So it's your first cruise
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Topic author - Ex Team Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: January 2013
So it's your first cruise
What tips and advice can you give to new cruisers.
Let's face it most of them will become just as addicted as rest of us so we want that first cruise to be perfect.
Let's face it most of them will become just as addicted as rest of us so we want that first cruise to be perfect.
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9392
- Joined: January 2012
- Location: Lancashire
Re: So it's your first cruise
Go with an open mind and don't take too much notice of the bad reports that you read - especially on the Internet.
Take a four/six gang extension lead for your electrical items as the number of sockets in the cabins is somewhat limited.
Take a four/six gang extension lead for your electrical items as the number of sockets in the cabins is somewhat limited.
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3819
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Derbyshire
Re: So it's your first cruise
Check out the ports on your itinerary, this is a great site for advice on what to do.
http://www.whatsinport.com/index.htm
http://www.whatsinport.com/index.htm
Jo
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 11
- Joined: April 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
A very basic piece of advice, but it's amazing how many folk don't do this ... think about what you want from a cruise and then do your research on the various ships as they are all different. For example, how do you feel about formal evenings and "dressing up"? Would you prefer a large ship with all the bells and whistles or a smaller, more intimate one? Are you relaxed about there being children around or would you prefer an adults only ship? There are many more considerations but I'd say to anyone thinking of booking a cruise - think about what you want and then use this forum and others to ask questions. There are lots of friendly people willing to help with the benefit of their experience.
Oh - and read the brochure ... carefully!
Hopefully then you won't be one of those people who (for example) book a cruise on Ventura or Azura and then don't enjoy it because "the ship was too big"
Oh - and read the brochure ... carefully!
Hopefully then you won't be one of those people who (for example) book a cruise on Ventura or Azura and then don't enjoy it because "the ship was too big"
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15262
- Joined: February 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
Don't feel you have to eat everything you see. If you reject pudding one day you'll still be offered the choice next day. They never run out of food. (Well not unless they get a fire in the engine room, lose power and drift for days. But that's not often).
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5119
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: East Hull
Re: So it's your first cruise
relax and don't read any forums,web sites or reviews, before you go, read them after and laugh at all the snobby negative stuff ,you never ever saw on you wonderful holiday
Nihil Obstat
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8946
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: So it's your first cruise
Avoid reading cruising forums, this could seriously undermine your decision to put down a deposit.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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Topic author - Ex Team Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: January 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
Well I am going to add that you should make sure you always read the 'whats on' news sheet that will beplaced in your cabin every night and plan out your days activities (but not too rigorously .. you are on holiday). Also make sure you try as much as possible .. explore the ports, try all the dining venues, go to the entertainment (even if you don't think it is up your street ... you may be pleasantly surprised .. or resolve any insomnia).
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5119
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: East Hull
Re: So it's your first cruise
dont forget there is a laundry and ironing service available, so dont worry about packing every last sock in the house, you can do washing
Nihil Obstat
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- Cadet
- Posts: 74
- Joined: May 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
Stay away from someone who starts moaning. A lot are professionals!
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- Cadet
- Posts: 74
- Joined: May 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
On a less cynical note than my previous post.
Do as much or as little as you want to do, and try whatever appeals. That way you can form your own opinions.
Check disembarkation cards to make sure you have the correct one....especially if travelling with Eavesway or other coach service.
Do as much or as little as you want to do, and try whatever appeals. That way you can form your own opinions.
Check disembarkation cards to make sure you have the correct one....especially if travelling with Eavesway or other coach service.
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 892
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cotswolds
Re: So it's your first cruise
Once on board and under way, do not be afraid to ask a crew member or the passengers about anything. Do not miss out because you were afraid you might look foolish by asking. Everyone was a newbie once.
Jay
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 476
- Joined: May 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
You can eat in the MDR for breakfast and lunch. We met a couple who were on day 11 of their 14 night cruise and said they really didn't like the buffet. We told them they could eat in the MDR and they didn't know this. Didn't they read in Horizon where it gives the opening times of the MDR for breakie and lunch!!!
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- Cadet
- Posts: 30
- Joined: January 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
Take a pen with you to fill in the form they give you while waiting to check in! I am always lending people my pens.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15262
- Joined: February 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
In anybody starts discussing the number of cruises they've done, their car, their cabin, or the price they paid either keep quiet or tell them:
1. You've done 11, but the other 10 were all worldies
2. The one you drive yourself is an Aston Martin, but the chauffeur drives the Rolls
3. You're in a Penthouse Suite you got for £299 on Getaway.
4. Your sister is Carol Marlow and your son is the Captain
1. You've done 11, but the other 10 were all worldies
2. The one you drive yourself is an Aston Martin, but the chauffeur drives the Rolls
3. You're in a Penthouse Suite you got for £299 on Getaway.
4. Your sister is Carol Marlow and your son is the Captain
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: So it's your first cruise
When you go ashore take the Horizon with you as it contains an emergency contact number should you have the misfortune to require it.
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One more for M&T ... re bragging rites / rights about cruising
Tell them your Parents sailed on Titanic
The dim ones will ask if they survived ...
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One more for M&T ... re bragging rites / rights about cruising
Tell them your Parents sailed on Titanic
The dim ones will ask if they survived ...
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11305
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: So it's your first cruise
You can have the fish course as a starter. Stilton is available every evening but you usually have to ask for it.
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- Cadet
- Posts: 74
- Joined: May 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
M & T,
I never mention my sister or our son.
I never mention my sister or our son.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15262
- Joined: February 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
Manoverboard wrote:Tell them your Parents sailed on Titanic
The dim ones will ask if they survived ...
So don't keep us in suspense. Did they?
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: So it's your first cruise
Of course they did, they got off at CobhMervyn and Trish wrote:Manoverboard wrote:Tell them your Parents sailed on Titanic
The dim ones will ask if they survived ...
So don't keep us in suspense. Did they?
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Third Officer
- Posts: 183
- Joined: July 2015
Re: So it's your first cruise
Don't think you have to do the P&O excursions. If you know what you want to do in a certain port have a look on the web or the link in a previous post. It might be that the ship is docked just a short journey away from were you want to go. P&O will charge you a lot for a trip and quite often its for a half day. Save money and spend more time there going DIY.
Don't be put off by black tie nights. Give it a go and you may just end up loving it Miss Moneypenny.
If you have a suite it may well be that you can have breakfast in one of the select venues away from those 'ordinay' people LOL.
Cabins at the front/rear can go up and down a lot more than the ones in the middle, if you suffer from sea sickness a room in the middle may help.
If you are a part time wheelchair user don't think you have to book an accessible cabin, it may well be that you can manage fine in a standard room.
At the end of the cruise don't sit around in the theatre etc for hours waiting for your alloted departure time, get off when you like, no one checks when leaving.
Don't ask anyone wearing one of those posh nvay type uniforms to tell you anything, ask one of the ordinary staff members.
When going through a duty free shop in port on the way back to the ship look at things like Coke etc and not just fags and booze. It can be very cheap.
If you bump into Ken onboard don't encourage him or he'll never go away.
Don't be put off by black tie nights. Give it a go and you may just end up loving it Miss Moneypenny.
If you have a suite it may well be that you can have breakfast in one of the select venues away from those 'ordinay' people LOL.
Cabins at the front/rear can go up and down a lot more than the ones in the middle, if you suffer from sea sickness a room in the middle may help.
If you are a part time wheelchair user don't think you have to book an accessible cabin, it may well be that you can manage fine in a standard room.
At the end of the cruise don't sit around in the theatre etc for hours waiting for your alloted departure time, get off when you like, no one checks when leaving.
Don't ask anyone wearing one of those posh nvay type uniforms to tell you anything, ask one of the ordinary staff members.
When going through a duty free shop in port on the way back to the ship look at things like Coke etc and not just fags and booze. It can be very cheap.
If you bump into Ken onboard don't encourage him or he'll never go away.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5119
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: East Hull
Re: So it's your first cruise
Dont worry about all this supposed cruise ettiquette, ambience and all that old tosh
go and enjoy yourself and relax, it is a holiday.
go and enjoy yourself and relax, it is a holiday.
Nihil Obstat
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9392
- Joined: January 2012
- Location: Lancashire
Re: So it's your first cruise
Has the system changed from using the coloured card system which were collected as you disembark?misterbigbits wrote:At the end of the cruise don't sit around in the theatre etc for hours waiting for your alloted departure time, get off when you like, no one checks when leaving.
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- Third Officer
- Posts: 183
- Joined: July 2015
Re: So it's your first cruise
I've only been on two cruises but i've never been given a card.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15262
- Joined: February 2013
Re: So it's your first cruise
david63 wrote:Has the system changed from using the coloured card system which were collected as you disembark?misterbigbits wrote:At the end of the cruise don't sit around in the theatre etc for hours waiting for your alloted departure time, get off when you like, no one checks when leaving.
Last time we went we were allocated to a specific public room for disembarkation. There were no public announcements throughout the ship but when it was our turn we were guided to join the getting off queue. It was much more orderly than the last time we had the cards which was bedlam because people had sussed they weren't ordered back if they got off when they wanted to. It was chaos. The new system seemed to work much better.