I booked the wrong room on my first cruise. It was my biggest regret of the 7-day voyage.

Business Insider's reporter regretted booking a room at the front of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider Booking a room at the front of the ship was my biggest regret on my first cruise.

On Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, I learned that rooms at the front are bumpier than others.

I booked the front room of deck eight and felt seasick for most of my voyage.

My first night on a cruise ship was terrifying.

The floor trembled beneath me.

I was startled by booming noises coming from the decks above and below mine.

Was that furniture falling, sliding, and crashing into walls? My imagination was riddled with anxiety.

I sat stiffly on the couch at midnight, determined to stay awake and prepared for disaster.

I read the emergency instructions over and over for what felt like hours until I accidentally fell asleep.

I woke up to the sun shining through my cabin window.

I rushed out the door to ensure everything was all right.

As seemingly unfazed cruisers filled the buffet and lined up for the water slides, I realized I'd experienced a normal night at sea.

This was back in April 2022, when I booked my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's 18-deck megaship, Wonder of the Seas .