First Time cruisers

[elsiesunshine]

Hi there,

 

A girlfriend and i will be sailing out of Houston on the 30th boarding the NCL Sun. This will be a first for both of us. Any suggestions or advice? We will be spending a week in the Houston area before hand. i haven't received any information as of yet for our cruise. When are we to show up at the dock?? Anyone know? What is the one thing you would not sail without?

[WaldosPepper]

...i haven't received any information as of yet for our cruise. When are we to show up at the dock??

 

Did you book directly through NCL, or did you use a Travel Agent. If you went through a TA, call them and ask about your documents. It is possible that you will be sailing with e-docs, and you simply need to receive the email and print out the docs. Included with your docs should be all the information you need with regard to what time to arrive at the pier, etc.

 

What is the one thing you would not sail without?

My sense of humor! :D As with all vacations, the unexpected can happen - be flexible, and enjoy every moment.

 

Other things I wouldn't cruise without:

1.) A huge appetite for fabulous food.

2.) A few fabulous outfits for formal nights

3.) A pocketful of small bills for tipping the Porters at the pier, and for recognizing stewards and waiters who deserve "a little extra", and cabdrivers or tourguides on the excursions.

4.) Friends who love to have FUN

5.) Binoculars and a great camera

6.) Credit cards or Travelers Checks

 

I'm sure you'll get lots of other suggestions! Stick around for the next few weeks before you sail, and read as much as you can. These boards are an invaluable source of information which can make a huge difference in how prepared you are for your journey, and provide lots of great tips and ideas for cruisers.

 

I hope your first cruise is as memorable and wonderful as my first cruise was!!!!!!!

[kwadley]

Hi there,

 

A girlfriend and i will be sailing out of Houston on the 30th boarding the NCL Sun. This will be a first for both of us. Any suggestions or advice? We will be spending a week in the Houston area before hand. i haven't received any information as of yet for our cruise. When are we to show up at the dock?? Anyone know? What is the one thing you would not sail without?

 

Hi Elsie!

If you are going to have a whole week beforehand I would plan on spending some time in Galveston. If you have a rental car, and I hope you do, Galveston is just 45 short mintues south of Houston on I-45. It is a charming island that is RICH with history. If not for the Great Storm in September 1900, Galveston would be the biggest port on the Texas Gulf. Houston swept in and capitalized on that one! Oh, sorry, I seem to be overly proud of our state history. Go to these links and see what you can learn. Have a GREAT cruise!!

http://www.portofhouston.com/cruiseinfo/cruiseinfo.html

 

http://www.galveston.com

 

BTW, for the one thing I could not do without-an extension cord or multi-plug to supplement the one, single plug in the cabin. Ya gotta have more than one plug to fix hair!! Also remember to bring your "sense of adventure". Kay

 

[electricron]

The ship will probably open for new passengers around noon.

Binoculars is the one thing I would not cruise without. Any wildlife you might happen upon is usually too far away to appreciate without them.

Also, a saying all first time cruisers should be told, "Expect the unexpected!"

Nothing is perfect, and every cruise will have its faults. It's up to us to appreciate things that go right, and to overlook those that go wrong.

[elsiesunshine]

Thank you all so much for the information!! i am sooo looking fcorward to this adventure. i am trying so hard to just let it all come to me and take it as it comes but a BIG part of me wants to be prepared.

i appreciate the boards. They ahve been a wealth of information!

Thank you again!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Hey if you are ever in Astoria, Or be sure to look me up!!

 

elsiesunshine@msn.com

[kwadley]

Thank you all so much for the information!! i am sooo looking fcorward to this adventure. i am trying so hard to just let it all come to me and take it as it comes but a BIG part of me wants to be prepared.

i appreciate the boards. They ahve been a wealth of information!

Thank you again!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Hey if you are ever in Astoria, Or be sure to look me up!!

 

elsiesunshine@msn.com

 

Hey girl! Half the fun is in the planning! Have a great cruise!!

 

[shoreguy]

Hi there,

 

A girlfriend and i will be sailing out of Houston on the 30th boarding the NCL Sun. This will be a first for both of us. Any suggestions or advice? We will be spending a week in the Houston area before hand. i haven't received any information as of yet for our cruise. When are we to show up at the dock?? Anyone know? What is the one thing you would not sail without?

 

Don't sail without joining the roll call. A chance to meet others on your cruise before you go. Here is a link. It should be an interesting cruise.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=196154

[elsiesunshine]

How does someone join the Roll Call? Forgive my ignorance...:o

[WaldosPepper]

How does someone join the Roll Call? Forgive my ignorance...:o

 

I was just about to provide you with a link here, but I see you've already found your roll call and signed up! Good for you!!!!!! :)

 

Have a great time!

[TravelQN]

The ship will probably open for new passengers around noon.

Binoculars is the one thing I would not cruise without. Any wildlife you might happen upon is usually too far away to appreciate without them.

 

Not necessarily, sometimes this can be easily viewed from your room, the outside decks, or the port when all the people get off the 'booze cruise' or are on their way back from Carlos n' Charlies or Senior Frogs. lol

[daybreakbds]

congrats on your first cruise. just a warning they are addicting. your cruise will be what you make of it. read the daily sheet of paper and see what activities you like to do or just watch. one thing i will not travel without is a hoodie (long sleeve shirt) sometimes the ship can be a little chilly.

 

sit, enjoy, relax, and most important don't sweat the small stuff.

[elsiesunshine]

i guess you would like to know the price. $58

Pay Cash or traveller's checks as you board the van - $43 per person, plus $5 entrance fee and $5 lunch, making it US $58 per person.

i understand the ships price is $100.

[elsiesunshine]

Oh one more thing that i thought was nice. i am already confirmed for the trip. They sent me a voucher. Some one will be waiting for me at the pier.

[CruisinMK]

The most important thing to bring with you is a good attitude. A cruise ship is an incredibly complex operation, and even on the best run cruises little surprises and problems are inevitable. Work around whatever happens and make the best of it, and keep a happy-go-lucky smile. Once a person gets grumpy, they're going to fixate on the bad to justify their foul mood. Don't let other people's bad attitudes and behavior upset you, just think of it as an expected bit of quirky entertainment.

 

Reach out to make friends early and often!!! It is up to you to be friendly and reach out and meet people! Norwegian can be slightly more alienating than other cruise lines, because you don't have the same folks at your dining table each night.

 

Bring a hat and suntan lotion. Amazing how many people needlessly ruin their vacation with sunburn. Big surprise, you fry 10x faster in Hawaii and the carribbean than you do back home. By the end of the trip you will notice a number of lobster-red people, don't be one of them.

 

Wash your hands regularly. There are over 20 million USA cases of the extremely contagious Norwalk virus a year -- only the common cold is more common. Simple soap and water handwashing is your only good protection. Norwalk is just a 48-72 hour stomach flu, but having the runs and vomiting for that period is an experience to avoid.

 

Mentally budget tipping for your trip before you board, so it's not a downer for you during your trip. If you gamble, set and keep to a budget before you set foot in the casino so your losses are not depressing. Gambling is often the most profitable aspect of a cruise, which means you would be really shocked to learn how much some people are losing.

 

At buffets, start with really tiny portions of everything that looks interesting, then you can go back for whatever you most liked. This avoids waste and overeating.

 

Waiters may have good advice and menu item explanations if you ask. Reserve any speciality restaurants you want early.

 

A deck or two may be really good for walking laps on, which helps burn off meals and improves your energy level throughout the cruise.

 

Beware of tots in swimming pools wearing "swimmer diapers", a.k.a. fecal tea bags. These biohazards are banned, but that doesn't stop them.

 

Sometimes those 50's and 70's dances can be a riot, so don't stay in your bloody room glued to your bed.

 

At some ports the ship might not be able to dock, instead ferrying passengers on small vessels. Mentally prepare for and expect longer wait times, relax. If you show up late for the ship you are really screwed (unless you're on a paid ship excursion).

[CruisinMK]

oops

[elsiesunshine]

Thanks so much for the good info. We both are so excited about our trip.

Right now we are trying to find out a good place to stay while in Houston and the most feasible way to get from Hotel to cruise terminal. Anyone want to share?

[kwadley]

Thanks so much for the good info. We both are so excited about our trip.

Right now we are trying to find out a good place to stay while in Houston and the most feasible way to get from Hotel to cruise terminal. Anyone want to share?

 

Elsie-does your hotel provide a shuttle?? I read another thread were people were discussing this (I think it is the Port of Houston thread) and said that Enterprise had a reasonable deal and you could leave the car at the pier. Good Luck!

[elsiesunshine]

i am trying to find a motel that does provide transportation. we can get from Bush to a hotel close to there but if i want to get all the way over to the La Porte area it will cost nearly 100 dollars. i called the limo service thru NCL and they wanted 250. Sooo i may just have to bite that bullet.

Thanks for the help tho'

[electricron]

Pick a hotel/motel with an airport shuttle. Then take a taxi from the hotel/motel to the ship.

Even if the rooms in the close hotel/motel is $10 to $20 more expensive, you'll still save money getting to the ship, by having reduced ground transportation charges.

[elsiesunshine]

thank you. i can't believe how frustrating this has become...trying to find a decent room and transportation. i sooo need a cruise after all this!! Tell me it doesn't hve to be this frustrating. Still on hold with travelocity.....:confused:

[newmexicoNita]

thank you. i can't believe how frustrating this has become...trying to find a decent room and transportation. i sooo need a cruise after all this!! Tell me it doesn't hve to be this frustrating. Still on hold with travelocity.....:confused:

That's what it's all about: you get so frustrated you need a cruise and every cruise will be wonderful cause you needed it sooooooooooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. LOL

 

NMNita

[toysrme]

Check out limo services online. I got a 10 passenger stretch for 6 people with luggage for $90 plus tip, each way. Airport pickup on arrival and meeting us at the dock on cruise return.

[topsports]

What airport are you arriving at ?

What Cruise and When ?

 

I can give you what we are doing for hotel/transportation.

 

email me. I don't know if I can give that info over this Thread.

 

We are going 10.22.05 NCL Dream

[Host CMLA]

What airport are you arriving at ?

What Cruise and When ?

 

I can give you what we are doing for hotel/transportation.

 

email me. I don't know if I can give that info over this Thread.

 

We are going 10.22.05 NCL Dream

You can give that information here however the topic is starting to cover many things and may be moved to the roll call area.