How to prepare first-timers? Getting personal space onboard?

[alleghator]

I'm working on a January 2006 cruise on the Elation (DH has to give the finances a once-more-over before he wants me to make the deposit....*sigh*). We would be traveling with my parents and my brother and his wife...two couples who've never cruised before.

 

What ideas do you have for prepping them for their first cruise? I want them to be excited about it, but I don't want to make it all seem just SOOO amazing and fantastic that reality could never live up to their expectations. Know what I mean?

 

Also ... when traveling with a group (even a small group), what are your tips for ensuring that people don't get TOO much togetherness? My brother isn't sure he really wants to spend his valuable vacation time traveling with his family. Thoughts?

 

--Heidi

[basketballmom]

You don't have to worry about too much family together time on a cruise. That's the great thing about a cruise! There are so many things to do on board and at each stop. No one has to do anything together if they don't want to. You could actually go through the entire week and not see each other if you really wanted to!

[crisp1]

If you're booked in seperate cabins it will make for plenty of 'personal space', especially if you're on different decks :) Even dining times/ restuarants could be different. Same goes for the excursions. Not everyone wants to do the same thing, and I would make a point of pointing that out.

[Cotton]

1. If YOU do the booking for all of you, book assigned cabins (not guarantee), on different decks, so it won't be so easy to just "pop in".;)

 

2. Set some guidelines prior to the cruise, so everybody can have their own space. Remind everybody , in the nicest way of course, that y'all aren't joined at the hip, and everybody should feel free to do their own thing.

 

3. Make sure your booking are "linked". That way, you'll be able to have the same dining time and table in the dining room. Perhaps some would like to have dinner in the buffet area one night, so try to make it clear that everybody can do whatever they choose - BUT by linking the bookings, the space will be there should y'all decide to have dinner together.

 

.......... Surely everybody in your group will not want to do the same things together every minute. I would imagine your parents might enjoy some of the games, auction, Tea Time, etc., whereas the rest of you might prefer sunning on deck or spending time in the casino.

 

I really think y'all could have an amazing family vacation without infringing on each other's privacy! Good luck.:)

[CB&T]

DH and I went on the Destiny a couple of weeks ago, our first cruise. I was a regular on this board and had the expectation of relaxing and having a great time, but was VERY excited!! It's been our dream vacation for 10 years +. We have three young children, so it wasn't easy to get away. I was definitely NOT disappointed! How can you be disappointed on a vacation where you're waited on hand and foot? There's island excursions for the active type, or beaches and pools for those that aren't.

We went with a group of 20 people with the understanding that we would do whatever we wanted during the day. We then met up for dinner and had two tables of 10 at the very back of the ship, overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful, we watched the sunset every night. Sorry, I digress.

My point is, they will not be disappointed, and if they are something isn't right with them. Second, have an understanding that you all can do what you want during the day, and meet up for dinner. It worked for us.

[StacyandTim]

I'm working on a January 2006 cruise on the Elation (DH has to give the finances a once-more-over before he wants me to make the deposit....*sigh*). We would be traveling with my parents and my brother and his wife...two couples who've never cruised before.

 

What ideas do you have for prepping them for their first cruise? I want them to be excited about it, but I don't want to make it all seem just SOOO amazing and fantastic that reality could never live up to their expectations. Know what I mean?

 

Also ... when traveling with a group (even a small group), what are your tips for ensuring that people don't get TOO much togetherness? My brother isn't sure he really wants to spend his valuable vacation time traveling with his family. Thoughts?

 

--Heidi

 

You are in the same situation as I am! We are cruising in about a week with my parents (first time cruisers), and my brother and his gf (both first time cruisers)!! I was worried about the same thing!! Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes once I return..... :)

Stacy

[cantw82cruise]

Well I will pass on a few things I learned when my wife and I went with some first time cruisers. It was just the four of us. The first timers were a couple my DW worked with. We both just love to cruise and will talk to anyone who will listen about our trips. So this one couple say they want to go next time we go. We took the Pride out of Long Beach. They were pretty helpless, I booked the cruise, air, and hotels because they have no idea how to use a computer. Before we went we talked about doing what ever we wanted, we could just meet for dinner. Take the tours you want and we will do the same. Well they stuck to us like Velcro. The only time we had alone was on a whale watching tour (to expensive for them). We had a super time that day. I think my DW felt it was her responsibility to make sure they had a great time. Which made for a not so great time for me. I was really looking forward to this trip because we were going for the first time without my son. I was hoping for a very romantic cruse with my wife. Instead I got the worse cruise out of the seven I have been on.

 

Please don't sacrifice your cruise trying to make sure the others have a good time. This will be hard to do even if you think it won't. Make sure to have some alone time during the day. Don't have any regrets when you get home saying I wish we would have done something that you didn't because the others didn't want to.

 

Sorry this was so long. It's a very touchy thing for me....