I was afraid of cruises for years. After boarding my first, these 6 things surprised me the most.
Press Room
My first cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady was way better than I expected.
Justine Lee
Despite my lifelong fear of the ocean, I decided to face my anxieties and book my first cruise.
As an introvert, I was surprised that the Virgin Voyages ship offered activities beyond partying.
I was also relieved that each port had multiple checkpoints, making reboarding easier.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a fear of getting trapped in the middle of the ocean. So, the idea of going on a cruise never crossed my mind.
However, my mom has always wanted to take one, and since I love traveling with her, I decided it was time to push past my trepidation and book a seven-night Virgin Voyages itinerary aboard the Valiant Lady ship.
This cruise, which traveled from Rome to Barcelona, was the ultimate test of my anxieties. I fully expected to be curled up in a ball, counting down the seconds until I could hop off the ship.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong about what the experience would entail. Here are six things that surprised me most about my first cruise.
I was shocked that I didn't experience any motion sickness.
Justine Lee
It sounds almost ridiculous to say I had nightmares prior to a weeklong vacation, but as I prepared for this trip, my first-time jitters overwhelmed my anxiety and overall judgment.
Something that especially worried me was the possibility of motion sickness, which I have previously experienced on smaller ferries.
So, just in case, I packed bottles of medicine and hoped I would be comfortable on board. Surprisingly, I never felt the ship move or shake, and I got some of the best sleep I’ve ever had while traveling.
There were plenty of activities on the ship that didn't require partying.
Justine Lee
Being on an adults-only cruise has its perks, but I was concerned the entire ship would go into party mode at any given opportunity.
Although there were a number of lively, energetic nightlife activities for those interested in participating — including shows by the resident drag queen and gambling — there were also spaces for those who prefer calmer pastimes during their vacations.
During the trip, I got a manicure at the salon, took multiple spin classes at the gym, unwound after a travel day with a sunset meditation class, and even joined an arts-and-crafts workshop.
After a week’s worth of grounding activities, my fear of being overstimulated on a ship dissipated. Instead, I felt more relaxed than I have in a long time.
Even though we had limited time at each port, I still got a great taste of the Mediterranean.
Justine Lee
Before going on this cruise, I expected to have very little time exploring each destination we docked at. However, to my surprise, we were able to make the most of each port we visited.
On the Amalfi Coast, my mom and I booked a full-day beach excursion, and in Cannes, we visited Nice and Monaco.
We also did some solo exploration in Ibiza to take in the sights on our own terms, which was just as fun.
Although we had limited time in each city, we made the most of every minute by grabbing local food, checking out the top sites, and walking every inch we could.
There were various checkpoints in place to ensure I made it back to the ship on time.
Justine Lee
I’d watched enough movies to picture myself sprinting down the dock as the ship sailed away, so missing an embarkation after a day ashore was probably my biggest fear.
Luckily, the Valiant Lady had many protocols in place to make sure passengers returned to the ship before it headed to the next destination.
Even at a busy port or city stop, it was easy for me to find my way back to the ship thanks to shuttle buses, clearly marked signs at various checkpoints, crew members in Virgin Voyages shirts, and the Virgin Voyages app, which always updated with accurate boarding times.
There were so many places to dine, I didn't even touch the food I'd packed.
Justine Lee
My mom and I brought some instant ramen in our suitcase in case the food on the ship wasn’t to our liking. Despite our preparations, though, we disembarked with our supply untouched.
Suffice to say, the dining options aboard the ship were delicious and absolutely endless. My favorites included Ariya, an Indian restaurant, and The Wake, which offered traditional surf-and-turf dishes like steak and lobster.
I also really enjoyed the various happy hours hosted by the Greek-style bar, as well as the delicious scoops at the ice cream shop, which came in flavors like rum raisin, chocolate hazelnut, and malted strawberry milkshake.
The huge ship was intimidating, but there always seemed to be a crew member ready to help.
Justine Lee
I pride myself on having a really sharp sense of direction wherever I am in the world. But I won’t lie: I got lost almost every single day on the ship.
Thankfully, there was always a friendly crew member nearby who would point my mom and me in the right direction — or even walk us directly to where we needed to go.
