I've been on 105-day cruises, but this 13-day one was the toughest. Its itinerary had a major flaw I'll avoid on future trips.

Lauren Mack

• I went on a 13-day cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Jewel that left little time for relaxation.
• We only spent two days at sea which left me missing out on the ship's perks and feeling exhausted.
• After 25+ cruises, I say the best cadence of busy port days to relaxing sea days is a ratio of 2:1.

As a frequent cruiser, I've been on a few port-heavy itineraries, but none hit me quite as hard as Norwegian...