RealBeardSantaJoe

my first cruise, Anthem (RCCL) Sep 6, 2018 (wow that's next week!). Seniors going on it?

Lol - well, I was thinking your clothes would only be packed a few hour, but I guess not.

Thanks Gerif. The irony (no pun - but it's not a bad one) is that I live about a 12 to 15 minutes ride from the embarcation pier.

I grew up in Jersey City on the west bank of the Hudson, directly opposite the World Trade Center. I used to see all the great ships come and go when the harbor was much busier with commercial traffic than it is today. The entire shore line was one dock after another, for miles. I remember seeing the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth, the Ille de France and even saw the ill-fated Normandy sitting on it's side over on the Manhattan side, all through WW2.

My paternal grandfather was a Master Harbor pilot in the days when sailing vessels where as common as steamers. My father's first job was as a deckhand on the tugs that move the ships around the harbor.

But for some reason, I never was curious to take a cruise - until now. Maybe it was the 14 days I spent mostly below decks, crossing the North Atlantic in a troop ship during a horrific series of storms, returning from service in Germany. I think we went as much upwards, downwards, backwards and sideways as we did forward.

It's great that there is a community of seasoned sailors to assure me this will be a more fun experience.

That laundry price sheet is appreciated - and it's funny in its way. They want $4 to wash and fold a short sleeve shirt. I live in a community with many stores that sell famous brand overstocks. I pay $5 for a new shirt. They want $2 to wash my $1 socks.

I guess I'll just bring a few more.:D :D

Thanks for all that help. Because this is my first cruise, still two weeks away, my bag has been packed since mid-July. Who's excited? OK. I'm excited. Can I call the Uber now? Are we there yet?

Anthem 9/6/18 is my first cruise, so please be kind.

Will my cabin have a hair dryer or may I bring one? Will there be the usual hotel-size shampoo and shower soap, or must I bring my own?

How to people get clothes pressed after being wrinkled up in the suitcase? If the only way is there service, what does it cost to get a jacket pressed? A shirt? A pair of pants? Or is the wrinkled look the height of good fashion?

I don't see how this group communicates with each other. I see people post, nut there is no way to respond. Am I missing something obvious? Or does that explain why there is no message thread, even when people have posted very specific questions?

I taking my first cruise 09/06/18 on Anthem of the Seas. Would be happy to know other seniors on that cruise.