You will get your steps in: How to get the most of the world's biggest cruise ship

By the end of my first full day on Icon of the Seas, I had taken nearly 9,000 steps.

During a preview sailing on Royal Caribbean International's new ship last weekend – the biggest cruise ship in the world – I walked more than I often do at home, according to my Apple Health app, and still felt like I’d only seen about one-third of it.

My three-night cruise was shorter than the weeklong Caribbean itineraries the ship will offer from Miami, but even passengers on board for seven nights may feel crunched for time. At nearly 1,200 feet long and 250,800 gross tons, trying to make the most of your time on board can feel like a daunting task.

But it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for maximizing your cruise experience without getting overwhelmed:

Choose your neighborhood

The ship is divided into distinct areas or neighborhoods, a concept carried over from previous Royal Caribbean ships. Each has a clear identity, but also generally enough variety that guests don’t necessarily have to schlep back and forth.

“We want it to be inhabitable throughout the day,” said Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer and senior vice president for the line's parent company Royal Caribbean Group. “We want you to be able to hang out in the space and have easy access to food, beverage, entertainment, activities, space and really feel like for that purpose of that neighborhood you can do everything.”

Guests could choose one or two neighborhoods to hang out in on a given day and still have plenty to do. Chill Island alone features four pools, along with whirlpools, table tennis, Swim & Tonic swim-up bar – and more.

Guests can also take a break from swimming or sunbathing to grab a bite at nearby spots like the Windjammer buffet or Mexican eatery El Loco Fresh (with accompanying bar Cantina Fresca). There’s a Sprinkles ice cream station too.

I spent the better part of one evening in the Royal Promenade, grabbing dinner at pizza joint Sorrento’s. I then strolled from Spotlight Karaoke to the new bar Dueling Pianos before finally getting a nightcap at 1400 Lobby Bar.

Even kid-centric Surfside was built with parents in mind too. The neighborhood’s The Lemon Post, for instance, offers two separate drink menus.

Adults can order cocktails like the Shade Thrower (made with Bacardi Superior rum, mango and guava syrup, orange and pineapple juices, and house-made lemonade), while smaller guests can choose from their own range of lemonade-based beverages, like the Blue Raspberry Ocean (made with blue raspberry syrup and Swedish Fish).

Try something new

Icon features many firsts for Royal Caribbean, with a range of food and beverage options, accommodations and activities making their debut.

Knowing I could visit some of the venues on the line’s other ships, I prioritized new ones, getting lunch at AquaDome Market – try the rice bowls at Feta Mediterranean – and carving out time before dinner to stop by Bubbles, the line’s first walk-up champagne bar.

Still, familiar venues have also been made new again.

Loyal guests come to expect certain staples – such as the Schooner Bar – but the line works to keep them fresh, according to Schneider. “We will arguably evolve every tradition in some way, shape or form,” he said.

The Trellis Bar, for example, is back, this time with a food menu. Japanese restaurant, Izumi, is also larger on Icon than in its previous locations.

“Some of the new experiences are really targeted toward new-to-cruise (guests), recognizing once they experience some of the traditions, we believe they're gonna love those traditions as well,” he added.

Get lost

Even with deck plans available on the Royal Caribbean app and posted signage on board, I got turned around a few times. But it doesn’t hurt to get a little lost.

One night, I stumbled upon a staircase leading from the Royal Promenade to Central Park that offered quicker and easier access between the two than the other routes I’d taken. The latter also features inconspicuous alcoves with chairs that provide a nice place to perch.

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The ship’s teen lounge Social020, for passengers between 13 and 17, was even designed with discretion in mind. “If you are a teen and you want to get there, you have to search for it,” said Erin Stransky, the line's senior manager, Adventure Ocean and Family Strategic Operations. “That wasn't a mistake. We don't want adults just to be able to wander in and take over … because it’s an amazing venue.”

In the end, while Icon of the Seas is massive, you don’t have to race around to have a great time. Plus, if you don’t get to everything on your list, you can always book another trip.

Editor’s note: The reporter on this story received access to this cruise from Royal Caribbean International, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to make the most of Icon of the Seas without getting overwhelmed