Your First Day on a Cruise
Ready to take off on your first cruise? Here are some tips about what to expect how to go on during your first day on a cruise.
Finally, the date of departure has arrived! After all your careful planning, you're ready to sail. But, if you're a first time cruiser, you may be experiencing a little bit of anxiety, uncertain about what will happen and what to do. Relax, the cruise lines have seen it all before and are ready to make your trip easy and enjoyable.
When you arrive at the terminal, for most voyages there will be a crowd. So, just as you would for a busy flight, a popular movie or any other social activity, allow lots of time. Knowing you have plenty of time to get done what's needed always decreases the stress level dramatically.
You'll be eager to get your carefully packed luggage on board. Don't worry. The porters are almost always very experienced and do a great job of making sure that everything is taken care of. They'll put your suitcases in a bin that will be loaded onto the ship.
Airlines only occasionally lose luggage, and most of that happens because of confusion from connecting flights. No chance of that here, so relax. They'll deliver your bags to your cabin as soon as possible, but be realistic. They typically have thousands of bags to sort and deliver and that takes a little time. A moderate tip can't hurt, though. Some recommend $1 per bag, but a minimum of $5 is reasonable these days.
When you get inside the terminal building, you'll (of course) have to wait in line (except on vary rare occasions). You'll walk through the security facilities - X-ray, metal detector and whatever else they come up with next. If you've had any experience with airport security, you'll usually find this much less stressful.
Just exercise common sense and don't make any foolish jokes, and don't try to take any liquor on board. That's not so much a security risk as it is the cruise lines wanting to encourage you to buy what they offer. Some find it annoying, but others just see it as part of cruising. Save yourself some money and hassle and read the fine print before you leave, then follow its suggestions.
You'll be provided with a number or letter and invited to wait in the Embarkation Lounge until you're called to board the ship. That's a good opportunity to take a deep breath and maybe even strike up a few interesting conversations with more experienced passengers. Most people about to leave for a cruise are in a good mood and are happy to answer questions.
If you were running late, you may just be asked to get right on board. Don't worry, though. Enjoy being treated like a movie star when the ship's photographers snap your picture. Just smile and act like you do it every day.
Now you have a chance to walk around the ship, find your cabin or explore some of the amenities offered. If you get lost, again don't worry. Just ask one of the dozens of friendly cruise line employees. Most are very practiced at helping out and, despite always being tremendously busy, are happy to direct you when they can.
Most of all, enjoy!
What To Expect
In decades past, cruise ships were sometimes described as floating hotels. Today, they are so gargantuan they might better be said to be floating cities. You've stepped on board and suddenly you enter an enormous maze of levels, rooms, walkways and corridors containing cabins.
You can be stressed, or you can look at your situation as an adventure. Part of the fun for novice cruisers is to find their way around a new ship. You get to explore all the public amenities - the swimming pools, the restaurants, the gym, the theater and so much more.
But if you've already had a long flight and a long, crowded wait to get on board, you may want to visit your cabin first. Right this way! You'll want to have a small carry-on with a change of clothing and some toiletries, since your baggage won't arrive in the room for a few hours.
You'll want to have a map of the ship in hand, but don't worry if you're not so good at navigation. After all, you're not a sailor but a passenger. There are plenty of people around ready to assist you. Some lines will have someone take you directly to your cabin personally. Others will offer some guidance and scoot off to take care of the hundred things they need to do every hour.
Exercise a little patience and good will. Rest assured that the employees are doing the best they can. If you get lost, laugh it off and just keep asking for directions and referring to the map. Sooner or later, usually sooner, you'll find your way. Then you can practice finding it again.
You'll probably be surprised at the size of your cabin. The photos always make them look larger. For anyone who has seen old pirate ship movies, then seen a real pirate ship that's often a surprise, too. Things have always been smaller on a ship, for obvious reasons.
Small, it may be, but they make amazingly clever use of the space available. Get familiar with the cabinets and drawers and other facilities. You'll probably pick up a few good tips about how to modify your bathroom at home!
You'll be given a dining assignment and (usually) a ship's credit card. These days, the dining arrangements are very flexible. If you don't like the table you're at, changing is very easy. If you don't like the time, there are many other options now. A polite request goes a long way, if you have to ask someone to make a change.
If provided, use the ship's credit card for any purchases on board. Sometimes it will double as the key card for your cabin. Try not to lose it, since you'll be inconveniencing the ship employees and yourself. But don't worry too much if you do. It's possible to obtain a replacement. The cruise lines have seen it all.
Most of all, try to relax and look at the whole experience as an adventure.
Tips for a Smooth First Cruise Day
Since a modern cruise ship is so large and complex - with many levels, dozens of public rooms (the gym, several restaurants, bowling alley, shopping mall, etc), you can easily get lost. Don't worry! There's nowhere to go that you can't easily find your way from. After all, if you don't jump overboard, eventually you'll run out of places to be lost from.
Take the map with you and stroll casually around the behemoth. Visit the dining area and locate a public restroom. Saunter through the shops. Find the Internet cafe, if you just have to check your email and didn't bring your own laptop. There's always an information office on board ready to help you with maps, event announcements and brochures of things to do.
Sooner or later, you'll probably wind up in some area and have no idea where your cabin or the restaurant is. Don't feel embarrassed. You're not the first to have that problem on a ship that's almost 900 feet long and has enough levels to equal a 10-story building.
Read the ship's newsletter and you'll start to feel like an experienced cruiser. You'll find fun gossip, helpful event information and lots of other useful tidbits. Take advantage of one of the many offers of a drink, but keep in mind that these are rarely free. Know what things cost before you get too big a shock.
If you have time, and hopefully you booked a cruise longer than a day, check out some of the places that will have evening events. That way you can arrive in plenty of time when the entertainment starts, since you'll already know the way.
Enjoy the mandatory lifeboat drill. The odds of having to abandon ship these days are very close to zero, but all ships are legally required to hold them. With radar, sonar, computer warning systems, GPS and decades of careful mapping of the oceans, plus all the experience gained, it's very rare for any serious problem to occur.
But it can be fun to practice anyway. You'll feel better, too, knowing you know how to operate a life vest. And, remember, you are much safer on a ship even when it's sinking than on a plane in trouble.
Now, you're ready to shove off. Stand at the rail and wave, even if there's no one you know. Pretend it's 1949 and you are about to set off on a glamorous, romantic adventure. Imagine that you might meet Cary Grant on board. Hey, it could happen!