The first 24 hrs onboard - what's your favourite bit?

[barryod]

I'll never forget my first cruise nor the first 24 hrs. My suggestion would be to make your own memories. No one goes on board with the intent to be miserable (okay, we all met one or two) so just let go and enjoy. I'm one of those people who forgets when he drinks, so I choose not to so I can remember the cruise and not screw up someone else's cruise.:D

[mr green]

Going to dinner for the first time, and meeting our tablemates.

 

john

[David4]

It starts when we are backing out of the garage and we love every step of the way

[I&MsMom]

For me, it's a little tradition begun by my son. He had his 6th birthday onboard during our first cruise. We were driving to Port Canaveral, and when he caught sight of the ship, he spontaneously announced "Thar she blows" a la the whaling demonstration team at Mystic Seaport.

 

Now, that's the definitive moment when I know it's real.

[Donna - dsw]

Seeing the ship for the first time. We are sailing in 16 days with our friends who have never been on a cruise and I can hardly wait to see their expression on everything!

[Donna - dsw]

Seeing the ship for the first time. We are sailing in 16 days with our friends who have never been on a cruise and I can hardly wait to see their expression on everything!

[Lanky Lad]

For me, it's getting unpacked, putting on my deck shoes, then I know I am "home". Get the lifeboat drill out of the way, (at least it gives you a chance to see your fellow shipmates :).) and up on deck to watch the sailaway.

[DixieCaribe]

The post-muster drill, first drink on the aft deck is the best part of the first 24 hours!

[latitude]

My favorite is when the signal strength bars on my cell phone are gone. That's when I put it away and forget about it until we return to port after the cruise is finished.

[waiting4acruise]

I heard on the Carnival Fun Ships they have the capibilty for you to send and receive calls on your cell phone. You will have to pay roaming charges.

[Rayefan]

For me it is that last call home to the kids (they are college aged) to remind them to make the RIGHT choices, to be safe, and of course to tell them that I love them and I will talk to them in a week! hehehehe :-)

[vowsatsea]

I think my boyfriend and I will go into the cabin and jump up and down like little kids...and then I will want to explore every part of that ship. I'll definitely stop and savor the moment, because a week from that day, I'll be wishing it could start all over.

[donnas902]

Brilliantly put! I know the feeling. You are sort of in this cocoon-like state completely unaware of the external environment. Then a sliver of light enters the cabin and your vision gradually comes into focus. You sorta shake your head knowing something is not right. There is a lingering, unique fragrance in the air. Just then you spot the oh-so familiar shape of the bottle of Jose Cuervo and not-so-familiar shape of the stranger in bed with you. Carefully gathering up your clothes and the bottle of Cuervo you head back to your own bed in your own cabin before your spouse runs out of money in the Casino.

 

Wow..it's good to know that I am not the only one who goes through this on every cruise. ;)

Boatbuilder, was that you who left my cabin so suddenly? You never mentioned you had a wife!

[wakelover]

Hi everyone....Wakelover here AKA Treacle (my old name) who started this thread!!! way back in 2006:D

 

So these are the things I am looking forward to:

 

The "bing bong" of the lift/elevator

Seeing Navigator for the first time....hopefully from our hotel windows in the morning (I specifically chose the hotel based on location and they have told me we will see it from there....I hope so)

Seeing my hubby try and find his first cookies

The muster drill - I have been waiting 3 years to see my dad in a lifejacket:D (not for real of course:eek: )

 

My top 2 though are:

 

1) Knowing DH and I are away from phones & work and can spoil ourselves

2) Sharing the "first cruise" experience with my folks!

 

Have fantastic cruises everyone......

[Riiya]

If it's a Caribbean cruise, the first favorite bit is stepping outside the airport and thinking, "The weather is warm and beautiful, not at all like the place I came from!"

 

Standing by the railing, watching the ship's wake retreat into the distance.

 

The smell of the deck and pool area.

 

Walking around the ship for the first time, seeing all the creatively decorated lounges, restaurants, and other public areas.

 

The first dessert. :)

[katyj]

I have to say I love absolutely everything about the first 24hours on board ship, from catching sight of her, orientating ourselves, the bing bong, the fist drink, the cabin everything in fact the only thing I dont like is, having to go home at the end of the cruise:(

[constancemarie2001]

I travel with the PitBull and we have started doing a "Pub Crawl" on the first afternoon on board. We usually start at the Schooner Bar. It gives us a great way to explore the ship and get the vacation off on the right foot.

[Dagny]

The first sailaway is magical. We always get the aft wraparound balconies so it is just an amazing experience. We spend some time together alone inside first, then order a cheese platter from room service, crack the bottle of champagne we have been keeping on ice, and relax on our balcony watching the port slip away.

 

The smiles just keep getting wider :)

[waiting4acruise]

The best moment is entering your cabin for the first time. I head out to the balcony and realize that I can do as much or as little I want to do for the next week.

[Dagny]

I have to say I love absolutely everything about the first 24hours on board ship, from catching sight of her, orientating ourselves, the bing bong, the fist drink, the cabin everything in fact the only thing I dont like is, having to go home at the end of the cruise:(

 

I thought I read, 'the big bong'. Wouldn't THAT make a nice welcome aboard giftie ;)

[cruzinstew]

My Pavlovian response - the first time I hear the elevator bing-bong and the sexy recording breathes out "Deck 4". YES we are here !!!!!!!!:D

 

OMG, you said the "magic word" BING BONG! It's kind of an "inside" joke from the last cruise that I went on. We decided that we were gonna see if we could get a word to "catch on" during our cruise. So we chose BING BONG. Well, that's 2 words but I digress.....Anyhow, our goal was to see if we could get other pax and crew to use the term in the appropriate fashion. ie: If someone does something silly you yell BING BONG! It was also used as a toast on more than ten occasions (lol). By the end of the cruise pax and crew were using the BING BONG all over the ship. It was really cute. We even left our mark in Belize. You can see it on my link in pictures and our credits at the end to the GP crew....just funny because I haven't heard anyone else say it! Made me smile! Cheers and BING BONG!:D :D

[harrodsfan]

I love the sound of the machine that reads your cruise cards as you get on a ship.

Its a sound unique to cruising and I just love it...:)

[Caribbreeze]

...as my foot touches the ship it just echoes inside me "Ahhhh. I've made it. I'm home!"

[Avariel]

I have quite a few favourite moments onboard.

 

- Seeing the ship for the first time. Impressive especially if we were literally driven up to the ship in the bus. Had my mouth open the entire time.

 

- Sailing off. No comments needed.

 

- The first morning aboard. I need to pinch myself to convince myself I'm really on a cruise and not dreaming.

[FreewayFortune]

When I cruised out of Miami we saw all of the ships lined up at the docks as we flew past. It was all about anticipation:) My favourite moment ever was my first cruise when I stepped on board the ship and just looked up and all around. It was more than I ever expected and now it's the only kind of vacation I want to have.