NEWBIES UNITE! What most concerns you?

[KKB]

My biggest worry is that my sister will dampen my fun. She and I are very different and have never traveled alone, We are usually surrounded by family.

 

My next biggest is that I will gain a lot of weight from eating and drinking.

 

My next fear is that it will rain and I wont get to go to the beach for the first time ever.

 

so you will have the opportunity to get away from her!;)

 

Don't worry about gaining...you have lots of walking to do, around the ship & on port. Take the stairs ALWAYS...faster than elevators anyway!

I wouldn't worry about more than a couple pounds.

 

Hasn't rained yet on us...but you do have several opportunities usually, so you should hit the beach AT LEAST once!

[KKB]

my biggest fears are not doing enough research ahead of time... i'm worried about having regrets about what we've signed up to do vs. what there is to do once we get there. and i'm also worried about whether or not i should leave my kids in the kids area - and will they be safe/happy. will everyone have fun? will i lose enough post pregnancy weight to look decent by the pool? will we be able to sleep in those cramped quarters? will we be safe when we get off the ship at the port?

 

i think i have WAY too many worries...:eek:

 

Research is fun...but don't worry about regrets. SOOOOOO much to do...you can't do it all! Kids are safe...happy depends on the kids & the programs. My kids LOVED DCL...could hardly pull them away. But your kids might not...my kids LOVED the pool, the beach, hanging in the room watching movies.

DO NOT worry about looking good at the pool...TRUST ME, there will be plenty that do not look as good as you in their suit!:rolleyes:

You will sleep...lulled to sleep by the waves (and exhausted from activities or the sun...and something about that sea air).

Don't worry about cramped quarters...who wants to be in the room anyway??!!

Ports are VERY safe...ships wouldn't have it any other way. NOW THAT BEING SAID...stick w/ ship excursions or ship advised areas. I wouldn't venture off the beaten path if you are concerned.

RELAX & ENJOY...a vacation is just the ticket! ESPECIALLY a cruise...the beauty is that you can do EVERYTHING or NOTHING AT ALL...and plenty of activities that everyone can find something they want to do.

[KKB]

Picking the ship and ports. My son's gave us a cruise for X mas and we can't decide where to go and if we should book excursions or stick close to doc or just enjoy a nice relaxing trip and stay on the ship.

 

Personally we like Wester better, but many like Eastern.

 

We love Cozumel (Paradise Beach! on our own). Mom says we will like Gr. Cayman, and would LOVE Key West. We loved the private island.

 

Costa Maya was OK, but we loved our Mayan ruin excursion there. Jamaica not my fav...but Dunn's River Falls/Sandals golf was good, and Margaritaville is fun. St. Thomas nice beach (I was sick:(), and St. Maarten was OK.

 

Relax some, play some...HAVE FUN PLANNING!

[KKB]

We're celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and are booked with RC for Western Caribb in March - will be our first cruise.

1. I am worried about packing - don't want to carry too much but want to have what we need; don't know how to pack formal dresses, etc.

2. I am also worried about the virus. I teach school and have had my share of NO FUN stomach viruses.

3. We aren't into scuba diving and I don't know how we will spend our time when docked. We've made no plans for that yet.

 

And I never plan to! We have enjoyed Mayan ruins, golf, local beaches, local shopping & dining, gambling, local sites on port.

 

Packing...I make a list of what I want to wear every day/night. I bring a carry on, 30" suitcase & garment bag (share that w/ DH). My aunt can cruise for a week w/ only a carry on--IMPRESSIVE!

 

Norovirus...WASH YOUR HANDS is the best tip. Not much else you can do.

Thousands cruise each week...few get ill comparatively.

[KKB]

Motion sickness is my #1 worry.

 

Definitely dramamine/bonine & ginger pills. I recommend the patch.

 

I used the patch first cruise. DH used nothing. I felt fine, he only felt queasy once when we had moderate waves (7-14ft.), and we went forward up high.

 

Second cruise I think I touched my eye after reapplying my patch. Made me feel weird for nearly a day. Gave up on the patch & feel fine.

 

If you are queasy, try ginger ale, green apples, saltines.

 

Personally I found a couple of cocktails & any motion I felt was normal!

[KKB]

Wow, the things that I am worried about are:

 

my 2 DS who will be 9 and 8 at the time, going overboard,

 

Sea sickness (I will be buying sea-bands before we leave in June),

 

Packing enough for Alaska in such a way that we don't have to pay extra at the airport.

 

and don't cut it too close. You will buy things. Better to have more luggage for free than to pay $50-100 overage fee. Remember, you can check 2 bags per person. A porter is MUCH cheaper! you can buy a small hanging scale to bring aboard for $10 or so from travel catalogs.

 

DOn't worry about kids going over. Give them warnings, they are old enough to know better. And there are many people on the ship who would say something if they stood on a railing (which they should NEVER do)

 

Sea bands good...have bonine/dramamine back up, ginger pills, too

[KKB]

I too am worried about Formal night. I have a really formal gown that I could bring but it is big and puffy ( I bought at an after prom sale, My prom was 12 years ago :p ). But I am flying and in no way is that thing gonna fix in luggage. So I packed a tea length Cocktail dress. Also I am already packed and I still have just less than two months to go.

 

Haven't seen any of that on 2 cruises...and a packing nightmare.

The other dress sounds perfect.

 

Hmmmmmm I may need to begin packing, too!;)

[KKB]

Our first cruise isn't till spring of 2008, and the thing I'm worried about most is that the cruiseline will cancel the cruise! :eek: Hopefully if they do, it'll be sooner rather than later and we can rebook on another sailing.

 

And if they do, they will make it worth your while!!!!! Usually a discount on next cruise plus shipboard credit.

[eyzwdeshut]

i'm worried about...

having too much sleep/not enough sleep depending on what's going...

wishing i was able to do 2 excusions in port instead of one...

being too full at all the meals to try everything i would like to...

having to chain myself to the ship as to avoid coming back to work...

 

These are serious problems! :)

[BadKittie]

I am going on my first cruise with my fiancee, brother and sister in law and my parents(they are veteran cruisers).

I am a little worried about going over the pass to get to long beach, theres snow up here, and the pass regularly gets closed. We have an alternate route, and we are leaving a day early..so we should be fine, but its still something i worry about.

 

But most of all, im worried that im not going to want to leave the ship the last day, because its going to be entirely too much fun!

[jkudzu]

:D I am so proud of myself for starting this thread! I feel so much better knowing that I'm not insane and other people have concerns about their trip too. I'm learning so much from you all. Aside from the clothing worries, fear of fitting in, going into port, etc... now I'm really concerned about how rough security will be when they try prying my fingers loose from the doorway as they drag me off at the end of the cruise:p

Keep those fears coming folks--we can help each other out!

Only 187 more days to go!!!

[bluesky8130]

well there are 5 sleeps until we fly out of Winnipeg & I am finding myself constantly checking the weather. Nothing for Saturday yet but it is going to be -25 Celcius on Friday...so glad I am leaving.

 

Now I am going to check Minneapolis weather.

 

praying for no snow storms....bluesky8130 :)

[LGC]

I'm worried about cancellation too--I'm on the Majesty Feb 10 and when I read about the Dec 30 cancellation it gave me the heebie-jeebies....let's keep our fingers crossed!

[jkudzu]

I'm worried about cancellation too--I'm on the Majesty Feb 10 and when I read about the Dec 30 cancellation it gave me the heebie-jeebies....let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

:eek: I haven't even considered the possibility of a cancellation. Does that happen often and in the summer? With all my other worries that hadn't even crossed my mind. Breathe in--breathe out!!! I may not make it until July.

[bluesky8130]

well here it is Wednesday and guess what is headed my way...a blizzard. At least if it hits today or tomorrow, there is lots of time for the airport to be back up & running...or the storm could sideswipe us & we would not get much snow. One can only hope :)

[KKB]

except cross your fingers! You could always try to get out a day early if that is possible w/ your schedule if it would help...

 

 

BUT DO NOT worry about the cruiseline canceling your cruise! YES, it DOES happen--VERY RARELY! Trust me, they do NOT want to lose the income for that week; and they usually offer very good incentives to rebook for those that were canceled on, so it REALLY costs them.

 

Weather...fair to worry about, watch & plan for.

 

Cancelled cruise...truly, not worth your time or energy to worry.

 

Worry about important stuff...like HOW are you going to do EVERYTHING you want to...HOW will you try EVERY drink they make...??!!:eek::eek:

[Cruise Passenger]

My next biggest is that I will gain a lot of weight from eating and drinking.

 

 

I don't consider this a fear but rather a challenge. It's going to happen so enjoy it.

[jackAxe]

Sigh, CC boards ate my post...again. My biggest current fear is that it will rain the whole time on my cruise. Every port is scheduled for "scattered showers" on the days we're there. I'm going to be REALLY upset if I can't snorkel in the grand caymans.

[darladelight]

My next biggest is that I will gain a lot of weight from eating and drinking.

 

 

I don't consider this a fear but rather a challenge. It's going to happen so enjoy it.

 

It's not a real fear of mine as i am going to enjoy every morsel:p

[K-Kat]

Not only am I worried about getting sea sick and making sure I get EVERYTHING packed and not to forget something I am getting married on the cruise ship so I have wedding details to worry about also.

[K-Kat]

Not only am I worried about getting sea sick and making sure I get EVERYTHING packed and not to forget something I am getting married on the cruise ship so I have wedding details to worry about also.

[K-Kat]

Not only am I worried about getting sea sick and making sure I get EVERYTHING packed and not to forget something I am getting married on the cruise ship so I have wedding details to worry about also.

[jkudzu]

Not only am I worried about getting sea sick and making sure I get EVERYTHING packed and not to forget something I am getting married on the cruise ship so I have wedding details to worry about also.

 

Congratulations!!! Enjoy every minute you can of your wedding and your cruise. I'll be celebrating my 30th anniversary and renewing of our vows! Live well, love much, and laugh often!:)

[darladelight]

Not only am I worried about getting sea sick and making sure I get EVERYTHING packed and not to forget something I am getting married on the cruise ship so I have wedding details to worry about also.

 

Congrats and welsome to Cruise Critic. How romantic sailing away with your new husband. You will have so much fun.

[Warp]

I'm afraid of getting sunburnt and the misery that could accompany that - I'm cruising to the S. Caribbean, have a fair complexion and generally hate the way sunscreen feels on my skin (greasy!). Blech - so I need to do some homework on the sunscreen front!

 

The other thing I'm scared about is leaving my pets at home, and being out of contact for the duration of the trip.

 

Other than those two issues, the only think that's remotely on my radar is finding a fabu cup of coffee. Yes, really. :D