How to tell when the cruise has started

[lives to cruise]

For me it is when we slip down the hall to our cabin before 1:30. We find our cabin and drop off our carry on bags and I push open my balcony door and step out onto what will be my own little piece of Heaven for the next week.

 

The sounds of the dock as the ship is being loaded. Watching all the other cruisers, their happiness filling the air so intoxicating it's impossible to be in a bad mood. The smell of the ocean.

 

Yepp, my balcony. That's when I know I am truly cruising.:)

[Carolinamamasita]

I would have to say

that I slip into cruise mode with

my first DOD !!

After that ...it is all GOOD !:D

[misguidedangel]

My vacation will start September 4th at around 9pm when I leave for the airport!!!!! The cruise will start when the bus picks us up to go to the port!!!!!!

 

Somehow, the first thing I always do is toss my stuff on the bed and run out onto the balcony and then I know I am on holidays!!!!!!!

[samiam0403]

I love everybody's answers - they all make me smile! Then again, we're heading out first thing in the morning for our next cruise, so I'm smiling anyway! :D For me though, my cruise mode kicks in when I walk out on the Lido and get my first drink of the day. (But getting the S&S card was a close second!)

[blackrose602]

For me it comes on in stages. I start to relax on the gangway, but there's still so much to do. When I hit the buffet, it really kicks in. Once the lifeboat drill ends and I have nothing better to do than relax with the DOD, I become utterly serene. Wow, just back today and I can't wait to go again!!

[dnice1979]

Seeing the ship and knowing that with minutes I will be aboard. At that moment I feel like a Toy's R Us kid. Or should I say a Cruise R Us Kid.

[Peaceful]

For me it's the Gangway. It's like a portal to paradise!

 

I am going to use that...portal to paradise...what a great description. And I agree!

[Terre]

Starts for me as soon as I throw my luggage on the bed and hit the Lido buffet!

[vacruizer]

For me its the smell of the Lido deck. The wood the salt air, and the pools I know I'm on a cruise

 

Too funny! I thought I was the only one who associated smells with things. For me it's the atrium as soon as we board - there's a certain scent to it. I said something to DH as we stepped onboard our last cruise about how all the ships had a certain smell to them as you walked in that made me think that I was officially on vacation. He thought I was crazy. Don't know if it's the carpet cleaner or the wood varnish or what, but it's been the same on each ship so far and makes me think - ahhhh, vacation finally.

[DGP1111]

For me, it's that first official 'transaction' of the departure day . . . handing over my luggage to the porter, and hearing, "Have a great cruise, sir". :)

[Planner48]

For us it is the first glimpse of the ship sitting at the port.

[cruisetobeaches]

Doesn't "officially" start for me until I'm recling on the Lido deck with a bucket of beer. DOD to follow...............This is in preparation for the muster drill..........:D

[float'n fanatics]

For me, it's sitting in the airport waiting to board the plane.

That's when my husband first starts writing in the journal.

We both love flying, so that is as much a part of the vacation as anything else is.

[Alvinsr]

When I step on board, I'm half way there. When the luggage

is outside the door, then it's on:D

[Grayce]

My cruise starts when I am walking up the gangway. I have to stop myself from running;)

[rdytocruz]

Funship Special. Then I know I'm cruising

[vacruizer]

I'll also add to my earlier post about the smell of the atrium. When I hear that first "bong" noise of an S&S card in the machine to check in - then I know I'm home.:)

 

I know, I'm strange. :p

[pearose]

For me it's when I have that S&S card in my hand, knowing the waiting is finally over. Just a short walk, scan of my card, snap of a picture and I'm there.

 

Leaving ALL my troubles BEHIND! :D :D :D

[Foo7595]

For me, it's the embarkation photo (#1) - then the gangway (#2) and finally that WONDERFUL 10-15 minutes heading out to open water, waving at all the folks lined up on shore!(#3).

[xntric1]

I will let yall know a week from tomorrow ... nope make that 2 weeks and a day from tomorrow .... when I get home.

I think it is turning off the cell phone (after I have made at least 1 - you know where I am at call) while on my balcony.

[G'ma]

As soon as I can see that split funnel from the taxi, my cruise is ON!!!!

[Bribrittmom]

I start to relax as soon as the muster drill is over.

[Caribbean_Dreamer37]

I'd say after finally arriving on the ship, when we took the glass elevator up to the Lido Deck to have lunch, there was steele drum music playing, and I had my first 'drink' in hand.

[Wennfred]

What's that one thing that tells you "The cruise has started"?

 

For me, it's the first sight of that person in blue shorts and white shirt walking up to me on the Lido deck with a tray full of hot pink plastic souviner cups and offering me my first of many DOD. :D :D

 

Oh yeaaaaah. That gets two more smilies :D :D

 

When I get my first glimps of my ship from a distance.

 

 

Fred

[CalifCruiser1]

This is the same for me, the photo -its the one I always buy probably because we have the biggest smiles knowing the cruise is starting! Karon:D

For me, it's the embarkation photo (#1) - then the gangway (#2) and finally that WONDERFUL 10-15 minutes heading out to open water, waving at all the folks lined up on shore!(#3).