Your embarkation day routine?

[abbyar]

I could have sworn I saw a thread on this once upon a time, but haven't had much luck with search. I'm eager to read about others' routines after boarding - lunch/swim/spa/ splash academy registration? Cagney's/Haven first or drinks first? What order do you do things in? What do to pack in your carry on?

[Warm Breezes]

Lunch.

Welcome Aboard Drink.

Wonder around the outside decks checking the ship out.

Find room and bring in any luggage sent and unpack.

Relax on balcony.

Go to Muster Drill.

Go to Sail away party.

Check out Promenade deck.

Go to Dinner.

Go to a show/casino/comedy club....whatever looks like fun that night.

[sykimball1498]

We usually board as early as we can, usually about noon or a little after. We go straight to one of the MDR's open that day and have a relaxing lunch with a cocktail, usually a white wine, while waiting for our cabin to be ready.

 

Once ready, we go to the cabin and tip the room steward, make our requests (should we have any) and then unpack our carry-ons. Once this is done, we explore the public areas of ship and sign up for comedy shows if they have availability.

 

Then onto Muster and Sail Away and another cocktail. We change into our evening wear, usually a sundress and slack and collared shirt and head for a Pre-Dinner cocktail. Then onto dinner. After dinner it's wide open as to what is on the agenda, but usually the show and maybe a welcome aboard party.

 

In our carry-ons, I always pack at least 3 days worth of clothes (in case something happens with our luggage, toiletries, medications and swimsuits.

 

We usually cruise in inside rooms as we like the darkness and can take an afternoon nap without issue if one is needed, so no Haven or Suite Life for us. It is perfect for us as we are usually only in our room to change and sleep. We like to be out among everyone and make new friends.

[NMLady]

I could have sworn I saw a thread on this once upon a time, but haven't had much luck with search. I'm eager to read about others' routines after boarding - lunch/swim/spa/ splash academy registration? Cagney's/Haven first or drinks first? What order do you do things in? What do to pack in your carry on?

 

We aren't pool people so the pool isn't part of our routine. So no swim suits in our carryons. It has a change of clothes, meds, phone, camera, ipad, chargers.

Hubby's CPAP, extension cord, and power strip are in separate carryon.

 

We board as soon as boarding opens so first is lunch

Then take carryons to cabin

If luggage is there, unpack.

Otherwise explore ship if new to us,

muster drill and then

Have a sailaway drink in a lounge windowside to view departure.

 

If we want to reserve excursions or haven't reserved SDP or Platinum dinners we do that before unpacking or exploring ship.

Edited September 9, 2016 by NMLady

[skiwee]

We usually board ASAP and go to the dining room

Followed by a nice drink on the deck. This is our first haven cruise so looks like we will be going to the haven for sliders and drinks while getting intros from the staff. We will walk around the ship before going to the top deck to get some nice pics of the Statue of Liberty at send off. Can't wait! We leave in two days!

[drvalo]

Board around noon-ish;

 

head to the MDR for a leisurely lunch;

 

when the cabins are ready, go there and drop carry-ons and stow away valuables in the safe, meet the steward if he/she is around, review the Daily and any other publications/letters in the cabin;

 

unpack any luggage that has arrived;

 

go to muster;

 

back to cabin and finish unpacking and organizing;

 

go to dinner;

 

attend welcome aboard show or early show;

 

attend the "game show" that evening;

 

find some music or visit the casino or go up to the buffet for our first softserve of the cruise;

 

Back to the cabin and get out the highlighter and plan the next day with the Daily;

 

This schedule only works on the non-mega ships. Since we didn't much like the schedule on the Epic, I am hopeful this will always be our boarding routine.

[lauren0309]

We like to get on as early as we can so we have a full day on the ship. So food first, then explore and take pictures while the areas are still empty, see if room is ready, unpack, go to muster, find a good spot for sailaway, go back to room to read day's activities and decide what we want to do from there. Since the next day is a sea day, we stay out late going to shows, etc.

Edited September 9, 2016 by lauren0309

[beau4]

I only live about an hour from the port. My routine starts at home -

 

I watch the ship dock and then tell the passengers to hurry up and get off because now it's MY turn!!!

[rayness]

I only live about an hour from the port. My routine starts at home -

 

 

 

I watch the ship dock and then tell the passengers to hurry up and get off because now it's MY turn!!!

 

 

Lol I like your routine!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[eatdrinkfly]

expected routine for the next sailing:

- lunch in MDR

- exploring & taking pictures of the ship

- drinks, perhaps poolside

- cabin to unpack & change

- muster

- drinks & wandering the ship

- 6pm dinner at La Cucina (hopefully on the waterfront)

- more drinks

- bed

[numberguy]

-Drop off carryons at specified place, if necessary

-Go to MDR for lunch

-Explore ship (haven't repeated a ship yet, so it's all new!)

-Collect carryons and take to cabin when ready

-Unpack when my suitcase arrives. My DH lives out of his--I put my clothes in the closets and cubbies like a civilized person.

-Lock my passport in the safe

-Explore some more, including finding the Bridge Viewing Room, if there is one

-Deliver invitations to CC M&G (I'm in charge of the one in two weeks on the Jade)

-Go to muster drill

-Attend sail away outside somewhere

-Eat dinner

-Attend show if interesting

-Plan our next day

 

NOTE: All drinking because of the UBP is intermittently sprinkled throughout the above tasks

 

--Michael

[Cloudyrain]

Where possible we dump our bags (check in if it's quiet) as early as possible and then clear off into town for a bit of exploring and return about 1hr before 'all aboard'.

 

We go to our room, dump out as much out of our hand luggage as we can, and then go down to O'Sheehans for some food. After Muster we then get a cocktail of the day and go out to watch the first part of sail away. Once we have done that we go back to our room and start to unpack - a tidy cabin is a happy cabin :)

 

Once we are all sorted it's shower, change, food and a wander. We normally skip shows on the first night and just like to get a feel of the ship.

 

My favourite bit of the day though is when Mr C goes off to the casino about 11pm and I go back to the room with a decaff coffee, a few biscuits and sit on the balcony (weather permitting) and just marvel at how lucky we are to be able to go on such a fabulous trip. There ain't no night sky like a cruise-ship-at-sea night sky :D

Edited September 9, 2016 by Cloudyrain

[Gershep]

We go right to the bar, grab our drinks and go to the MDR. After lunch we bring our carry on to the room. The carry on contains all our toiletries. Then we roam around the ship. Go to muster. Grab another drink and go to our balcony for sail away. If there is time we roam again or unpack if our suitcases are there. Then we grab more drinks and go to the MDR for dinner and then a show.

[Delmol]

Eat some food & Grab a drink

Wander round the ship to explore

Relax on Pool deck

Drinks

Go to room and unpack

Attend Muster Drill

Go to sail away party (and drinks)

Go to buffet for a snack

Get changed for the evening

More food and drinks

Dinner

Go for an onboard "pub crawl" to test out a few bars

Head to the nightclub to meet fellow cruisers

[Starflyr3]

With kids:

- get lunch/sign up for splash academy/drop off stuff at room (all overlap)

- go to room when it's ready

- explore/unpack/watch TV

- muster drill

- dinner

- splash academy drop off (with much arguing, we make them go on the first night)

- wander the ship

 

Without kids:

- lunch/drinks

- drop off luggage/unpack if possible

- wander the ship

- muster

- do whatever we feel like!

 

I can't wait. Our last cruise sans kids was on Monarch OTS, our next one is 9/26!

[kayhil3]

We live on Long Island so the drive is pretty easy. We get there around 9:30 because we need wheel chair assistance, and there are three of us. Then its on to lunch in the mdr. By the time we are done the rooms are generally ready so its off to the room, where we relax on the balcony until luggage arrives or muster drill. Then back to the room for bubbly and strawberries to watch sail away. Then to the casino for private party , then dinner and then back to the casino. Normally bed by 11 so we can start the day bright and early.:D

[atomax]

We usually pack everything in our carryon luggage. If we need to pack another suitcase, then we don't bring it with us. We head to our room after check-in and change into something more comfortable (usually our bathing suits, t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops).

 

Then we head to the gym and weigh in. This is our baseline that we use to make sure we haven't added too much extra baggage from all the food that we know we will eat on the cruise.

 

Then it's off to grab a bite, sometimes the buffet, sometimes the MDR, depending on how many sea days are on the itinerary (since the MDR lunch menu isn't that varied). We wander around the ship if it's a new one for us, enter the spa raffle (I won a free facial one time), and then head to the top deck for sailaway.

 

Dinner, followed by the show (want to see what acts are coming up), and then a good night's sleep.

[Annmeat]

This will be our first cruise without kids since we HAD kids!

 

I plan on boarding early, head to Haven for a drink and intro to concierge. Will probably not USE concierge services until day of debarkation, but you never know.

 

Will try to avoid the aft suite as it is being decorated to surprise the hubs for our anniversary.

 

We'll walk the ship to re-aquaint ourselves and then head to lunch in MDR.

Maybe swing by Margaritaville and try one of the margaritas.

 

Once DH hits the balcony all bets are off. I'll have to drag him to muster! He barely left the shaded area last time.

 

Pre-dinner cocktails, first night is dinner in Haven, off to casino perhaps and then Howl at the Moon. We can stay out late because we have the sea day Monday.

 

I love embarkation day! Will try not to miss the kids too much....

[Linda the Book Lover]

No carry-on to drop off I have my saddlebag handbag which works well.

 

- Lunch Cagney's/Haven with a drink or two depending on how long we sit

- Cabin to check out the treats and get rid of the giant handbag

- Lock up the passports and leave for serious fun

- Grab another drink for walking about

- Muster

 

You get the picture. Doing nothing but walking around with a drink in hand. Oh how I love embarkation day.:)

[BetteBoop57]

Michael,

Want to make sure you have us on the list for the Meet & Greet!! It's in Le Bistro at 11am on the 25th, correct?

 

They changed us to Stateroom 11584...not sure if I told you or not.

 

Can't wait to meet everyone! Don't forget to bring address labels to hand out if anyone wants to possibly keep in touch! I have past cruises in a notebook, but a piece of paper will work too (even the Daily Newsletter). I had contact cards made up awhile ago, I may bring them.

 

SO WHO IS EXCITED????

Edited September 11, 2016 by BetteBoop57
Forgot name

[weltek]

Good thread! We are thinking of changing ours up. We usually do the free hotel breakfast, head to port out of boredom/excitement and spend too darn much time sitting in the holding area.

 

When out of Miami, I need to stay in a better area that has some good walking/shopping/brunch options to pleasantly kill time and board closer to 1:00. We almost always stay by the airport. Next time, I'm going elsewhere.

 

Once on board, we usually hit a bar above the pool deck for good people watching and relaxing in the sun. Then we'll go find something to eat (usually too late to take advantage of the MDR). Then it's off to our cabin to settle in and unpack. Then back to drinks and relaxing. Get to know bartenders. We usually do a late dinner that first day because we wait to eat lunch until mid-afternoon. It's a good day to do a specialty for us.

Edited September 12, 2016 by weltek

[BetteBoop57]

Good thread! We are thinking of changing ours up. We usually do the free hotel breakfast, head to port out of boredom/excitement and spend too darn much time sitting in the holding area.

 

When out of Miami, I need to stay in a better area that has some good walking/shopping/brunch options to pleasantly kill time and board closer to 1:00. We almost always stay by the airport. Next time, I'm going elsewhere.

 

Once on board, we usually hit a bar above the pool deck for good people watching and relaxing in the sun. Then we'll go find something to eat (usually too late to take advantage of the MDR). Then it's off to our cabin to settle in and unpack. Then back to drinks and relaxing. Get to know bartenders. We usually do a late dinner that first day because we wait to eat lunch until mid-afternoon. It's a good day to do a specialty for us.

 

I'm not sure what made me smile more, the shopping out of boredom OR "getting to know the bartender"! LOL

:)

[SheehanDJ]

Reading them, we are pretty much like everyone else.

 

• Pina Colada from the closest bar.
  
• Slow wander around ship heading generally towards buffet
  
• Lunch in buffet
  
• Go up as high as possible, then wander towards cabin
  
• Unpack carry-on, check out cruise planner, make special requests from steward
  
• Explore the ship until muster
  
• Muster
  
• Sail away, usually the deck above the pool on the rail
  
• Once we hit internation waters we head toward casino for "free cruise" bet. ($50 on 17, $50 on second twelve)
  
• Back to cabin to unpack/change for dinner
  

[abbyar]

These are so great! I always feel overwhelmed on embarkation day and feel like I have to keep a list so I don't forget. Especially for things that have changed like bottled waters.