Do you remember your 1st cruise? I kinda envy 1st timers.

[trishamaria1985]

First cruise will be next week to the Bahamas!

[trishamaria1985]

Our First Cruise will be to the Bahamas for a wedding party of sixty on Majesty of the seas next week! A brother is giving The talk on a beach! So excited!

[bakersdozen12]

My husband and I will be going on our first cruise this October. For the past month I have been so excited, to the point that I have started to feel like I'm going overboard. But after reading everyone's account of their first experience, I no longer feel like I am crazy, lol. I have never even seen a cruise ship in person, so I know that I am going to be awestruck. Heck, I was awestruck enough the first time I saw the barges on the mighty Mississippi when I was in New Orleans, and I'm guessing that cruise ships are even bigger than those.

[wobblybob74]

Our first cruise was five years ago, on board the Grand Princess sailing around the Med. for two weeks. It was our honeymoon, so I was already excited from the wedding a week earlier. My wife doesn't really get excited about much - she can be terribly British! But I was excited enough for the two of us!

 

We'd opted for the free coach from Liverpool and as it entered the docks at Southampton I was literally bouncing in my seat with excitement and when I saw the Grand I very nearly leapt out of my seat! Once we had cleared the arrivals hall and were on the boarding ramp I was beside myself and that first step on board into the atrium was wonderful. My wife had to tell me to close my mouth as I was gawping around like a kid.

 

Once we'd dumped stuff in our cabin, we got a couple of drinks and went out onto the Promenade deck to await sailaway - being newbies we were totally unaware of what was happening on the Lido deck! But it was still very civilised as there was a jazz band on the quay, and sipping a gin and tonic whilst watching Blighty slip away into the distance was great.

 

The knowledge that you have two weeks ahead of you onboard such a beautiful ship is just fabulous. Obviously, we were a bit apprehensive as we were new to it all, but the friendly staff and crew soon put us at ease.

 

We've cruised again since (on the Grand again, this time after her refit) and we're booked on P&O's Ventura sailing in a little over eight weeks, again from Southampton. I'm definitely hooked on cruising and am looking forward to stepping onboard Ventura for the first time just as much as, if not more than, I was looking forward to stepping onboard the Grand five years ago.

[vacation luvver]

you never forget your first!!!

Not true at all. My first cruise was in either 1976 or 1977. It was on Holland America, either the Statendam or Rotterdam. We went to Nassau, and maybe Bermuda, too.

 

What I do remember: Everyone had either first or second sitting for the meals. Not just dinner - breakfast and lunch, too. If you weren't able to eat breakfast or lunch when you were supposed to in the dining room, there was a buffet by the pool. There was no dinner buffet and no surcharge restaurants. At fifteen minutes after the dinner hour started, the doors were locked, and if you were too late for dinner, you had to get room service.

 

Holland America at that time went out of its way to advertise that tipping was not necessary on their cruises. Unfortunately, a lot of people got confused and thought that it meant that tipping was not allowed. There was no automatic gratuity on anything, not even alcoholic beverages.

 

The "midnight" buffet started at 11:30 PM. Afterwards, I read that the earlier the "midnight" buffet starts, the older the clientele. I took a second cruise with HA in 1981 and haven't cruised with them since then. They're just not my cup of tea.

[DirtyDawg]

My first cruise was on the old Monarch of the Seas in the early 2000's. We had what I called a port hole cabin. I hated it! Not only did hate the cabin, the shows were lousy, the food was just OK, and the cruise traditions like formal night and tipping with those envelops were just weird. My DW had cruised before and really liked it, but for me the whole thing was an acquired taste. She basically had to force me to try cruising again. The second cruise was a birthday gift from my MIL (organised by my DW) for all her family so I couldn't say no. Eventually I came to like cruising despite it's weirdness.;):p

[kimlovesfl]

Yes, it was January 25-30, 2014, on the Celebrity Constellation, and everything about it, from check in to disembarkation, was absolutely dead-on perfect, including the weather and sailing conditions.

 

We were on the CB the same time this year, loved it as well, not quite as perfect (weather not as nice, slightly rougher seas), but still loved it so much that I booked another Princess cruise for November, shortly after we got home. Prefer Celebrity, Princess is great too.

[Tapi]

Got you beat with Cunard, did the Cunard Countess in 1977.

 

No kids club either, mostly just ran around the ship with my older brother and had a blast!

 

 

I remember that the "kids program" met at the ship's "movie theater" which was nothing more than a small room with a screen and some chairs. The activities consisted of doing arts and crafts. Would love to see the reaction of kids today if that was the only thing offered on modern cruise ships! Haha.

 

I also remember that the swimming pool always splashed and sloshed everywhere (small ship, no stabilizers), and what would be a reason to close the pools today was a source of fun for us. It was like jumping in a tide pool at a water park!

Edited April 13, 2015 by Tapi

[pirate4me2]

Our first cruise was on the Carnival Pride in 2012 for our honeymoon. I was scared to death stepping onto the ship but I remember seeing the atrium and thinking, "Wow, this is so elegant!" As I said, I was scared to death and almost started bawling as we pulled out of port. I was scared I would get seasick, the ship would sink, etc. But then after the second day I calmed down, and I loved it! No seasickness, and the staff was incredible. It was also my first time traveling out of the country and I had a blast. We got home, and a week later I booked our second cruise for the Carnival Breeze. And then a third cruise on the Liberty....and now look at me, a full blown cruise addict!

[legion3]

I remember that the "kids program" met at the ship's "movie theater" which was nothing more than a small room with a screen and some chairs. The activities consisted of doing arts and crafts. Would love to see the reaction of kids today if that was the only thing offered on modern cruise ships! Haha.

 

I also remember that the swimming pool always splashed and sloshed everywhere (small ship, no stabilizers), and what would be a reason to close the pools today was a source of fun for us. It was like jumping in a tide pool at a water park!

 

No kids club at all in 77 but LOL do remember the pool crashing back and forth underway. That was a sight to see and was a true wave pool...

[dee1321]

My first was cruise was spring break my senior year in high school, Spring 1982 and was on Carnival's Carnivale. I have been hooked ever since! Now I am a Royal Caribbean fan. Next cruise is in 2 weeks!

[Velvetwater]

I was already excited from the wedding a week earlier. My wife doesn't really get excited about much - she can be terribly British! But I was excited enough for the two of us!

 

We'd opted for the free coach from Liverpool and as it entered the docks at Southampton I was literally bouncing in my seat with excitement and when I saw the Grand I very nearly leapt out of my seat! Once we had cleared the arrivals hall and were on the boarding ramp I was beside myself and that first step on board into the atrium was wonderful. My wife had to tell me to close my mouth as I was gawping around like a kid.

 

We've cruised again since (on the Grand again, this time after her refit)

 

.

 

You sound exactly like myself and my husband although I was the excited one and he was the terribly British one. We also sailed on our first ship again after her refit...although it was the Carnival Legend.

 

We were supposed to go on a cruise for our honeymoon but couldn't find the right schedule as we had to be back teaching 10 days after.

 

I saw a cheesy Carnival advert for cheap Med cruises and researched it...found Baltic cruises fitted our dates and booked it with excitement in the April. By about July I was jumping about everywhere and had read everything and bought lots of new outfits.

 

Travelling down to Dover the day before I could hardly wait and saw other people with Cruise luggage tags. We took a walk down the long docks where the ship would be the evening before and husband had to buy me drinks to calm me down. I set my alarm at 6 in the next morning so I could watch the ship come in from my specially booked seafront room. Unfortunately I woke up and saw it was not there then fell asleep and woke up an hour late...opened by curtains and there she was! I woke up my husband by singing and jumping on the bed.

 

I can remember quickly going through customs and gawping at the atrium whilst friendly stateside staff welcomed us on board and told us to explore. I had been on the ship maybe 10 seconds and I had fallen deeply in love. We went and got cocktails and a deli sandwich and watched sail away from the aft...so so wonderful!

Edited April 13, 2015 by Velvetwater

[DRS/NC]

The Sunward (NCL?) in June 1967!

 

I'd graduated from college the weekend before. We were in Miami for my husband's business & the office folks there suggested we do the 3-day cruise to Nassau (Fri. PM - Mon. AM).

 

They said book the $89pp room (bathroom down the hall). The cruise line was an auditing client & would give us a upgrade. Upgraded us to a suite! We even had a large window!

 

We even rented a little British sports car in Nassau & drove all over the island -- British drive, US-side roads! Fabulous weekend for 2 20-somethings! :)

[Jenhem31]

My first was on the Carnival Paradise almost a year ago. Since then we have been on 2 more, and leave on another this Thursday! 4 in 12 months, we are addicted!

[Muumuu]

Paradise in 2002 and they had me hook, line and sinker.

Going on 25th Carnival this June.

And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE watching a first timer. Makes you almost feel like it is yours again.

[Jay Sam]

Paradise in 2002 and they had me hook, line and sinker.

Going on 25th Carnival this June.

And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE watching a first timer. Makes you almost feel like it is yours again.

 

Yeah same here re: watching a first timer.

 

Fantasy class has the reputation of having about half their customers as 1st timers. That was certainly true on Paradise in Dec to Cozumel. I love talking to them and getting their impressions. Almost without exception they love love love it an have goals of doing other ones.

[Porthopper101]

2009- 82 days on Queen Victoria

2012- 109 days On Queen Elizabeth

2013- 120 days on Queen Mary2

2014- 96 days on Queen Victoria

2014- 14 days Alaska

 

Next:

 

July-2015 - 35 days Irish, Scottish & North Cape on Prinsendam

Jan-2016- 180 days world cruise on Insignia

 

Yes, we are hooked :D

 

M

[cat_in_cda]

My 1st cruise was before I met my husband it was with a girl friend on Royal Caribbean - Enchantment of the Seas in 1999 and then my next Cruise was my wedding cruise on Golden Princess in 2003 which was my husband's 1st cruise and we were married by Captain Nick Nash on the 2nd day of the cruise while we were at sea :-) and since then another Princess and 4 Carnival cruises :-) Love cruising :-)

[pseudoware]

1987, Sitmar Cruises, Caribbean. I don't recall the ship. It was WILD.

 

My next cruise wasn't until 2007, and I've been on a few to date, but nothing compares to the craziness on that first cruise.

[greensnow]

Looking forward to my first cruise. I know it'll be overwhelming and awesome!

[Bonnie J.]

YES! It was in 1985 on the Dolphin. Every night we had new bottles of red & white wine and they were free!

Most cruises in a year-13, last year 10. WE really got hooked!

[scmona]

Some great experiences, thank you.

[Abercram]

Last year, freedom of the seas, once we could see the ship from the port I said "that's not a mall?!?" You could fit our entire town population in it, plus some!!

[Grandma Petania]

My first cruise was almost 50 years ago, aboard the German ship, Bremen. This ship was built in 1939, and spent the next 8 years as a troop carrier. In the course of her career, she sailed for 41 years under four names and six countries' flags. As the Bremen, she carried about 1100 passengers and a crew of 550.

 

I won the cruise on the TV game show, Concentration. It was supposed to be a one-week Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin, to be taken with my (now ex) husband. However, I negotiated for a two week cruise by switching to an interior (plus a small added payment).

 

We sailed as far south as Aruba and Venezuela. I was in my late 20s then, with a lot more energy, and we disembarked at every port - walking around the towns, and sometimes taking a tour into the countrysides. I was very disappointed when we arrived at Aruba on a Sunday to find that there were no rental cars available. I had already plotted our explorations all over this small island (20 miles long & 6 miles wide). My husband solved the problem by asking in a nearby bar, and we rented an old clunker from the barmaid.

 

We dressed quite formally on the formal nights, but some passengers wore their tuxedos and ball gowns every night at dinner. There weren't any shows, and I don't remember a casino. We participated in the costume night and pirate night. They served mid-morning tea on deck, and afternoon tea in a lounge, accompanied by a live piano player. Having the late dinner seating, we seldom made it to the midnight buffet, but I remember carved ice sculptures, caviar and many other treats.

 

Our most memorable evening was when our young dining and wine stewards managed to smuggle us down to crew quarters for a party. (Having two young women from Quebec at our table for six may have helped to facilitate the invitation.) We had a grand time, conversing and singing in a mixture of languages.

 

I didn't cruise again until 2012, when I sailed with my live-in family: daughter, son-in-law and grandson, on the Oasis. This was SO different from my 1968 cruise on the Bremen, that it definitely felt like a "FIRST" Cruise! In 2013 I sailed the Oasis again, this time with just my younger daughter. In February 2015 my live-in family of four sailed the Oasis for the second time.

 

At 75, I don't have the energy or heat tolerance that I had in my 20s. I no longer leave the ship, except to check out the iguanas and shop the stalls near the dock on St. Thomas.

 

I love the shows, and I'm particularly fond of Central Park. While on board two months ago, I intended to book an Interior cabin on the Oasis for February 2016 with just my younger daughter. To my surprise, I found that we could get a Central Park balcony cabin for only $300 more than the Interior. And, with $300 in OBC, it was a no-brainer.

 

My main goal is to spend a stress-free week without cleaning, cooking or any of my other usual household chores. A direct flight between Richmond and Ft. Lauderdale is also a big plus - as is being served by the same fabulous waiter on all three of these cruises, with fingers crossed that we can get her again next year.

 

I don't foresee cruising more often than once every year or two. It might be fun to sail on the Allure or the Harmony, though returning to the Oasis has the advantage of familiarity. I no longer need to spend a lot of time figuring out how to get from place to place.

 

DSIL would like to visit some different ports, but being unable to transfer from his power wheelchair may limit his choices. (I'm leaving it up to DD & DSIL to research the possibilities.) Other than that, I don't think he would consent to a cruise that didn't have a cabin with accessible ocean-view balcony. He wasn't interested in the shows, and spent many hours every day out on the balcony.

 

If you've made it all the way through my story, I hope you enjoyed it.

[MKJ87]

Our first cruise was four years ago. NCL Pearl to Dominican, St. Thomas, Tortola and NCL's private island. Had a blast! Head off on our first cruise with Carnival in about 5 weeks for a 5-day to Mexico.

 

Since we'll be rookies on Carnival and we're taking our two older teenagers who are first-timer's, it will still feel like a new experience! Can't wait!

 

And of course our kids are SCARED TO DEATH...unfortunately it's not like cruise ships haven't been in the news a lot the past couple of years...but I'm sure they'll calm down and have a great time...eventually!:)