first time on a cruise

[dudley dennis]

My wife and i have our very first with p&o going to the carribbean on the 25th of feb for our 25th silver wedding also my wife birthday while we are board has any got any tips i would be very greatfull allways had a 2 week holiday on dry land never been on a ship befor.

 

We have booked a balcony cabin on b deck port side would you upgrade from this if you could? also we booked for 8.30pm dinner have we done the right thihg.:confused:

 

once again i hope somone can give us any tips just a little bit nervous about the cruise

[Merlin7]

If you tell us which ship, you will get more replies.

[EOS-User]

If you tell us which ship, you will get more replies.

 

Always helps :rolleyes:

 

...also we booked for 8.30pm dinner have we done the right thihg.:confused:

 

We ALWAYS book for the second sitting; for two key reasons;

1. There's always too much stuff going on late afternoon / early evening to have to leave the decks and get ready for early dinner... :cool:

2. We always feel that first sitting diners are 'pressured' into 'rushing' through the meal to enable the restaurants to be re-set for the second sitting; there doesn't 'seem' to be as much 'pressure' on the second sitting to finish... (That though is purely subjective...)

 

I'm sure that those who prefer the first sitting will site equally good arguements for doing so - but not for us...

 

You'll be on vacation; relax, enjoy, don't rush. When in the Carribbean - make like a Carribbean - take it slowly :cool:

[angiebabes]

We went on our first cruise last Feb and have now got two more booked!!! Next one 31st Jan 2011 doing Panama Canal on the Oceana and also 23rd Dec 2011 on the Azura doing Caribbean again! We really loved our first cruise and are completely bitten by the bug. Cant see us going back to 2 weeks in a hotel now!!

 

We liked Freedom dining (east when you want with different people) it worked very well for us and we some great people.

 

Its great to get the ships newspaper each day telling you wants on throughout the day and night. Also the TV in the cabins have great programmes on your ports of call. We enjoyed watching these !!!

 

Have a great cruise!!!:)

[helpthejuggler]

A first cruise is always the right thing. A balcony is perfect to enjoy the best of the trip and both seatings have pros/cons. I prefer late seating for similar reasons to those from EOS-user.

 

Early dinner suits some people and you have to decide if you prefer to rush and change for a longer evening or have the choice to linger in the sunshine.

 

Freedom dining is also an option, but for a first cruise I would try a traditional seating for the full experience.

 

Don't upgrade, save your money for the next cruise. It is very addictive and other holidays just seem less exciting once you have cruised.

 

My top tip, use the Cruisecritic forums for all the tips you need. Someone will have asked most things before, often many times.

[annieuk]

Our very first cruise was to the Caribbean and we booked 2nd sitting dinner on Club Dining. This was because friends had recommended it. We found it really suited us. We enjoyed being on Traditional Dining and getting to know our table companions - we had a table of 8 - and we are still in touch with several of the people we have met.

 

We like 2nd sitting as 6.30pm is too early for us. When we get back on board we like time to relax a bit, have shower etc. and then have time to have a drink before dinner - we have always had a balcony and love being out there as we sail away from an island, drink in hand - wonderful!

 

If you say which ship you are on you may get some more tips.

 

Carole

[LibraLass41]

My wife and i have our very first with p&o going to the carribbean on the 25th of feb for our 25th silver wedding also my wife birthday while we are board has any got any tips i would be very greatfull allways had a 2 week holiday on dry land never been on a ship befor.

 

We have booked a balcony cabin on b deck port side would you upgrade from this if you could? also we booked for 8.30pm dinner have we done the right thihg.:confused:

 

once again i hope somone can give us any tips just a little bit nervous about the cruise

 

You have made a perfect choice, B deck balconies are in a good position, high over the lifeboats giving a good view out to sea from your balcony.

We also started cruising for our 25th Anniversary and had the same (on Arcadia), Totally addicted now, as I bet you will be.

 

To make the anniversary special I booked a deluxe occasion package, around £140, which gave you flowers on arrival in the cabin (The wife will love that, don't tell her and surprise her), plus belgian chocs, and a bottle of champagne and a bowl of fruit.

Plus you also get a professional photo vcr, we chose one of many the photographer took on a formal night dressed up in our formal wear, plus you get a 50 min massage and facial which is worth £50+ each alone...and a champagne breakfast delivered to your cabin on the actual anniversary....

If you are given some money for your silver WA you could spend it on the package? My mum and dad paid for ours,,,

[Merlin7]

Which ship again?

[LibraLass41]

Which ship again?

 

 

I'll take a wild guess.... Ventura?

[newport dave]

Get on the internet and research each port you're visiting, either on cruisecritic on the ports of call forum, tripadvisor or just googling you port of call. This will help in choosing what excursions you want to do or if you just want to walk around the port town. Also be aware that if you do something on your own the ship will not wait for you if you're late, but if you're on a ships excursion and they're late then the ship will wait.

 

Don't let this put you off doing anything on your own, at a lot of the ports in the Caribbean, there's tons to do round and about the port town it self.

[Merlin7]

I could have sworn that I had more posts in this thread than now exist.

 

How do I stop them disappearing into the ether or is this some sort of moderation? The posts contained nothing against the terms and conditions. I am at a loss to know the reason. Perhaps someone could advise me or admin.could let me know what was unacceptable with my posts, if that is why they have been deleted.

 

 

Thank you.

[Lewing]

Well we like first sitting because we never like eating late and have never felt rushed to finish and also we found seats easier to find in theatre and dance area as people came into eat for second sitting but when they had finished eating they didn't have the choice of where to sit then.

There are also some bar-b-q's on deck or speciality nights late in the evening and if you ate late you wouldn't want to join in with these.

Just my preference though

[bazzaw]

Some advice for a first time cruiser.

 

Firstly - be realistic. This is a holiday for you - not all that unlike other holidays that you have been on. Perhaps you will like it - perhaps not. If there is some aspect of it that you find that you don't enjoy - don't despair, rant and rave - just look at the broader picture and don't focus on the particular thing that you don't like.

 

Secondly - be realistic. Cruising is now a MASS MARKET holiday experience, available to most. It is not necessarily an elite pursuit any more - even on the fanciest of ships.

 

Thirdly - be realistic. There will be around 2000 people onboard with you. Many/Most of them will be wanting to do exactly what it is that you want to do - at the same time. Many will be nice - many won't.

 

Barry

[dudley dennis]

I forgot to mention the ship is ventura that is like saying going on holiday and not telling anyone where you are going very sorry for that. but if could give any tips it would be most greatfull

[dudley dennis]

I'll take a wild guess.... Ventura?

 

How did you work that out is this the ship that people go for who has never been on a cruise before

[dudley dennis]

You have made a perfect choice, B deck balconies are in a good position, high over the lifeboats giving a good view out to sea from your balcony.

We also started cruising for our 25th Anniversary and had the same (on Arcadia), Totally addicted now, as I bet you will be.

 

To make the anniversary special I booked a deluxe occasion package, around £140, which gave you flowers on arrival in the cabin (The wife will love that, don't tell her and surprise her), plus belgian chocs, and a bottle of champagne and a bowl of fruit.

Plus you also get a professional photo vcr, we chose one of many the photographer took on a formal night dressed up in our formal wear, plus you get a 50 min massage and facial which is worth £50+ each alone...and a champagne breakfast delivered to your cabin on the actual anniversary....

If you are given some money for your silver WA you could spend it on the package? My mum and dad paid for ours,,,

 

Thank you for giving me some good advice when did you book this deluxe package was it on the ship or did you phone p&o up at home ? once again thank you very much oh the ship i am going on is the ventura

[BrianI]

Thank you for giving me some good advice when did you book this deluxe package was it on the ship or did you phone p&o up at home ? once again thank you very much oh the ship i am going on is the ventura

You can view the various celebratory packages on this link, which tells you how to book

http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Experience/Gifts/

Brian

[LibraLass41]

How did you work that out is this the ship that people go for who has never been on a cruise before

 

T'was simples,looked on the back of the brochure to see which ship was going to the Caribbean on that date :D

 

Book the deluxe package over the phone before you go, you will be treating the miss'es and she will be impressed LOL, its worth it!

[Rum Rat]

Rather old, but still applies.

With apologies and acknowledgements to Derek Kane

The 1st day ...

Your 1st Cruise will be one of the BEST cruises you will ever go on.

 

Believe you me: nothing beats the 1st of everything you do during your 18n onboard. This is not to say with the 90%+ certainty that you will become addicted to cruising, that you will not have wonderful, future cruises too.

 

But, there is something very magical about your 1st cruise: I capture a bit of that magic when I see the cruise through a newcomers eyes.

 

Don't feel that you need to book a tour at every port of call. The ship is a destination in itself. There is a very special atmosphere on sea days which (in my view) is rivalled by a day on board when at port, or better still at anchor. The ship takes on a quieter ambiance with half or more of the passengers ashore. There are no queues and the service up on deck is snappier. With a very few glorious exceptions, you will find little better ashore.

 

I tend to go only on tours where a "must-see" is a long distance from the ship and the public transport cannot be relied on. I also find an afternoon tour preferable to a morning one as breakfast on board in popular destinations can be somewhat "traumatic", especially in the self-service restaurants.

 

Advice?

 

Suggest you arrive early’ish at the terminal say around midday.

 

When you arrive at Mayflower you say good bye to your cases as they are placed in a "hole-in-the-wall" by a porter. You will next see them outside your cabin when you board or say about 30 mins after.

 

You proceed into check-in where tickets & passports are checked: you are given your cruise cards there and then: this is both your charge card (you can use it straight away without the need to register your credit card/bank charge card - unless you intend to charge casino chips/tokens to it) and ID to get back on the ship when at port.

 

You then proceed into the embarkation lounge following a security check (x-ray machine for your hand luggage, etc - rather like an airport) then unlike an airport you then pose for your photograph.

 

Make sure you look your best and smile - tomorrow your photo along with 1800 other passengers will be on display in the Photo gallery for naughty chaps like me to have a laugh (when you look like I do, stones and glass houses spring to mind)

 

Embarkation for the majority of passengers starts earlier then it used to (now from c.13:00) and a buffet lunch is now offered as well as the usual afternoon tea.

 

When you are called there is then a long walk while you carry your hand luggage along covered walkways that seem to go on for ever.

 

Eventually you suddenly reach a large deck hatch opening and as you step on board it is if you have entered another world.

 

You will be greeted by an officer or one of the Entertainment team (ENTSs - not be confused with Treebeard from the Lord of the Rings) and, if you require, a white-gloved steward will relieve you of your hand luggage and take you to your cabin via lift or stairs.

 

WARNING: You will have studied the deck plans for months and you will think you know your way around. WRONG: The deck plans are in 2 dimensions - the ship is in 3 dimensions. HOWEVER: within about 24 hours you will know your way around!

 

If you are lucky the steward will take you directly to the cabin. Sometimes the stewards do get lost!

 

At last your cabin, (with hopefully your luggage outside). Get to know your home for the next 18 nights. There will be continuous safety video playing on the TV and your cabin key-card will be in the door with a spare one on the writing desk with all the bumph and info folders. Have a look at today’s issue of the ships newspaper AURORA TODAY - it will have a nice picture of your well-fed Captain (they usually look as if they have had a few “Captain’s Dinners”) saying "welcome aboard". This will confirm what times all sorts of things are happening today and tonight. The only compulsory thing you must attend is the ships safety briefing held in your muster lounge at c.16:15 (it takes about 30 mins and you will find your muster station location on the back of your cabin door)

 

Your cabin steward will shortly introduce himself and ask what time you would like to be awakened and whether you prefer Tea / Coffee in the morning.

 

There will be a card in your cabin confirming your Dinner reservation which will show Restaurant name, sitting and table no. You might like to go down to the restaurant to see what table size and where it is. At about 15:00 the restaurant manager will be on duty and will try to accommodate any changes you might wish to make.

 

Concerned about mal-de-mer?

 

The tablets my Val takes (she is sensitive to motion) are Stugeron. Take 2 c.15:00 (2 hours before sailing) and then 1 every 8 hours until unconsciousness or sleep occurs! You will awake the next day but will probably have missed lunch by the time you wake up.

 

Now if you are sensible and have brought quite a few garments and suits it will speed unpacking if you packed them at home on hangers.

 

But hey! ... hang the packing let's go and explore the ship.

 

As I said earlier, afternoon tea is served from c.15:00 in one of the restaurants or self service style in the ORANGERY. If it's a crisp, December day the prospect of sitting out at the TERRACE BAR afterwards sipping a hot toddy or a bottle of champagne is a tempting prospect.

 

In no time at all bells and announcements will go off requiring you to go to your muster station. You will need to go back to your cabin and retrieve your life jacket and take it with you.

 

Once the VERY IMPORTANT safety drill is over (about 16:45) you can then go out on deck and start to enjoy the proceedings regarding departure out on the Promenade Deck. (Of course you might have a port-side balcony cabin in which case you can swank on your own private space).

 

There is champagne at £2.90 (I think) a glass - good value and a jolly band on the quayside playing Maritime & Military Greatest Hits.

 

In no time the last lines have been slipped, the last gangway removed and suddenly the bow & stern thruster push this Beautiful ship away to the sun.

 

THE CRUISE HAS BEGUN.

 

The peregrination and twisting down the Southampton Water, Calshot Spit, the dog-turns to starboard then to port, traversing Cowes Roads and then on to the Pilot drop-off takes about over 90 mins. It is lovely just to sit on the Promenade Deck and watch the last of England slip by. (or in the Crow's Nest Bar if inclement).

 

And just think your cruise has only just begun.

 

You will have a wonderful time. You will want to book again as soon as that sad day back in Southampton

 

Some Suggestions:

============

 

1. Unless you really have to, avoid the reception desk on embarkation day and disembarkation day.

 

2. Avoid queues to leave the ship by steering clear of the gangway for the first couple of hours in port/at anchor (unless you're on a tour).

 

3. The Fish Main course as a starter if none of the "regular" starters tickles your taste buds.

 

4. Order wine for dinner at one of the bars during the afternoon (or via the Wine Line). Your choice should then be ready and waiting at your table when you arrive. For wine/food matches, dinner menus are available to scrutinise at some bars.

 

5. Without going daft, maximise on the Cocktail of the Day ... good value.

 

6. Champagne at £2.90 (?) a glass at departure is good value.

 

7. Do not rely on the library to be able to supply your travel book needs for destinations on your cruise. They are for reference only and cannot be removed from the library. Bring your own Baedekar, Insight, Rough Guide, etc.

 

8. Do not rely on the library to supply the latest blockbuster from J.K.Rowling, John Grisham, Stephen King, Dan Brown etc. They will have a copy or 2, but 500 other passengers are also relying on reading a copy during the cruise. Bring your own.

 

9. If you go to a film in the evening after dinner - beware - unlike a shoreside cinema, this auditorium gently sways - the combination of warm sun all day, a beer or 2 at lunch (wasn't that curry lovely?) 2 or 3 cocktails of the day, 6 course dinner, a bottle of Rioja, and an Irish Coffee, and the darkness of the cinema will induce narcosis. But don't be embarrassed - you are not alone. The cinema in the evening sometimes reminds me of Paul McCartney's "Frog Chorus" - the sound of syncopated sequence snoring!

 

10. (As per 9 above) try not to do this in the show lounge / theatre - especially if the cheeky comedian is performing. It must be either funny or disheartening to the hard-working, slick company singers and dancers when confronted with "An Ocean of Faces with Mouths Wide Open and Eyes Wide Shut"

 

Tom & Nicole in the cinema aren't really there!

 

11. If you are lunching up on deck, it is a good idea to secure your wine / beverages before you go to make your selections of food.

 

12. Save most of the unpacking (unless you choose to travel very lightly) till when you retire tonight. Excepting 2n-4n party cruises, the 1st night after dinner is usually a fairly quiet affair with many people retiring early as "it's been a long day". If the weather is glorious in Southampton, get yourself into some deck wear and relax in a lounger up on top with a Pimms, a G&T, a cocktail, a glass champagne or whatever tickles your taste buds (for example get a tray of afternoon tea comestibles from the deck restaurant) for a couple of hours before attending the compulsory SAFETY DRILL c.16:15(?).

 

13. When you leave the cabin to explore the ship take your Dining room table card (which is in your cabin on arrival) and visit the restaurant at c.15:00 (a manager/maitre d will be in attendance). If you are not happy about the location of your table, its size or/and the sitting, there maybe the opportunity to change it. Likewise in the hopefully unlikely event of having the "table companions from hell" (most folks who cruise however are a nice bunch) get this sorted after your 1st dinner. (Only twice out of c.20 cruises have we done this: the 1st for environmental reasons - we were right by the waiters fast lane and revolving doors to the galley; the 2nd time after the main course and before dessert - yes they (the “companions”) were very bad!!!).

 

14. Forget about snappy cabin-service (room-service) on embarkation day. If you desire a bottle of champagne or/and nibbles for the departure up on your balcony order them as soon as you board and say you want them in your cabin ready for after the safety drill.

 

15. As I am a very early bird and my wife enjoys the luxury for her of a lie-in, I keep in contact with her during the morning a couple of times by using one of the bar or corridor telephones. This saves a lot of traipsing down the length of the ship and we don't have to waste time looking for each other and arranging where to meet for late breakfast or early lunch.

 

16. Do not feel that you need to book an excursion for every port or for all the day that you are in port. I personally feel that excursions are not the best value for money. The exception would be where there is a "must-see" that is a long way from the port or/and where public transport cannot be relied upon. If you are late getting back to the berth or tender point the ship will NOT wait for you unless you are on an official tour that has been delayed.

 

17. Do feel encouraged to linger on board when in port or at anchor. The ship takes on a different and not unwelcome ambiance with half or more of the passengers ashore. Remember all the facilities that you have already paid for are at hand, the service will be snappier and, other than in the most exceptional of destinations or establishments you will find little better ashore. To my mind spending a day onboard in an unremarkable port is the equal of a warm, languid sea-day. RELAX and forget about traffic, pollution, pick-pockets, paying out for this, that and the other, etc, etc.

 

18. Other than when the ship is very quiet it is nearly always quicker to use the stairways. That way you keep yourself trim (remember there's a lot of food morning, noon and night that's just there for the taking) and it helps free the lifts up for those less ambulant of folks.

 

19. On the last day (usually at sea) pack all but one of your cases as early as possible. That way you are free for most of the rest of the day – a day to savour the last of what will be one of the most memorable holidays you will ever take … and believe me … you WILL go on more P&O cruises but the 1st will ALWAYS be special!

 

20. You will standout as a Newcomer if:

 

a). You call the ship a boat.

 

b). You ask what "floor" is the cinema on.

 

c). You refer to your cabin as your “room”.

 

d). You call the bow the pointy end and the stern the blunt end.

 

e). You refer to the right hand or left hand side of the ship. Depending on whether you are facing the pointy or blunt end, both sides of the ship can be left and right. That is why there are the terms Starboard & Port.

 

f). At the safety drill on embarkation day you come in to the muster station wearing your life jacket.

 

g). When you see the Captain doing a tour of the ship and glad-handing passengers you call out "'Ere! Who's driving the Boat, Cap'n?"

 

 

HAVE A WONDERFUL CRUISE!

 

May I be one of the first on CC to wish anyone a Merry Christmas for 2006 & a Happy New Year for 2007, to do so to you!

 

Derek “The Monocled Mutineer” Kane arrives.

[lostinvegas]

We went on almost an identical cruise on Ventura last year. We normally go for 2nd sitting dinner but found due to the time difference and getting up early to enjoy the carribbean morning 2nd sitting on this occasion was a little late.

 

If you want to meet other people and make some new friends I would reccomend using the main dinning room for breakfast and afternoon tea. We found this an excellent oppotunity to meet and chat with other like minded people.

 

If your going to st lucia be warned thing like the pitons and waterfalls are a very long windey drive away and IMO are not worth the long day.

 

Another tip is it's sometimes a good idea to plan a day on ship when in port, we find it great having an empty ship to enjoy occasionally. I could quite easily stayed onboard instead of fighting for a space on catalina island, which is just a nice beach and nothing else.

 

My favouite stops were Barbados, st martin, Tortola, Granada and antiga.

 

But as others have said everyone is different, get as many opinions as you can, do your reaserch and draw your own conclusions. One thing is for sure you will have a great time and will be hooked by the end.

[dudley dennis]

Our very first cruise was to the Caribbean and we booked 2nd sitting dinner on Club Dining. This was because friends had recommended it. We found it really suited us. We enjoyed being on Traditional Dining and getting to know our table companions - we had a table of 8 - and we are still in touch with several of the people we have met.

 

We like 2nd sitting as 6.30pm is too early for us. When we get back on board we like time to relax a bit, have shower etc. and then have time to have a drink before dinner - we have always had a balcony and love being out there as we sail away from an island, drink in hand - wonderful!

 

If you say which ship you are on you may get some more tips.

 

Carole

 

Thank you carol for that information it will be helpfull when we get there i think we will be very nervous about the whole thing and and we dont look stupid on the ship looking forward to the formal nights also my wifes birthday when we are at sea i hope to plan something special for her also it our 25th wedding anniversary and my 50th birthday thats sounds old saying that once again thank you very much if you have any more tips could you please pass them on to me.

[bazzaw]

Our first cruise on a P&O UK ship is coming up - and I have seen vague references that seem to imply that the cabin stewards bring tea/coffee to the cabin in the morning?? RUMRAT's good post above is another that leads me to this belief . However, I note that tea/coffee making facilities are in the cabins in the P&O UK ships - so I am a little confused.

 

Can somebody kindly explain further - thanks

 

Barry

[jeanlyon]

I think you can have tea/coffee even breakfast delivered, but there is also tea coffee making facilities, kettle etc. in the cabin, so we have never bothered. I much prefer to go up for breakfast and sit in the open air, weather permitting.

[capasamari]

If you let the restaurant manager or your table waiter know when these are, you will have balloons above the table that night and a group of waiters will serenade you after your meal, great fun!

 

Carol x

[Lewing]

To 'Rum Rat'

Thank you for that 'old' posting - I really enjoyed reading it and it was very informative

 

Linda