“I went on the world’s biggest cruise ship - here’s everything I found on there that blew my mind”

I'm not a cruise person. I've never been on one in my life, none of my family has, and it’s not something that has ever crossed my mind. But like most Gen Zs who love a holiday and maximising their annual leave, I was excited to get away for a week.

But this was no average holiday; I was about to spend a week on the world's biggest cruise ship. And the Legend of the Seas was indeed pretty damn huge...

I was expecting it to be a glorified ferry, like the one I took to France in Year 10, but it was far from that. To put into perspective how big the Legend of the Seas really is, it's the size of the Eiffel Tower.

So yeah, massive.

Boasting 20 decks, the ship is a whopping 364 meters long and has a capacity of 5,610 guests plus 2,350 staff members. Guests also have access to 18 bars, 13 complimentary restaurants, 13 speciality restaurants and dozens of other amenities.

It's basically a mini floating village - I still can’t comprehend the number of things Royal Caribbean managed to fit on the ship.

The Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship, and after nearly two years in construction, the ship was on its inaugural sail from Malaga, Spain, to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

Passengers planning to set sail on the cruise, however, will get the chance to sail from Barcelona, a vibrant Spanish city full of food and culture and end their trip in Civitavecchia, Italy, which isn't far from the historic city of Rome.

Our home for the week was perfect, such an amazing space (LADbible)

So, let's get down to the trip.

We stepped off the coach to check in; it’s basically like airport security, but way faster and more efficient and with Ariana Grande's ‘Rain on Me’ playing too - can’t say you get that at Manchester Airport.

After that, we stepped on the humongous ship, welcomed by singing Royal Caribbean staff who cheered us when we walked in.

It's an unreal experience stepping on it for the first time, with a live band playing and staff singing and dancing; you can immediately go and grab a drink at one of the bars on the middle deck while you wait for your room to be ready.

When our room was ready, we went to check it out. My boyfriend and I had a family room, with a flat-screen TV, a gorgeous balcony with a sea view, a spacious wardrobe and a light-up mirror to do your makeup (obviously, the most important thing). There’s also a little bit for the kids, too: a bunk bed equipped with two TVs at the end, and a curtain to divide the room so you can get rid of them for a bit if needed.

I was really surprised by the size of it; I had always pictured rooms on a cruise to be dinky, dark and unappealing, but this felt like a 5* hotel.

The Legend of the Seas is home to dozens of fun amenities (LADbible)

We later explored the pools; there are seven, including an adults-only Hideaway (yes, it’s giving Love Island). DJs and live bands are playing while you soak up the sun; there are bars that serve an array of different cocktails, including my favourite, a strawberry daiquiri, and cafes near the pool that serve light snacks. My dream.

They also have a Starbucks! I'm not kidding when I say you don’t even feel like you’re on a ship. Here's what else I discovered on board:

The Hollywood Supper Club

After a jam-packed first day of exploring the world's biggest cruise ship, my boyfriend and I headed back to the room to get ready for our dinner at one of the speciality restaurants: The Hollywood Supper Club - a formal immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re going back in time with jazz, cocktails and food.

People often boast about the quality of food on cruises, but this dinner was a full culinary experience with live performances. There were seven courses, including medium-rare steak for our main course and various desserts including french toast and chocolates, all accompanied by cocktails which paired perfectly with your course.

The dinner was an amazing immersive experience, it was truly my favourite part! (LADbible)

Crown’s Edge Zip Line

Another hidden gem on board was the zip line. It includes a small walk over the ship (at an added cost, which can vary), and then you’re swung around the side of it, over the sea.

Word of warning, though: you have to book a slot quite in advance as it gets busy.

Now, let’s get one thing straight: there was no way I was doing this, so my boyfriend luckily tested it for me, twice. Overall, he gave it a 10/10.

There was no chance I was doing this (LADbible)

Category 6 Waterpark

I know waterparks are fairly common, but Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas has the largest waterpark at sea. Six thrilling waterslides located on Thrill Island, which again, my boyfriend kindly tested for me and again, he did every one twice.

It was huge; we couldn’t believe there was a whole waterpark at the rear end of the ship (next to a basketball court, might I add).

There was plenty to choose from: Pressure Drop, Frightening Bolt, Hurricane Hunter, Storm Surge or Storm Chaser. I won’t ruin them for you, but again, any thrillseeker would be in heaven.

I've never seen a waterpark like this! (LADbible)

Absolute Zero

Now, the rarest feature I discovered was, in fact, an ice rink. Yes, an ice rink in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Here, they put on shows for guests which were utterly incredible. It was truly an experience to go and watch them after dinner; it's also a great form of entertainment for families and couples.

How do they even fit this on a cruise?! (LADbible)

I get why people retire and live out their lives on these things now, and who knows...maybe I'll start cruisemaxxing after all.