So you’ve booked your first cruise, now what?

Just what can you expect one your first cruise?

When planning your first cruise, it takes time to peruse the cruise brochures and choose a cruise that’s right for you. You’ve printed off your boarding pass and baggage tags, checked your passports and got the packing sorted. But have you? Firstly, when finalising packing make sure your carry on includes anything you will need in the first few hours of boarding. Consider things like medication, camera, bathers, hat and sunscreen, especially if you plan heading straight to the pool. You’ve double checked you have your passport, arranged your transport to the port and got the goodbyes over with. You are finally at the cruise port and over the moon to be there.

You are a little anxious. After all, this is your first cruise. One final check. Boarding pass, check. Passport, check. Seasick pills, check. Now what?

As soon as you arrive at the cruise terminal you’ll hand your luggage over to the ship porters so they can arrange it to be taken to your stateroom. If they are busy this could take a few hours. Next you’ll have to complete a few pre-boarding questions and depending on the cruise destination there may be some immigration forms. These are very simple and there are staff on hand to help if you need any assistance. If there are not a lot of passengers waiting you will wait in queue but if there is a crowd boarding you will be given a number and could wait a while. Once it is your turn you will hand your forms in to the person at the desk and they will request your credit card and passport. Your photo will be taken to identify you and your credit card details recorded.  As soon as all the formalities are completed you will be handed that all important cruise card.

Now don’t forget, this cruise card is gold (regardless of the colour), it is your key to your stateroom, your access on and off the ship and it is the ship’s link to your credit card. Anyone with this magic card can book anything to your tab, so guard it with your life. Most passengers get a hole punched into it and hang it from their neck using a lanyard.

It is at this point you will go through immigration if leaving the country you are boarding in. Once cleared you are now free to board the ship. Woo Hoo, after all the formalities, you are now ready to get your first glimpse inside the beautiful ship. But first you will stand in front of the fake nautical backdrop and be asked to pose for the cheesy embarkation photo for first of many taken by the ship’s photographer.

Now, up the gangplank where you will be greeted by staff who will instruct you to insert your card. ‘Bong’. They will check the details on your card match their records and that you look like the picture showing on their screen. That’s it, simple; you are now onboard and free to do as you choose.

Once onboard

We go straight to our stateroom where we are usually met by our Steward either as we arrive or soon after. Your Steward will introduce him/herself and ask if you have any special requests. This is where you ask for a top sheet, ice bucket and extra hangers. After all, this is your first cruise so you have probably overpacked trying to decide how to dress to impress. It is at this point when we greet our Steward with a financial handshake. Upon meeting our Steward we give them half the amount we budget for gratuities, the remainder we leave for the last night. Now that’s out of the way, it’s time to check the cabin out.

The most common thing I hear from people who have not been on a cruise is their concern they will become bored, but there is so much to do, or not do, depending on what you enjoy. Until your luggage arrives take a moment to check through the ship’s daily schedule in your room (we sail with Princess and their’s is called the Princess Patter). Look over the many activities and you will soon see boredom will not be an option. Check when and where the activities are on, what time the muster drill takes place, the laundry and room service process, etc. If you wish to book a ship’s tour we suggest you book as soon as you board as these are limited and do fill quickly. Also keep your eye out for the galley tour, usually toward the end of the cruise and often follows a cooking demonstration. These are great to have a quick walk through the kitchens.

Once your luggage has arrived you can unpack and then relax at the buffet for light meal, by the pool with a cocktail or whatever you please. This is where you will appreciate my earlier advice of packing a change of clothes, swimsuit, etc in your carry on so you can change straight away.  Passengers who have sailed before generally have their own routine, whether it is familiarising themselves with their new home for the duration of the voyage, disinfecting the cabin and preparing sea sickness remedies, etc. For others, it is heading straight to the venue for the sailaway party.

About an hour prior to departure will be a mandatory muster drill to prepare you in the event of an emergency. You will be instructed to return to your stateroom, fetch your life jacket and make your way to your designated muster point, as set by your location on the ship.  We have always had a muster point in the Vista Lounge. At this stage you will be checked in with your cruisecard so all passengers can be accounted for. The crew member in charge of the muster will advise all staff of the escape route and educate everyone on the use of the life vests.

After the drill you are free again to do as you choose. I would suggest if you haven’t already, that you familiarise yourself with the ship. Take your copy of the Patter with you. Starting at the top, check out the facilities on each level, using the stairs to make your way down, as the elevators are always slow on embarkation day. While at the spa or salon book any appointments you might want now as they do book quickly. I suggest a spa treatment for a sea day and salon appointment for the formal night.

Another important thing to remember is the hand sanitiser. It is very important to wash hands thoroughly at the wash stations before entering the buffet or dining rooms to prevent tummy bugs, cold and flues, etc from spreading. If you have more than a sniffle I suggest time in your cabin with room service to prevent it spreading.

Sailaway

When the ship is ready to sail get yourself out of your cabin and out onto the decks to join in the party spirit as you sail away into the first of many sunsets. The sailaway party is an opportunity to make friends, mingle and enjoy the festivities on the pool deck. Enjoy the atmosphere…  and enjoy the food. This is the fun part where you make your way to your designated dining room for the first time and meet your waitstaff and table mates. If eating at the buffet have courtesy and follow the unwritten rules of etiquette. Do not push in and do not overpile your plate. A lot of planning goes in to ensure sufficient supply of food and I have never heard of a cruise ship running out of food. You can always go back for seconds, but please leave your plate on the table and get a fresh plate. And remember to make friends with the stairs.

I have to say the food onboard a cruise ship is amazing, but a word of warning on the coffee. If you don’t want to pay you will get instant coffee. Or you can purchase a coffee card for discount price on decent coffee.

After dinner you’ll find the whole ship alive with action. The bars and lounges are ready to greet the guests, the Cruise Director usually introduces wonderful shows, then there is trivia, the casino and more.

At the end of the first evening, after your stroll in the moonlight along the deck and back to your room you’ll find your Steward has turned down the bed, left the next day’s schedule and placed a chocolate on your pillow to ensure sweet dreams.

Each morning you will be waking to a new and exciting destination and when you return from port you will have a freshly made bed and clean towels to begin all over again.

The most important thing I can suggest is to enjoy!  This is your holiday, if you want to rest, then rest, if you want party then do so. But whatever you do, do it with a smile and be polite to the crew. Some people forget that these wonderful people give up their family life to be onboard and serve us and don’t the take the time for a simple smile and a thank you to show appreciation. Things do go wrong, that is life, but don’t make a big deal about it.

So now you know what to expect you can relax and enjoy the beautiful ship, the incredible food, the umbrella cocktails and the beautiful sunsets.

How did I go? Did I entice you to want to try a cruise?  If so, contact Princess Cruises

Below are some tips, if you think of any I have missed or have any questions at all about cruising please leave a comment.

Tips: 

• If you are sailing from a port you have to fly to I would suggest you arrive the day before embarkation in case of delays.
• If you are prone to sea sickness take your medication, sea sick patches, etc with you. You will know when the weather is due to turn for worse as their stair wells will be adorned with sick bags.  
• Take hand sanitiser to use after exiting elevators, touching hand rails, etc. As careful as the cruise line can be, some people do not follow the rule to stay in the stateroom if unwell and on a ship tummy bugs can spread very fast.  
• You don’t need to overpack or take an iron for a long cruise, use the ship’s laundry room.  
• Ships cannot berth in every port so be prepared to disembark via a tender. The crew are excellent in assisting the elderly or anyone with limited mobility. 
• The ship cannot always berth in a scheduled port due to the weather so don’t be too disappointed or harsh with the Captain, he makes the decision for your safety and best interest.
• For those those who still fear they will be bored, book a short cruise for a first time experience or book a port intensive cruise. We did 10 ports in 12 days, so time did not permit us to get bored.

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