How do you spend the First Day on the Ship? (What do you do?)

[Familycruzer11]

We arrive early and we divide and conquer.
 

My DH takes the carryons to drop in the room and I head straight to Sanctuary with my spreadsheet of what days we hope to book. DH will meet me there and then we go to the Spa. Learn about any specials, and book our services.

 

Next stop is the club class dining room where we meet the Maitre D and review DH dietary requests (vegan). Depending on timing, we may have lunch. Next is back to the room to hopefully unpack and do muster.  Then it is off to the pool deck for sail away party. 
 

Of course, between these stops is a visit to the bars, as this activity works up a thirst. 

 

Happy to say we will be doing all of the above in about 36 hours…. 

[Kiwi Brenda]

15 hours ago, StrawberryHill said:

Find our excursion tickets and clip those on the wall in the order we need them ( magnetic clip )

 

 

 

 

Our first Princess cruise in 9 days. We have booked some ship excursions. Do we have to print off “excursion tickets” and bring them? 

[Esprit]

We always visit a deck bar first. It has to have Peroni beer. If it doesn't we move on to the next!

We eventually end up in the IC for a light snack and a dessert. Then we find a bar that offers proper Champagne. None of that Chateau de Gangway rubbish they try to push onto you!

[StrawberryHill]

1 hour ago, Kiwi Brenda said:

Our first Princess cruise in 9 days. We have booked some ship excursions. Do we have to print off “excursion tickets” and bring them? 

No  They should be in your cabin in an envelope.  Have fun !

[Kellyansapansa]

8 hours ago, Familycruzer11 said:

We arrive early and we divide and conquer.
 

My DH takes the carryons to drop in the room and I head straight to Sanctuary with my spreadsheet of what days we hope to book. DH will meet me there and then we go to the Spa. Learn about any specials, and book our services.

 

Next stop is the club class dining room where we meet the Maitre D and review DH dietary requests (vegan). Depending on timing, we may have lunch. Next is back to the room to hopefully unpack and do muster.  Then it is off to the pool deck for sail away party. 
 

Of course, between these stops is a visit to the bars, as this activity works up a thirst. 

 

Happy to say we will be doing all of the above in about 36 hours…. 

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a holiday spreadsheet! It doesn't feel like a real holiday if it's not mapped out in cells. 😂

 

Have a wonderful trip. ⛴️

[charliedalrymple]

It's fascinating to read all the different approaches to embarkation day.  I feel like its a glimpse into everyone's personalities!  😀

[JGB]

Famiycruiser11 you mention checking out possible spa specials, could you give me an idea of a spa special?

on embarkation we always arrived early.

we do muster station, then up to the buffet. After a leisurely lunch out in the sea air we go to our cabin for a nap!

after the nap I get a Bailey’s coffee, find a high traffic area, and with a comfortable seat, people watch till sail away. At sail away I return to my cabin and sit on the balcony and continue my relaxed state of mind.

after sail away is dinner then the casino.

we always end the evening watching live music.

jgb

[Cruise till you drop]

We do lots of things but the key for us is getting an early embark time so the first day feels like a full cruise day and not a throwaway day to board, unpack and eat

[TravelFiend]

Thanks for sharing your lists everyone! This was so fun to read and super helpful. We’ve cruised several times but never on Princess, so it was great to hear about what to expect! And I’m so glad to hear the MDR is open for lunch! My main embarkation day tradition is to try and avoid the buffet! (Nothing wrong with it, there is just better food and fewer people in other locations!)

[Bugalugsnz]

I head to the library to see if there’s anything good. I bring a bunch of books with me but always run out and I hate reading screens (I cruise to get away from them). I usually bring a bunch of books to donate too. Frees up space in my suitcase for shopping too. 

[BamaVol]

Dump the carry ons. Meet the steward. Then grab a lounge chair by the pool, as it’s likely to be the last time one isn’t hogged. 
 

I ordered a drink and used the app to have a chicken salad sandwich delivered to my lounge chair. 

[Mike07]

9 hours ago, TravelFiend said:

Thanks for sharing your lists everyone! This was so fun to read and super helpful. We’ve cruised several times but never on Princess, so it was great to hear about what to expect! And I’m so glad to hear the MDR is open for lunch! My main embarkation day tradition is to try and avoid the buffet! (Nothing wrong with it, there is just better food and fewer people in other locations!)

 

I've seen it both ways on Princess embarkation days. On my last cruise, the MDR was closed for lunch, and so many people were on the Lido deck that they ran out of tables....

 

They could only serve salsa and chips in the MDR, and I'd be happier with that than fighting the Lido buffet on embarkation day.

Edited April 25, 2023 by Mike07

[MissP22]

8 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

 

I've seen it both ways on Princess embarkation days. On my last cruise, the MDR was closed for lunch, and so many people were on the Lido deck that they ran out of tables....

 

They could only serve salsa and chips in the MDR, and I'd be happier with that than fighting the Lido buffet on embarkation day.

What ship was that on?

[Mike07]

Just now, MissP22 said:

What ship was that on?

 

Crown Princess Hawaii R/T from LA.

I even physically checked the MDR... all the MDR's, to make sure they weren't lying.

[nbsjcruiser]

On 4/9/2023 at 9:42 PM, sirclean said:

What do YOU do on your first day on the ship?  (What advice do you have?  What should I consider doing in the Post COVID Cruising Days?)

 

Head to the room, drop the luggage off then make a bee line to the Dining room for a proper lunch. Back to the room unpack the carry-ons then its a nice drink somewhere along with a well deserved cigar, something I like to enjoy only when I'm on a cruise. Dinner later in the MDR of course, then catch the show to see what's going on for the week.

[Kay S]

My teen grandson goes directly to Swirls for an ice cream cone.  Then he has one in his hand every time I see him on the ship.

[PacnGoNow]

20 hours ago, Mike07 said:

 

Crown Princess Hawaii R/T from LA.

I even physically checked the MDR... all the MDR's, to make sure they weren't lying.

That happened to us also, short staffed.

We went to the IC instead of the buffet and grabbed a sandwich. 

[Outerdog]

On 4/9/2023 at 5:50 PM, rdsqrl said:

I like to hang on the promenade deck and supervise the stores being loaded onto the ship.  Often, there's a dog to watch, sniffing the various pallets.  It's simple fun but it entertains me.  Plus, it avoids the crowds and first-day madhouse of the interior of the ship. 

 

Definitely. Entertainment to be had.

 

This poor forklift operator. Not once...

 

 

 

But twice! I could hear the foreman yelling from deck 10.

 

 

[travelbuds]

On 4/10/2023 at 7:52 PM, ktcishot said:

Going to your muster station in the way to your cabin is such a great idea! 

How do you know where it is ahead of time? Is there somewhere I can look it up?

Isn't there a video to watch before heading to muster station?

[sirclean]

"Isn't there a video to watch before heading to muster station? "

 

Under the current system, you must watch a video and you must visit your muster station. However, the order is not specific.  You can visit the muster station first and then watch the video (which is what we did this trip, since the station was right near the gangway). 

[minniegidget]

On 4/25/2023 at 7:02 AM, BamaVol said:

I ordered a drink and used the app to have a chicken salad sandwich delivered to my lounge chair. 

Is there a charge to have the chicken salad sandwich delivered to the lounge chair. I know that a tip is nice so beside the tip is there a charge?

[CruiseCrabs]

• Dump any hand baggage in the room after greeting every room steward along the way; store carried-on, good bubbles in the mini fridge
• International cafe for toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and a “thank God we are on vacation” cocktail while watching safety videos.
• Sign offs with photos (ship and or food/bev) for family and coworkers.
• Deployment of the first of the cruise crabs.
• Muster check in.
• Spa appointments for final attitude adjustments for vacation.
• Sail away prep (unpack, uncork, order warm potato chips on the app, and watch the last of the dock scramble.

[BamaVol]

4 hours ago, minniegidget said:

Is there a charge to have the chicken salad sandwich delivered to the lounge chair. I know that a tip is nice so beside the tip is there a charge?

No charge for delivery of drinks or the limited food menu you can order from on the app.  It does take a while, and mistakes can be made.  You can follow the progress of your order on the app: ordered->prepared->delivered.  I waited about 45 minutes and it showed as delivered about 5 minutes before I received it.  Someone I was with ordered a coke that never came despite showing as delivered.  When he tried again, he ended up with 2 cokes at once.

[Guest]

1.Drop luggage off in cabin.

2.Eat.

3.Unpack and check program

4.Tour ship

5.Spa raffle

6.Bed early

Edited April 27, 2023 by garsny