After going on more than 50 cruises, there are 4 things I still hate about this type of vacation

Although it’s understandable that cruises are limited by space and can only provide so much seating in each venue, the lack of chairs in many ships’ most popular areas continues to be a source of frustration for me.

On every cruise I’ve been on, you’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning if you want a deck chair by the pool.

Passengers stake their claim on loungers with towels and personal items — often before sunrise — meaning that if you snooze, you lose your opportunity to soak up the sun.

Finding a seat can also prove challenging at popular onboard events, like trivia, where I’ve often seen participants resort to sitting on the floor.

Gaining access to other in-demand cruise activities can be an equally daunting task.

Although I enjoy the Broadway-style shows found on most modern cruise ships, these incredible performances naturally draw big crowds.

To manage them, many cruises require travelers to reserve their seats weeks before a ship departs — if you miss the booking window, you could be out of luck. I’ve found spots can fill up quickly for popular shows.

A similar process is common for specialty dining venues at sea. In many cases, coveted extra-cost eateries have run out of reservations long before I boarded the ship.

Whenever I did snag a sought-after reservation, I hated having to plan the rest of my day around one meal.

On cruises, I prefer a more laid-back spontaneity, and having to book things so far in advance spoils my sense of freedom.

One way to secure early access to the popular bookings I mentioned above is to earn status.

Major lines have loyalty programs that reward repeat cruisers with perks, including the ability to book offerings earlier than other travelers.

Unfortunately, this can create an unbalanced system and make it tough to want to experiment with different cruise lines.

Even as a seasoned cruiser, I don’t have amazing loyalty perks with most lines because I’ve sailed with so many different ones.

My highest status level is with Disney Cruise Line, so I tend to book its ships whenever possible so I can have a leg up in securing my top choice of port adventures, dining options, and more.

I’d love to branch out and try other cruise lines, but the barrier to entry for a first-timer can be steep.

There’s nothing I love more than leisurely days spent soaking up the culture of the place I’m visiting.

From sipping coffee and people-watching at a café to wandering through a town center, I adore taking in a destination’s simple pleasures as much as its major tourist attractions.

However, this type of unhurried exploration is rarely possible on a cruise. When I set off to explore a port, I know I must be back on the ship at a certain time. That deadline looms over my head throughout my visit.

Time is of the essence when you’re only docked for a few hours, and I feel pressured to make the most of my limited sightseeing time.

Although this frenetic pace is not my ideal way to see a new city, I’ve learned to embrace it somewhat and treat my cruise stops as a sampler — a highlight reel of what that locale has to offer.

This helps me determine which cities I want to come back to in the future to explore more thoroughly.