3 mistakes I made during my first European cruise kept me from making the most of my trip

Joey HaddenMar 29, 2024, 03:00 IST

Business Insider's reporter wishes she'd socialized more and avoided jet lag for her first European cruise. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I took my first European cruise with Virgin Voyages in August 2022.
Despite the trip's highlights, I regretted making some mistakes during the voyage.

My first European cruise was awesome — but it could have been better.

In August 2023, I embarked on my first international cruise through the Mediterranean Sea with the luxury, adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages.

The ship sailed round-trip from Barcelona for seven days, with port stops in France, Italy, and Spain. I was in awe of the historical destinations I visited, from Corsica to Ibiza. And the ship itself was full of unique activities, fine dining establishments, and luxurious details, from vibrant, modern decks to a VIP lounge.

But looking back on the trip, I made some mistakes that kept me from making the most of the voyage.

I took a nap within the first hour of my voyage, leaving me jet-lagged for days.

The author started her trip by taking a nap in her cabin.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

As a New Yorker who often travels internationally, I have one rule to avoid jet lag — stay up through the first day, regardless of exhaustion.

Well, on this cruise, I broke it.

After a red-eye flight to Barcelona and a one-night stay in a houseboat I found on Airbnb, where I hardly slept, I was exhausted by the first day of my cruise.

And being six hours from my time zone didn't help.

Once I boarded the ship at 3 p.m., I showered and ate before taking a power nap. I slept much longer than planned and woke up at 7 p.m.

As a result, I was reluctantly awake for most of that first night. I don't remember when I finally dozed off, but I didn't wake up until noon on day two.

The chaotic sleeping schedule left me jet-lagged for days. I napped each afternoon rather than maximizing my time exploring the ship and port stops, and I watched movies in my cabin when I couldn't sleep at night.

My voyage was halfway over when I finally adjusted to the time zone. So, next time, I'll remember what happens when I break my jet lag rule and opt for a coffee over a nap.

As a New Yorker who often travels internationally, I have one rule to avoid jet lag — stay up through the first day, regardless of exhaustion.

Well, on this cruise, I broke it.

After a red-eye flight to Barcelona and a one-night stay in a houseboat I found on Airbnb, where I hardly slept, I was exhausted by the first day of my cruise.

And being six hours from my time zone didn't help.

Once I boarded the ship at 3 p.m., I showered and ate before taking a power nap. I slept much longer than planned and woke up at 7 p.m.

As a result, I was reluctantly awake for most of that first night. I don't remember when I finally dozed off, but I didn't wake up until noon on day two.

My voyage was halfway over when I finally adjusted to the time zone. So, next time, I'll remember what happens when I break my jet lag rule and opt for a coffee over a nap.

I should have socialized more with other passengers.

The adults-only cruise ship was full of social passengers from around the world. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On an adults-only cruise ship, there were plenty of passengers to socialize with. And making friends seemed to be the vibe. Strangers spoke to me at dinners, on the pool deck, and during small group excursions.

While I appreciated these brief interactions, I wish I'd made an effort to meet up with these cruisers again. There were travelers aboard from around the world, and I even met some people from NYC.

While I was traveling with my partner and enjoyed activities with him on the ship, some things would have been fun to do in a larger group, like playing board games and racing in the arcade.

In the future, I'll try to develop deeper connections to participate in group activities and perhaps make friends to meet up with at home or during upcoming travels — whether traveling solo or with my partner.

While I appreciated these brief interactions, I wish I'd made an effort to meet up with these cruisers again. There were travelers aboard from around the world, and I even met some people from NYC.

While I was traveling with my partner and enjoyed activities with him on the ship, some things would have been fun to do in a larger group, like playing board games and racing in the arcade.

At the end of the trip, I regretted not spending more time in Europe.

Barcelona viewed from the cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On my flight back to NYC, I thought about how taxing it was to travel so far from home and how fortunate I am to explore other countries.

So, I should have extended the trip to make the most of my time across the Atlantic. It was my first time visiting Spain, and I hardly spent time in Barcelona. Viewing the city's skyline and surrounding mountains from the ship's decks made me long for a chance to explore more.

But after disembarking the ship, I headed straight to the airport for my afternoon flight home.

So, next time I'm on a European cruise, I'll book a few more nights in the ship's home port on the front or back end of the trip to make the most of it.