First Time Cruiser

[SunshneNC]

Hello everyone!!!

It is such a pleasure to meet each one of you . My name is SunshneNC and I am going on my first cruise November 20 - 25. This will be on the Carnival Elation. I know you have probably heard this a hundred times but can someone please tell me the best things about cruising, shore excursions, food, etc. I am sooooo excited!!!

[Scorpiorose]

Hi there, the best thing about cruising.....hum....well if you have kids you can have a good time and so can they. There is so much to do you are sure to get time by yourself....also you can all do your own thing, casino, spa, pool, dancing, all at the same time. Eating is always a plus...any time, whatever you want....the shore excusions depends on where you are going? Also, you can visit places and then get back on the boat....not good if you want to get a real cultural experience, but for pure pampering, a cruise is the way to go! Tips: Pack lightly, a little black dress is all you need for those dress up times...you will only need half what you think you'll need. Buy travel sized everything...buy alcohol at the duty free shop and have it sent to your room, mix your drinks in your room...cheaper. Beware where you shop...have a blast!:)

[captaincrash]

How about this...

 

.... it's a refreshing way of getting to several coastal points in comfort. The all inclusive nature of the thing is really nice however your milage will vary with how particular you are here. And the same goes for ship board entertainment. But even in the absence of great entertainment or perfect dining experiences ... the trip alone on a huge ship is adventure enough.

 

We've been on 19 cruises (more or less - lost count off hand) and #20 is coming up in about 2 weeks for the Carnival Spirit ~ 8 nites to Mexico from San Diego. So... we sort of like cruising ... but we also like fully guided international tours as well as independent touring (state-side as well as international). So we get around a bit. Sorry to seem potentially loud mouthed about this - I don't mean it in that light... but rather that we've been around a bit so have an informed opinion.

 

So - on sailing the 1st time.... I would recommend looking up the cruise meet for your particular ship and sailing date to hook up (potentially) with other cruise critic enthusiasts that are on your sailing. This can be a source of ideas where a face and warm handshake follow! Folks often arrange for a "cruise meet" early in the cruise if they get across as friendly and open minded enough on the thread. For example... on our last sailing this past September (Disney magic, 7 nights to the Eastern Carib) we had about 104 persons represented by a few dozen thread entities. There were hundreds of postings with 1000s of hits on the thread! We had about 75 people show for the cruise meet plus a varying mix of 60 involved in our private events. Such as the treasure hunt we staged for the kids, plus the ice cream speed eating contest and we had custom designed t-shirts, personalized character autograph albums and a huge community pile of goodies for most of the kids. All this was through donated materials or efforts from the thread partipicpants. I personally organized and ran the ice cream eating contest with award certificates (signed by the captain of the Magic + a couple Disney characters!).

 

So... cruise meet threads can be a fun thing. But even without it... if you're on a dining table large enough to meet other families then you have decent chances to meet other nice folks to chat with regularly. AND... if on the 1st nite your table has disagreeable folks at your table then politely see the dining room manager and ask to be transferred to a private table/ another table/ or it might be more diplomatic to ask for the other dining shift. However, in all our cruises we have never shifted our table or had others on the table shift away from us. Of course, we're pretty outgoing sorts and usually we're fairly diplomatic over dinner.

 

Aside from that... you might want to consider if any in your party are vulnerable to motion sickness. If so then sea-sickness is a real possibility. Also, if your cabin is far forward then rough seas can turn your cabin into a non-stop roller coaster. The solution is to ensure your cabin is closer to amidship then at the front or rear. Plus - if you are a light sleeper or if noise in the cabin bothers you - then it is a good idea to CAREFULLY examine the ships' deck map to see what is directly above and adjacent (and above) to your cabin. Having a walk way, bar, dance floor, or sports deck above or nearly above can be a huge problem with noise.... if noise bothers you.

 

So... instead of just saying the nice things about cruising - I've added in many precautionary notions. So to round things out a bit... let me add that you read your daily newsletter very very carefully for the schedule of things to do. There are a wealth of interesting odds and ends - plus the standard fare in the newsletter. Plus... you might even be able to find another cruise critic enthusiast who has actually posted all the newsletters from a past sailing of your ship!

 

ok... gotta go....

 

TTFN!

[BettyB2]

:D WELCOME SunshneNC to CRUISE CRITIC AND TO CRUISING!!:D

I checked Elation Roll Calls and there is not one listed as of yet for your sailing. You can start the thread for your roll call by going here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=340

By reading other roll-calls for the Elation and reviews of your ship you can learn all about the ship, the ports and more.

Cruising...there is NOTHING like it.............pure heaven

[StacyandTim]

You are going to LOVE the Elation! Have fun :)

[SunshneNC]

Thanks for all the great information! If anyone else has anything to add to this it will be much appreciated!!!! :)