I took my first cruise and made 10 mistakes that spoiled my voyage

One of the unique things about cruising is that most meals, snacks, and drinks are included in the cruise rate.

But on large ships like Wonder of the Seas, more than a dozen restaurants with specialty offerings, such as sushi, are not included and incur additional charges, either as a one-time fee or per dish.

While show reservations aren’t available until you board the ship, specialty restaurants can be reserved as soon as you book your trip. I booked specialty restaurants for nearly every night of the cruise.

I was surprised that some of my most delicious and satisfying meals were in the restaurants included for guests. There were a handful of buffets with different types of food, and the main dining room served a three-course meal with varying menu items each night.

These complementary options satisfied every craving. One of the best meals I had was in the main dining room.

Since I booked so many specialty restaurants, I didn’t have time to try all the buffets or eat in the main dining room more than once. Next time, I’ll save money and eat more included meals.