I went on my first cruise. 15 things surprised me about this type of vacation

Joey Hadden's first cruise was a seven-day voyage on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. The reporter was taken aback by the sheer size of the ship, which looked like a skyscraper on its side, floating in the water. The 18-deck vessel measured 1,200 feet in length and 210 feet in width. Upon boarding, Hadden felt as though he had entered a small town in the middle of the ocean.

For $2,000, he secured a seven-night stay in an ocean-view stateroom on deck 8. The ship boasts 2,867 staterooms, and Hadden booked a mid-tier room that was slightly above windowless interior staterooms and below balcony rooms and suites. His 179-square-foot cabin featured a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and an ocean view. Despite expecting a cramped space, Hadden found the cabin spacious and well-organized with ample storage for his belongings.

One of the most surprising aspects of the cruise was the size of the window in his stateroom - much larger than he had anticipated. An electronic shade could be lowered to reveal grand views of the ocean and the destinations they were visiting. The room's interior was reminiscent of a shopping mall, complete with shops, stands, restaurants, and large sculptures.

Hadden noticed that taking the stairs was often faster than using the elevators, which were frequently crowded and slow. The ship's layout proved challenging to navigate, and he frequently found himself on the wrong section of the ship. Maps were provided on every floor to assist with navigation.

The cruise offered mandatory safety training, but Hadden appreciated the convenience of watching the videos from his cabin. The ship was equipped with 24 elevators, but he preferred using the stairs whenever possible. The indoor communal spaces felt more like a mall than a ship, with live music playing in the background throughout the trip.