I took a 7-day cruise with carry-on luggage and a backpack. See everything on my packing list and how I organized it all.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author standing on the top deck of a cruise ship and clothes inside a cabin closet
Business Insider's reporter shares her packing list for a seven-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I went on my first cruise — here are 15 things that surprised me about this type of travel

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author on the largest cruise ship in the world
The reporter's first cruise was on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I booked the wrong room on my first cruise, and it was my biggest regret of the 7-day voyage

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author standing on an outdoor cruise ship deck with plants and water slides in the background, and inside a cruise stateroom with a white bed in front of a rectangular window showing the front of the ship.
Business Insider's reporter regretted booking a room at the front of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I went to Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. It's not for me, but I can see why cruise-goers love it.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author in her snorkeling gear and a view of CocoCay from above
Business Insider's reporter went to Perfect Day at CocoCay on her first cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent a week eating my way through one of the world's largest cruise ships and had 10 outstanding dishes

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author looking down at a dish of food and a banana pudding in a mason jar
Business Insider's reporter dined at several restaurants during her cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I went to the Caribbean for the first time during a cruise, and I wish I'd had more time in these 2 ports

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author standing in front of a cruise ship and a view of a coastline in Honduras from a cruise ship
Business Insider's reporter took a Caribbean cruise for the first time and wished for a longer stay in Honduras and Mexico.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I've been to Royal Caribbean's private islands 3 times. It's no surprise the cruise line is taking nearly all its Caribbean sailings there.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Style
People inside the pool at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay
Cruisers love Royal Caribbean's private island — known as Perfect Day at CocoCay — so much so that the company is expanding its destination portfolio to send 90% of its Caribbean voyages to.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I cruised almost the same itinerary with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, and there was a clear winner

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A woman and her husband dining on a cruise ship and smiling.
My husband and I have fallen in love with going on cruises.

Felicia Slattery

I paid $155 for a specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean's latest giant cruise ship — it's not for everyone

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Style
miso lobster bisque with caviar on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
I tried the new omakase dinner on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas — an almost $155 per person affair.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's latest giant cruise ship — see what the $200-a-night vacation is like

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Sports
Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas ship docked at a harbor.
Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

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