Left: The author wearing orange and black on a cruise ship balcony with open waters behind her. Right: A wide view of palm trees in front of buildings and mountains in Barcelona.
Business Insider's travel reporter took her first European cruise through the Mediterranean Sea.
  • I embarked on my first European cruise through the Mediterranean Sea in July 2023.
  • Looking back, I wish I had booked more time on the continent before or after my voyage.
  • An extended trip would have given me more time to explore, making the long flights worth it.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" A fellow passenger asked me on the last night of my first European cruise.