First cruise..how long until you can find your way around??

[MNCruizer1]

We are taking our first cruise on the Triumph. How long does it take to learn your way around? I know it is different for everyone..but a rough idea? Any tricks to not constantly get lost??

 

Thank you

[splash_in_the_water]

congrats on the first cruise! Well, your best bet is to just walk around. They have those little fold up paper maps you can get at the service desk that help too...Some decks are harder to use as a passage from stern to aft (front to back) or the other way around , like the levels with dining. Sometimes the rooms are open and you can pass through, sometimes not. Learn which levels you can go back and forth freely on to get to certain lounges, theatres, etc

 

also there are maps by the stairs/elevators too...Remember, some elevators don't do every floor , some do, so plan accordingly.

 

you'll get it after a day or two. Just walk around a bit if you're able...you'll get it ;) Have fun!

[Cruise-Crazy]

Depending on the size of the ship about a day.

 

They normally have a ship tour the first day.

[isaiahsnana]

Just off her last week, it was easy to get around. Be sure to notice which elevators you need to get to different parts of the ship. Some decks don't go all the way through so you need to know where to enter those decks. Guest services have the small fold up maps, pick one up for each of you.

[falkcor]

i always know my way around the day of embarkation - i take time beforehand to study the deck plans in some detail so i know where i'm going on day one, i'd suggest you do the same!

 

also, once you've cruised triumph it will be easier for you on your next cruise for most of carnival's ships. the triumph, conquest, dream, splendor and soon vista class are all based on the same general design that debuted with the destiny (now sunshine). there are some tweaks here and there but you'll still find the layout generally similar / familiar.

 

one trick is that even numbered cabins are on port (left) side, and odd on starboard. you can remember this because port, left and even all have 4 letters :)

[Doug910]

...Its usually a good idea to spend some time after lunch and before Sailaway to walk the ship and get a feeling for the vessel. Don't worry. You'll figure it out. Can't tell you how many times I hear people, as their cruise is coming to an end, comment " and I was just learning how to get around the ship!"

[kassimer1]

ask for a small deck plan handout at the service desk. helps alot

[MNCruizer1]

Thanks everyone..very helpful!!

[BigB0882]

Some ships are easier than others, I think. I have never sailed on Triumph so I can't comment on her. My first cruise was on the Elation and she is a smaller ship but I still had this issue where I ended up at the wrong dining room constantly or found myself heading the wrong direction (going aft instead of forward, for example). However, on the Dream I didn't have any of those issues. I am not sure if it is because it wasn't my first cruise and I just knew overall what to expect but I was able to get around very easily from the first Day.

[Anthomaniac]

our first cruise it took me about a day to get used to the Destiny, but one of our group it took till day 3 or 4...YMMV

[Gamecock_Cruiser]

If you have a sense of direction and can figure out the front of the ship from the rear, about a day.

[SadieN]

If you have a sense of direction and can figure out the front of the ship from the rear, about a day.

 

 

Don't have a good sense of direction inside a building or outside of SoCal.

I look out the window. Figure the ship is always going forward.

[richstowe]

We are taking our first cruise on the Triumph. How long does it take to learn your way around? I know it is different for everyone..but a rough idea? Any tricks to not constantly get lost??

 

Thank you

 

If you have a sense of direction and can figure out the front of the ship from the rear, about a day.

MNCruizer1 , the fun's in front and the food's in the rear . Remember that and you'll always be fed and entertained . :D

[Anthomaniac]

tricks to not get lost -

 

hang a sign or dry erase sheet or some kind of marker on your door, helps avoid those awkward trying-to-get-into-the-wrong-room moments

 

grab the little ship map at guest services when you arrive, and take it with you until you feel comfortable - its a very small little booklet

 

study the deck plan ahead of time, they are on the carnival website, as well as a few other sites. make sure you are looking at the most current deck plan, as several ships have had renovation in the past few years

 

don't be afraid to ask the employees for help, they live on the ship for a large portion of the year and could probably get from the Lido Deck to the MDR to the Spa to the Comedy Club with their eyes closed

 

memorize which way you turn to get to the stairs/elevator when you leave your room

 

if needed, on embarkation day, use your deck plan map and walk off the public areas of the ship (the decks that are completely passenger cabins you can skip, unless you really need to see the WHOLE ship)

 

as a last resort, you could always try to hire a Sherpa to lead you where you need to go :D

 

hope this helps!

[kona_wahine]

I studied deck plans on cc and carnival websites before going and it helped. It is quite overwhelming first time! Keep in mind port (left) room numbers are even and starboard are odd. I still get a bit turned around not knowing if I'm heading forward or backward.

[RiotAct]

One tricky thing on alot of Carnival ships is: if you're on Deck 3 all the way forward and want to get all the way aft, you have to go up to the main Promenade Deck (usually Deck 5) first, then walk aft, then go back down the stairs to 3 or take the elevator.

 

Reason being, the dining rooms are on this floor and if they're closed, they usually won't let you walk through (the doors will be locked and workers will be cleaning/ setting up/ etc.). At least, this was our experience on the Liberty.

 

I think this applies to Deck 4 on some ships as well.

[Quilcruisers]

It takes us sometimes the whole cruise to find our way. It's a wonderful feeling when you end up taking elevator all the way to your floor and getting off right at your room. The maps are helpful but landmarks help too. Like if you are right below the club or right below a certain dining room. You can go from the main floors , lido deck, promenade and the floor with casino all the way down to your floor in some cases. It's fun unless you have to get back to room in a hurry or if you are tired.

[GUT2407]

Enjoy that 1st cruise.

 

Have a good look at the deck plan before you go.

 

Then first day, elevator to the top, work your way down, front to back, down, back to front ... then you will have a pretty good idea, though you may sometimes still take a wrong turn.

 

Corridors often have some type of colour coding a light or carpet colour, Red is Port, easy to remember what colour is port wine? Starboard is green, makes it easy to remember if you have gone to the wrong side of the ship.

[kovhanperl]

It's a wonderful feeling when you end up taking elevator all the way to your floor and getting off right at your room.

[Aplmac]

i always know my way around the day of embarkation

- I take time beforehand to study the deck plans in some detail

so I know where i'm going on day one, I'd suggest you do the same!

Start here.........

http://www.cruisecheap.com/c/deckplan2014.php?SailDate=&WMPHShipCode=26&DeckNumber=5

 

on Promenade Deck 5 -and play with the drop down menu at the bow of the ship

to investigate other decks.

 

.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Aplmac

[silvercrikhix]

Yes, definitely study the deck plans some before you go, it does help.

Pay special attention to the venues you know you'll be using.

The lil deck plan is also helpful while on board as are the signs at elevator banks.

It really does depend on the person, ship, etc...

The crew is always helpful so don't be afraid to ask them!

It IS true though, by the time you get it all down, it's time to debark. :p

 

Welcome to your new addiction, you'll be a pro in no time! :D

[stargate fan]

We are taking our first cruise on the Triumph. How long does it take to learn your way around? I know it is different for everyone..but a rough idea? Any tricks to not constantly get lost??

 

Thank you

 

Upon embarkation we take our little folded maps, head all the way to the top deck, and work our way down, checking out everything there is to see on each deck along the way. By the time we reach deck three, we've familiarized ourselves with ship. 16 Carnival cruises later and we still follow this routine. Occasionally we have to check the maps that are located at every elevator bank, but by day 3, we are pretty much all set.

 

One important think to note - in order to get to the main dining room located aft (back of the ship), not the dining room located mid-ship, you'll have to go up to deck five or down to deck two, walk all the way to the aft stairs or elevator, then go up to deck three or four.

 

Remember-you can't really get lost on a ship. :D And if you do, enjoy the adventure.

[deadmoney]

I've been known to print them out ahead of time since the "little" schematic they give you is little.;)

[carrieluvsgreg]

We are taking our first cruise on the Triumph. How long does it take to learn your way around? I know it is different for everyone..but a rough idea? Any tricks to not constantly get lost??

 

Thank you

 

For me, it was almost easier on the first cruise than now at 13... I get confused between classes sometimes. Fantasy class ships start numbering with 4 (Riviera) larger ships start with 1 on Riviera... that throws me off...Promenade is on 5 on larger ships but not on fantasy... I usually have my sea legs in about a day or so...

Congrads on 1st trip! You'll love cruising!

[Honolulu Blue]

We are taking our first cruise on the Triumph. How long does it take to learn your way around? I know it is different for everyone..but a rough idea? Any tricks to not constantly get lost??

 

My last cruise was on the Triumph and it didn't take long at all for me to find my way around. I had previously sailed on Conquest-class ships and though this is from the one prior, the layout was very similar. The most disorienting thing was that, for some reason, I embarked on Deck 0 rather than Deck 3.

 

Tips for finding your way around? First, grab a deck map from Guest Services. Second, find your way to the room from where you are. It doesn't matter if you take the long way around the first time; you'll have plenty of time to fix that. And third, figure out where you spend your time. Other than my cabin, I find I spend most of my time on Decks 9 (buffet, casual restaurants), 5 (casino, shops, comedy club, promenade seating), and 3 (MDR and theater main entrance). Your priorities may be different.

 

Enjoy your cruise.