Royal Caribbean

For my very first cruise, I knew I wanted to start big.

I booked a 7-night sailing on Wonder of the Seas, one of Royal Carribean's Oasis Class ships and the current largest cruise ship in the world. This title, however, will be taken by Icon of the Seas at the end of the month. 

For the length of this cruise, I stayed with my sister in a 172-square-foot inside cabin.

During the initial planning phases of your cruise, you're going to have to decide what cruise line is the best fit for you. Whether you are looking to splurge on luxury line Viking Cruises or want to take a budget cruise on MSC Cruises, there's the perfect cruise line for everyone. 

Those looking for the ultimate cruise experience on a family-friendly cruise line should consider the spacious suites onboard Royal Caribbean ships. 

While the suite experience is not quite the "ship-within-a-ship" concept that other cruise lines have -- most notably Celebrity Cruises' The Retreat, Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven, and MSC Cruises' Yacht Club -- all suite guests onboard Royal Caribbean ships have access to perks and benefits that those in standard cabins do not. 

Now that you have decided to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, how do you pick out the perfect cabin or suite? 

Royal Caribbean has some of the largest cruise ships in the world, meaning that you have a variety of stateroom options. In fact, Icon of the Seas, their newest ship, will have a staggering 28 different cabin categories to choose from. 

You want to make sure that you pick the right one to be your "home away from home" while onboard your cruise. 

The very first cruise ship I ever sailed on was Oasis of the Seas. At the time, I did not realize that I was setting my cruise vacation bar so high. It was an incredible trip, and I immediately fell in love with cruising. 

The endless sea views, onboard fun, and tons of tasty food made it a great family vacation, not to mention the fantastic ports of call that we visited.  

Before you can board your cruise ship and officially start your vacation, you must check-in for your cruise. Just like boarding an airplane, cruise lines require guests to check-in for their vacation; during this process, the cruise lines confirms your official documentation and emergency contacts and often requires you to fill out a health questionnaire.

Two of the biggest cruise lines in the industry are Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, and it is likely that if you’ve heard of one, you have probably heard of the other. 

Both these cruise lines have a lot of similarities, but they also have some key differences as well. When it comes to style, amenities, and itineraries, there can be a lot to consider when choosing which cruise line to sail with for your next vacation. 

Modern cruise ships are built to be bigger and better than ever before. By today’s standards, cruise ships are essentially floating resorts, holding upwards of 10,000 people onboard, including crew.

In fact, the top decks of the newest cruise ships look like amusement parks with water slides, roller coasters, and go-karts! It’s easy to forget that you’re sailing on a cruise ship onboard these mega-ships because there are so many attractions and onboard thrills.

You have paid the deposit on your Royal Caribbean cruise and are officially in cruise countdown mode! You can now start daydreaming about waking up to specialty coffees each morning, lounging by the pool with your drink of choice, and cooling down with a soda or bottled water after an adventurous day in port.