How to choose/book inaugural cruises

[CairnsCruiser1]

Hi everyone.

 

We're interested in forward planning and booking an inaugural cruise- but frankly- I can't figure out how to do so!!!

 

Can anyone please help me?

 

Rachelle

[Mary Ellen]

You just look for new ships that are due out and see when their first cruise will be. While not often, it has been known for delays in delivery to occur though. This has made what would have been maybe the third or fourth cruise the inaugural sailing.

 

I'm sure you're aware that things probably won't run as smoothly as usual on a brand new ship. We expected that when we took an Inaugural sailing. We thought would just be part of the 'adventure'. What we didn't expect was to to treated as an 'inconvenience' and certainly didn't feel welcome. We were in the way of the VIPs from the cruise line, travel agents, press... (those traveling for free) and we paid through the nose for this treatment. If we wanted to attend the actual christening ceremony, that would have been another significant chunk of change. I don't see us ever taking a inaugural sailing again. Good luck.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Twice we booked cruises that were not supposed to have been Inaugural cruises. But both times the ships were delayed a few weeks and we ended up on the Inaugural cruise. We will never book a new ship unless it has been sailing at least 6 months. Far too many things went wrong.

[Essiesmom]

These days, most ships are being delieverd early, so often there are 'preview' cruises before the inaugural. We sailed on the inaugural of the Star Princess in 2002. There were no perceived problems, but the ship had sailed deadhead (empty) from shipyard in Italy across the Indian Ocean to Singapore, so the crew had plenty of time to check things out. Incidentally, we didn't know it was the inaugural when we booked, we booked for the itinerary (Singapore to LA, 26 days). EM

[pris993]

You just look for new ships that are due out and see when their first cruise will be. While not often, it has been known for delays in delivery to occur though. This has made what would have been maybe the third or fourth cruise the inaugural sailing.

 

I'm sure you're aware that things probably won't run as smoothly as usual on a brand new ship. We expected that when we took an Inaugural sailing. We thought would just be part of the 'adventure'. What we didn't expect was to to treated as an 'inconvenience' and certainly didn't feel welcome. We were in the way of the VIPs from the cruise line, travel agents, press... (those traveling for free) and we paid through the nose for this treatment. If we wanted to attend the actual christening ceremony, that would have been another significant chunk of change. I don't see us ever taking a inaugural sailing again. Good luck.

 

We are with you. We did the 1st and last inaugural cruise on the Grand Princess in 1998 from Istanbul to Barcelona. While we enjoyed the cruise overall, we would not book an inaugural specifically. We actually had booked the 3rd cruise of the Grand, it turned out to be the inaugural. When we arrived they were still laying carpet in some areas. They had a huge 'Press" party in the disco which we crashed when we wandered in exploring the ship. It was really amazing how different the press party was compared to the repeat passenger party by contrast. Service on board was mixed, now we usually book a new ship about 6 months into service. Six month into service, the staff team has their act together and the cruise is much more to our expectations.

[kitty9]

You're taking a very big chance on booking an Inaugural cruise, especially knowing you're from Australia. Many ships aren't on time, and if you book a cruise, pay for your airfare and then find out your cruise is cancelled because the ship is not finished, what do you do?

 

There aren't many new ships coming out in the next couple years, except for a lot of river boats, but here's a couple you may want to call a travel agent about:

 

Princess, June 10, 2013

NCL Getaway, January 2014

Regal Princess,Spring of 2014

Quantum of the Seas, Fall 2014

Costa Diadema, Fall 2014

[Mary Ellen]

It was really amazing how different the press party was compared to the repeat passenger party by contrast. Service on board was mixed, now we usually book a new ship about 6 months into service. Six month into service, the staff team has their act together and the cruise is much more to our expectations.

We didn't mind the mixed service as we'd expected that. One thing that really showed how much the cruise line was playing up to the TAs and press on board was the food quality. We were actually on for 3 cruises in a row. With each successive cruise the 'importance' of the VIPs decreased as did the food quality.

 

There was one dinner entree I ordered on each of the 3 cruises and this dish in particular showcased the differences. One of the sides was carrots. First time they were the hand peeled fresh baby carrots (you know how a restaurant will leave a bit of the greens on top so you know they are fresh?). Next time the baby carrots from a bag. Last time - carrot sticks. I would say the quality of the proteins (steak and shrimp/prawns) also decreased, but that wasn't as easy to quantify.

 

It just drove home that the cruise line wanted to go all out for the TAs and media to give a good impression. In reality that isn't what future passengers will receive. :rolleyes:

 

Also, expect a number of venues to be closed off for the frequent private parties. Someone on our cruise had expected to be able to use the pool in the early evenings. Not once were they able to do so as that was a place that could handle good sized groups.

 

Then there was the night that the show after the second seating dinner was delayed 20-minutes as the heads of HAL and CCL hadn't finished their dinners. The rest of us just sat there cooling our heels. We never bothered going to another show after that. Why bother? We were just an inconvenience.