact, that famous red hammock lived up to every bit of the hype.

Some of my favorite moments during the cruise weren’t spent doing activities at all, they were simply sitting in that hammock with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening, watching the endless ocean pass by.

Relaxing in the red hammock.

Sea Terrace Balcony Room

Finding my favorite places onboard

Before cruising, I assumed I’d spend most of my time exploring the ship.

Instead, I found myself returning to the same peaceful spots over and over again.

My favorite was The Dock on Deck 7.

Located at the back of the ship, it offered incredible ocean views, comfortable seating, and a much quieter atmosphere than many of the upper decks. Sitting there with a glass of wine while watching the ship’s wake became part of my daily routine.

It reminded me that you don’t have to participate in every activity to enjoy a cruise.

Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is exactly the vacation you need.

The Dock on Deck 7

Relaxing on Deck 7

The Thermal Spa became my favorite splurge

One purchase I almost skipped turned out to be one of my favorite experiences.

After touring the Redemption Spa on embarkation day, I decided to purchase the three-day Thermal Suite pass.

It was worth every penny.

Between the steam room, dry sauna, salt room, hot tubs, cold plunge, mud room, and heated marble loungers, it became the perfect place to unwind after dinner each evening.

As someone who enjoys relaxing vacations more than action-packed itineraries, this quickly became my nightly routine.

If you’re someone who enjoys spas at resorts, I’d strongly recommend considering the Thermal Suite pass.

A different experience in every port

One thing I learned quickly is that every port day creates its own experience.

Since I’d already visited Key West, I wasn’t in a rush to get off the ship. Instead, I enjoyed one of the unexpected perks of cruising—having the ship almost to myself while many passengers explored ashore.

I spent time working out, relaxing at the spa, and watching a Florida rainstorm from my balcony. Oddly enough, it became one of my favorite afternoons of the trip.

In Bimini, I visited Virgin’s Beach Club and discovered beautiful turquoise water, a gorgeous pool, and plenty of places to relax.

My biggest recommendation? Arrive early.

The Beach Club was wonderfully peaceful in the morning, but it became much busier as the day went on. By arriving early, I enjoyed the best seating and had plenty of time before returning to the ship to enjoy a quiet afternoon at the nearly empty pool.

That became another pleasant surprise.

When most passengers are ashore, the ship can feel incredibly peaceful.

The dining exceeded my expectations

I'll admit, I expected cruise food to be average.

Virgin completely changed that assumption.

One of the things I appreciated most is that Virgin doesn’t rely on one giant dining room or buffet. Instead, there are multiple specialty restaurants included in your cruise fare.

My personal favorites were The Wake and Test Kitchen.

Extra Virgin wasn’t my favorite, although that had more to do with my gluten-free dietary restrictions than the restaurant itself. Nearly everyone I spoke with absolutely loved it.

I didn't have time to experience every restaurant onboard, which simply gives me another reason to return.

The Wake - Hamachi Crudo

Every cruise has its own personality

One of my favorite conversations happened over dinner when I met fellow passengers who were sailing on their 21st Virgin Voyages cruise.

They shared something I hadn’t really considered—every sailing has its own personality.

Weekend cruises departing from Miami often attract a younger crowd celebrating birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and weekend getaways.

Longer itineraries or cruises departing from different ports often have a completely different atmosphere.

That conversation reminded me why working with a travel advisor matters.

Matching someone with the right cruise line, itinerary, and sailing length can completely change the experience.

My biggest takeaway

Before this trip, I honestly wasn’t sure cruising was for me.

Now? I can’t wait to go again.

What surprised me most wasn’t the ship itself—it was discovering how much control you have over your own vacation.

You can fill every hour with shows, activities, fitness classes, excursions, and nightlife.

Or you can spend the day reading in a hammock, relaxing in a spa, enjoying an incredible meal, or watching the sunset over the open ocean.

There isn’t one right way to cruise.

That’s the beauty of it.

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m just not a cruise person,” I’d encourage you to keep an open mind. I used to say the exact same thing.

Sometimes the vacations we least expect are the ones that leave the biggest impression.

As a travel advisor, that’s probably the biggest lesson I brought home. Cruises aren’t one-size-fits-all. There truly is a cruise line, itinerary, and experience for almost every traveler. Finding the right fit is what transforms a vacation into an unforgettable experience.

And who knows? You might just discover, like I did, that your new favorite vacation is one you never thought you’d take.

Wake of the ship

First-time cruiser tips:

• Download the cruiseline’s app before you sail.

• Book specialty dining and shore excursions as early as possible.

• Arrive at the port early if you have priority boarding.

• Explore the ship while most guests are in port.

• Don’t overlook the value of your balcony.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.