Disappointing photos show what it's really like to go on a cruise
When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.
This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests on the way to the port.
Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.
My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale was as frustrating as standing behind taller patrons at a concert.
The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.
But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.
As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even one as large as the Wonder of the Seas could feel overcrowded.
While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.
With a whopping three large pools and several plunge and whirlpools on the outdoor decks, I was surprised to find that these spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.
A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider that crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these, using their best judgment.
The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.
I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions and keep up with my tour guide.
It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.
The Royal Caribbean rep told Business Insider that the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.
And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.
I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but I couldn't do so without losing my tour crew.
