shaycat11 Posted August 10, 2014 #1 Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) Hello Everyone, I am boarding IOTS in the next couple of weeks at Southampton and thought it would be fun to ask everyone if you have any tips on what you do first as soon as you board the ship...? I usually head to the spa and get myself a raffle ticket, then go find my dining table for the cruise....finally I find a quiet corner and study the cruise compass with a cold drink :cool: Do you have any tips on making the most of them 'first few hours' before you get given your room key...? Looking forward to reading your replies Lisa xx Edited August 10, 2014 by shaycat11 Grammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted August 10, 2014 #2 Share Posted August 10, 2014 We check out our cabin location and then have lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39august Posted August 10, 2014 #3 Share Posted August 10, 2014 We get our Seapass "key" upon check in, so no waiting. Do you have to wait for this after boarding in the UK? Since we board before noon we get lunch first now. When we first started cruising, we were so wowed, we checked out the ship first thing.That is still what I would do if boarding a ship we had not previously sailed...but at this point, all our upcoming cruises are on ships we are familiar with. So, lunch will continue to be the first thing we do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funbobby68 Posted August 10, 2014 #4 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Get my first of many mojitos Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeatherFx Posted August 10, 2014 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2014 One of the first things we do is find our MDR table. Grab a bite to eat, then explore the ship if it's a new ship for us. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaycat11 Posted August 10, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Oops! I have phrased that one wrong...I mean before you get access to your room (get the key on check in) sorry for the mix up :) I find lunch very busy as soon as we board so was seeing if anyone had any tips for alternative places to go or insider secrets ;) Lisa xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39august Posted August 10, 2014 #7 Share Posted August 10, 2014 There are both the Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's as alternatives to the Windjammer on Indy. We often just get a light lunch there on embarkation day, if we are not among the very first to board the ship. Those are great places to people watch while waiting for access to your cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rylcrwnlft Posted August 10, 2014 #8 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Lunch at the windjammer usually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WrittenOnYourHeart Posted August 10, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Oops! I have phrased that one wrong...I mean before you get access to your room (get the key on check in) sorry for the mix up :) I find lunch very busy as soon as we board so was seeing if anyone had any tips for alternative places to go or insider secrets ;) Lisa xx Thanks for clarifying! I was trying to figure out a) how on earth they would handle finding everyone on board to give them their cards and b) why on earth no one else had protested having to wait in SUCH A LONG LINE to get their cards! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbny1 Posted August 10, 2014 #10 Share Posted August 10, 2014 cocktails..............:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molsonschooner Posted August 10, 2014 #11 Share Posted August 10, 2014 On the bigger ships that have a Royal Promenade we head to the pub so the DW can have her first beer. On the smaller ships we go to the Schooner bar, again so DW can get her beer. Can you detect a pattern here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules815 Posted August 10, 2014 #12 Share Posted August 10, 2014 We usually board early and grab a bite to eat, then we go exploring the ship and check out our MDR table assignment and make any specialty reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilda Posted August 10, 2014 #13 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Pool bar and a bite to eat from Park Cafe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERIE 13 Posted August 10, 2014 #14 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Bring our small carry on bags to our room when its ready, then check our dinning room table for its location, then get a little lunch. Then I'll go around the ship and take some pictures before too many people get on board. Being this will be our eighth time on the Explorer picture taking will be held to a mimuim. I say that on every Explorer cruise but still come back with to many pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dulcimergirl Posted August 10, 2014 #15 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I've always gone to my cabin and dumped my stuff and head out to find lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WrittenOnYourHeart Posted August 10, 2014 #16 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I've only sailed Disney Dream (x2) and HAL's Westerdam so far (well, the SS Emerald Seas back when I was in 6th Grade, but I think we pretty much went straight to the cabin then as we definitely went to the pier from the airport - my parents still talk about the hellacious cab ride in Miami and say they are very glad my sister and I were in the rear-facing back seat of the station wagon cab). Disney's embarkation pattern seems closest to Royal's with cabins not being ready until 1 or 1:30, so... On Disney I board, I go to guest services to sign up for anything I need to and leave a deposit for my account, then go up to Cabanas, pretty much their version of the Windjammer from what I can tell for lunch and have never had a problem with crowds as I'm usually in one of the first couple of boarding groups and everyone else is all SWIM SWIM SWIM. Then I'll explore the ship for a little and then head to my cabin. I anticipate doing something similar next summer when I'm on the Radiance. I'll be with a group where we'll rotate tables among those assigned to the group, and won't know those numbers until we have our welcome reception, so there's no point to going and finding out my table. (On Disney, the table placement will be different in each main dining room, so even knowing the number someone will guide you at least the first night in that dining room.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighairtexan Posted August 10, 2014 #17 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I find a table, usually at the Promenade Cafe and have a light bite and wait for my cabin to be open. ANYTHING but the Windjammer and the madhouse there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dacsmom Posted August 10, 2014 #18 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I find the drink of the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmama Posted August 10, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 10, 2014 We wear our bathing suits under our clothes and head straight to the pool. Once it starts to get crowded we drop our carry ons in the cabin, get all our mail and brochures and head to cafe promenade for a light bite and reading through everything. If we still need to make a reservation we get to the applicable place after the pool, but before our first cabin visit, to again avoid crowds. Usually this is done online before leaving though. After our lunch and reading time we go back to our cabin. If luggage has arrived we unpack before the lifeboat drill, otherwise we just sit and take in the sights from the balcony until the drill. After the drill we dress and head to dining room. Let the fun begin!!!! Sent from my SCH-I915 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaycat11 Posted August 10, 2014 Author #20 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thank you for all your replies, i really like the suggestion of getting photos in before the ship gets busier... I just hate wasting opportunities on the first day...has anyone gone to a speciality restaurant for dinner on the first day? Xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggieq Posted August 10, 2014 #21 Share Posted August 10, 2014 See where our dinner table is Book specialty restaurants Lunch Drink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelife Posted August 10, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Check out our dining table and then explore taking photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace1zoe2 Posted August 10, 2014 #23 Share Posted August 10, 2014 I am another one who gets on early, usually in the first wave of people. I like to start at the top and go from top to bottom of the ship taking pictures while there is basically no one else in the area. I prefer my pictures without random people. Once that's out of the way I no longer have to carry my camera around the ship with me. I then rely on my point & shoot or iPhone. Next we usually go to the Promenade Cafe or Park Cafe for lunch and avoid the WJ altogether. Once the rooms are open we unpack and then start enjoying our aft balcony until time for muster. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 10, 2014 #24 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Long Island Iced Tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dacsmom Posted August 10, 2014 #25 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thank you for all your replies, i really like the suggestion of getting photos in before the ship gets busier... I just hate wasting opportunities on the first day...has anyone gone to a speciality restaurant for dinner on the first day? Xx Sure, we are eating at Chops the first night on the Allure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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