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Buena Vista Images/Getty Images, Joey Hadden/Insider
- Insider reporters have sailed on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Cunard cruises.
- Together, they've spent nearly 25 days at sea since the world returned to cruising in 2021.
- While the cruises offered new adventures, large crowds and long lines were disappointing for some.
Amanda Krause/Insider, Joey Hadden/Insider, Mikhaila Friel/Insider, and Monica Humphries/Insider
Between 2021 and 2022, Insider reporters have sailed on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Carnival's Cunard cruise lines.
Buena Vista Images/Getty Images
Joey Hadden/Insider
Read more: Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise
Joey Hadden/Insider
Read more: Step aboard the world's largest cruise ship, which is so big it has 8 'neighborhoods' spread across 18 stories
Joey Hadden/Insider
Joey Hadden sailed on the world's largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — in April 2022.
Joey Hadden/Insider
During the eight-day journey, Hadden rarely had a moment of solitude outside of her cruise cabin.
Joey Hadden/Insider
A Royal Caribbean representative told Insider there were 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests aboard Wonder of the Seas.
Joey Hadden/Insider
To her disappointment, Hadden found herself continually losing the challenge of finding an open chair on the Wonder of the Seas' pool deck.
A Royal Caribbean representative told Insider that crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes, but they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment.
Joey Hadden/Insider
Read more: I packed for a weeklong cruise with just a carry-on and a backpack. Here are 10 items I'm glad I brought and 7 things I wish I had with me.
Monica Humphries/Insider
Read more: I was on Carnival Cruise Line's first ship to set sail in over a year. Here's what it was like — from boarding to excursions and everything in-between.
Monica Humphries/Insider
Monica wanted to enjoy the show, but because she didn't arrive early, she had to stand in the back of the auditorium.
A Carnival representative told Monica that Carnival's "comedy shows are very popular with our guests, which is why we offer multiple performances several times during our sailings to accommodate those who want to take in a comedy show. Seating in the comedy venue is on a first-come, first-served basis."
Joey Hadden/Insider
Whether disembarking or waiting for customer service, the reporters encountered plenty of long lines during their cruises.
Joey Hadden/Insider
When Hadden arrived at the port in Fort Lauderdale to board the Wonder of the Seas, hoards of people waited with her to check into the ship.
Humphries also found long lines to disembark the Carnival Vista at each port during her trip.
Joey Hadden/Insider
On the Wonder of the Seas, Hadden often saw passengers pack the main buffet area.
Monica Humphries/Insider
Each time she needed help, Humphries dreaded going to the service desk. She thought the line was always long and slow-moving, and she spoke to passengers who claimed they waited more than an hour to speak to someone.
Monica felt frustrated that there weren't more people to help passengers with their hiccups, and she debated whether she'd rather go without help than sacrifice time on the ship.
Monica Humphries/Insider
While she ate at a handful of the ship's restaurants, she often found herself at the buffet. Unfortunately, food never seemed to be labeled properly. Monica's first meal involved what was supposed to be a cheese empanada. One bite in, and she quickly realized it was pork.
A day later, after she asked a crew member working the buffet whether the spring rolls had meat and she was assured they were vegetarian, she discovered meat again after taking a bite.
Mikhaila Friel/Insider
Friel also had never been on a cruise until she boarded Cunard's Queen Elizabeth ship in October 2021 and made the common mistake during her first dinner aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth.
She initially figured she would dine alone for the first evening and then opt to sit with a group later when she had made friends. That wasn't the case.
Instead, Mikhaila sat by herself each night for dinner. Luckily, she ended up making friends at the tables next to her, but it was often a little awkward as their food would be delivered at different times.
Read more: 6 things that I wish I knew before setting foot on a cruise ship and that all first-time cruisers should keep in mind
Joey Hadden/Insider
Read more: I packed for a weeklong cruise with just a carry-on and a backpack. Here are 10 items I'm glad I brought and 7 things I wish I had with me.
Amanda Krause/Insider
Amanda Krause had never traveled by ship before sailing on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Wish, in September 2022.
While she expected a chill in the air during nights at sea, she wasn't prepared for the cold air-conditioning that blasted indoors at all times. She and her sister found themselves shivering at restaurants, in the Walt Disney Theatre, and at bars.
Read more: I packed for a Disney cruise with just a carry-on and personal item. Here are 3 things I'm glad I brought and 5 I regret not having.
Mikhaila Friel/Insider
Europe in the fall can be pretty chilly, so I wore a coat during my excursions in Amsterdam. However, I wish I'd brought a larger selection of warmer clothes and accessories to wear on outdoor areas of the ship that were affected by the wind, something I hadn't considered. A woolly hat and a pair of gloves certainly wouldn't have gone amiss.
Read more: I packed for my first solo cruise with a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Here are 4 things I wish I'd packed, and 3 I'm glad I brought.
Joey Hadden/Insider
While the reporters experienced some speed bumps regardless of their chosen cruise line, there were plenty of positives.
The reporters disembarked their ships with a new understanding of a popular way to travel. The group explored new places, made new friends, and ate plenty of food.
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