What do you do on the first day?

[j3Baker]

Okay, so if you are a cruise critic, you are most likely one of the first people to board the ship when you go on a cruise. What is your favorite thing to do when you get there (especially if your room is not ready yet)?

[Himself]

Go to the Lido and grab a lunch which will be teriffic and then I walk the outside decks.
Before we sail I do the one Mandatory thing--I attend the Boat Drill

[kalliekae]

Since we don't like lines, we never board until 1 or 1:30pm. Our room has always been ready and our luggage arrives within 10 minutes after we are in the room. First thing we do is check our excursion tickets for accuracy and then head to the Neptune Lounge to introduce ourselves. Then we unpack, do the lifeboat drill, and go explore the ship. Talking about this sure makes me want to cruise soon! LOL

[CowPrincess]

First thing I do is take a deep breath and relax, knowing that the ship isn't going to sail without me :) Drop off my carry-on (except I keep my jewelry roll in my purse). Check to see if the dining room is open for lunch -- if it is, then I have lunch. If it isn't open, I go to the Lido for a plate of snacky foods, and find a place to sit by the aft deck pool -- my favorite spot on the ship. Then wander around the ship for a while, so I know it's real, not a dream, and reacquaint myself with the layout.

Once we can get into the cabin, I throw myself on the bed, to reassure myself once again I really am cruising again :)

[cb at sea]

I wear my bathing suit (under clothes!!!) and head straight to the pool. I eat a late breakfast, so I don't have to do the "lunch madness" with the rest of the crowd! (Why is eating the 1st thing most do when they board????) I get a nice frozen drink, and then call my friends at home and tell them about the ship, the sun, the drink...in other words, gloat a bit! (Just a little!)

[momatibm]

Our last cruise was a 'late boarder' due to the 'dreaded Noro', which we knew about and left late to drive to the port --- so when we boarded and were directed to the Lido -- we had already had lunch. So we sat and a a drink to start the vacation. After the cabins were ready, we dumped the carryons and went exploring since it was a new ship to us and we needed to get the 'lay of the land, oops sea' so to speak.

[May4]

My favorite place to spend time before the rooms are ready is at a table beside the Lido pool. I like to get something cold to drink, put some chips and guacamole on a plate, watch the people dash about, and breathe in and out.

While doing this I am most likely in a fine mood, having arrived safe and sound to one of my favorite places to be.

[faymuiheng]

We always head to the dining room first off. Great way to start off on another exciting adventure. During the lunch, we pull out the dallies (sp?) and plan out what we want to do. Afterwards, if we're not too full, we scope out the specialty restaurants for their sampling, and then decide which nights we want to hit them. We don't rush, cause we're on V A C A T I O N. :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we first board the ship we go to the Neptune and meet our concierges.

Then we either snack at the Neptune Lounge or go to the dining room for lunch.

After that we stop by the Pinnacle and make certain that our pre-booked reservations are all in place.

Usually by then our cabin is ready.

[jbhcw]

We usually go to the Lido, eat some lunch, then see if we can get into our cabin....drop the carry-ons and start exploring the ship with a stop off at the dining room to check out our table.

We usually will have a celebratory drink in one of the bars....we made it onto the ship and all is well:D

I love just walking around the ship,checking out the different venues and thinking....this is home for the next so many days!!

Then.....things get hectic because it's time for the lifeboat drill, and I always hope it's short and sweet:)

After the drill we head up to the aft Lido for sailaway and I know our cruise has finally started:D

[mamaofami]

I board the ship, pinch myself to make sure it's real, and relax.

[cdkempton]

If we're prior to our room being ready we head to the Lido for a cold drink and just relax knowing that soon we'll be settling in. Once our room is ready, we take our carry-ons and go check it out. Make sure all docs are there for tours, etc. Then we'll usually head back up on deck for a bite to eat. Need the strength for unpacking which is the next step before muster. Ahhhhhhhh....

[kryos]

Okay, so if you are a cruise critic, you are most likely one of the first people to board the ship when you go on a cruise. What is your favorite thing to do when you get there (especially if your room is not ready yet)?Not me. If I stay in a hotel the night before, I take my time checking out and boarding. Let all the crazy crowds clear out and then I just sail through embarkation ... priority style, but without the expensive accommodations normally required to get that. :)

Depends what I do on the first day. If I got a good night's sleep in a hotel the night before, I go to the Lido and enjoy a cup of java and maybe a salad until cabins are ready. Then I go to my cabin and hope my bag has been delivered. If it has, or if I see it sitting on the floor in the hall, I get busy unpacking. Once that chore is done, I might go in search of a drink.

If I flew to the pier that morning, then I'm tired. Chances are I worked the night before from about 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. or so, until I left work at around 5:00 a.m. to catch my flight. Then when I arrive at the pier I'm tired and cranky too. I sit in the Lido and have a cup of coffee until cabins are ready. When they are ready, I get to my cabin and get a much needed shower. Then it's off to dreamland until muster drill. Then I unpack and think about dinner after that.

The first day is generally an "ease into the cruise" day. Depending upon how much stamnia I still have, I may attend the Welcome Aboard show. But generally it's an early night to bed, especially if there is a port the next morning. It's really not until the second day that I begin to feel human again.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

I wear my bathing suit (under clothes!!!) and head straight to the pool. I eat a late breakfast, so I don't have to do the "lunch madness" with the rest of the crowd! (Why is eating the 1st thing most do when they board????) I get a nice frozen drink, and then call my friends at home and tell them about the ship, the sun, the drink...in other words, gloat a bit! (Just a little!)LOL ... my feelings exactly. I've got plenty of time to eat, especially since most of my cruises are longer ones. I'm in no hurry to start stuffing my face as soon as I get onboard. And, if I do, then I know I won't have an appetite for dinner, so why bother?

A nice cold drink and jump on the cell phone. "Guess where I am? Don't you wish you were here too?" :) Gotta gloat just a bit. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[j3Baker]

All great ideas! Thinking about the feeling you get at the beginning of a cruise is almost as good as the real thing. Thanks for the input! :)

[GatorV]

Pour a glass of wine, explore the ship with DH and BF's, first stop is DR to peruse the dinner menu!!! explore some more, refill on the wine and unpack!...pull out the ole Mae West's....find a shady spot to wait for life Boat drill.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

There was a time when we didn't worry about if we had lunch or snacks when we got on the ship -- no matter the length of the cruise.

But DH now takes 15 different medications and a couple must be taken at lunch with food.

So it is not a matter of stuffing our faces but one of health reasons.

[deepnite10]

who has told themselves they ll just get a nibble ?..then seeing all the food go crazy and stuff themselves..:o

if its a cruise ship we ve never been on..we ll take a walk around and get
our bearings..if we ve been on her befor we ll just power nap untill we hear that our cabins are ready..

[Rocky365]

We usually sail with about 10-12 family member so the first thing is to get a cocktail and breath a sigh of relief that we are all here. Once we get to our cabin, we go out to the balcony (with a cocktail) and call everyone we know to make the jealous:)

[Love Cruises]

Since we like to embark as early as HAL allows, we go directly to the Lido for their lovely buffet lunch. Then when we can go to our cabin we check to see if we have our soda cards, pinnacle dinner cards, etc. that our Cruise Agent graciously gives us. Hopefully, our luggage will have arrived by then and we immediately unpack before the muster drill. Then we are ready to enjoy every other minute onboard again on another "DAM" ship.

[Zeta3]

I like to grab a hot dog then explore the ship. My travel mates generally like to go to the dining room or lido for lunch then to the cabin to laze about and then grab a drink for sailaway. (of course the muster drill happens at some point during all that)

[dandro]

Can I change the question to "What did you do on the first day?"
(We have only had one "first day")

Ate lunch in dining room. Attended the "Grand Adventure" presentation, went to our room, checked out every nook & cranny, read all the materials, made sure all our shore excursion & Pinnacle Grill docs were there, had a bit of "bubbly" and choklit covered strawberries, attended the Muster Drill (we were late), then went to the Sailaway Party on the Lido deck.

We hope there will many many more "first days" to come!:)

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

Following cruise terminal arrival which includes baggage handler & stevedore payoffs, HAL check-in & the obligatory life preserver 'photo shoot' we calmly walk up the gangway (although we're pinching each other in the butt thinking "YEA"!!!!!!!).

Then, we are usually greeted by a pleasent young man and we are led to the nearest elevator. The elevator takes us up to the Lido for a well-deserved buffet lunch & a libation (a Mango daiquiri or strawberry margarita).

We then move out to the Lido pool area while awaiting the "room ready" announcement by the CD and alternate (one of us usually stays by our carry-ons and continues to rehydrate from the flight & travel stress) while 'we' do do the following "chores":

1. Spa tour / make hair appointments, etc.
2. Front desk : unlimited pressing sign up, get some comment cards, misc.

After dropping off our bags following the "room ready" announcement and checking the desk for prepaid wine & booze cards, flowers, excursion & transfer vouchers (if applicable) we then:

1. Walk around & explore the ship using the deck plans provided in the welcome folder if we're unfamiliar with the ship.
2. Check out books in the library if it's open
3. Check our DR table assignment (we prefer late seating, fixed, two-top)
4. Check / make reservations at the PG, if it's open.
5. Purchase a booze or wine (delivered at sea, of course) if applicable.

We then return to the cabin, unpack a bit and meet our cabin steward officially if we didn't have the opportunity to meet him at baggage drop-off.

Following pleasentries & requests (an extra ice bucket, towel and box of Kleenex, etc) we are usually due to attend the life boat muster drill.

After our cabin steward departs & prior to getting into the life vests we hug each other tightly and appreciate how 'blessed' we are.

Following the drill we traditionally drop off our life vests and dash up to the Crow's Nest for 'our' sailaway.

Needless to say, for that special moment, we've left reality behind as the sun sets and a new adventure beckons. Dinner be dammed.

And, I might add, it feels really, really good.

Bon Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)

[oliverbc]

On the last trip I went to the library and picked up the book I had left at home mid read. It is a good time to get a coffee and choose your reading material. I love unpacking and storing the cases under the bed. I am now ready for anything and everything.

[Flying-Dragon]

Okay, so if you are a cruise critic, you are most likely one of the first people to board the ship when you go on a cruise. What is your favorite thing to do when you get there (especially if your room is not ready yet)?

We can't call ourselves experienced cruisers yet, but on the two cruises we have taken, getting on board before noon (no more cost than 3pm and one gets to spend much more time on board a cruise ship), going to the lido deck, checking in our carry-on luggage, and ordering a glass of wine to be siipped slowly as we watch the outside world become less and less important, shedding our cares and concerns.

Then, when inevitably the glass is empty (and not wishing to be seen as lushes by having another), we start to tour the ship, photograph its quiet little corners and, before you know it, our cabin is ready. It's a gentle way of becoming part of the ship's company and getting in the mood.

[dandro]

A lot of posters stated that they checked out a book from the ship's library...I did the same thing, but never got to read it. There was so much to do and our cruise was port intensive that I never really got a chance to get beyond the first chapter. By the time we went back to our cabin at night, I was too tired to read.

The next cruise will hopefully have some "book time".

[brucory]

A lot of posters stated that they checked out a book from the ship's library...I did the same thing, but never got to read it. There was so much to do and our cruise was port intensive that I never really got a chance to get beyond the first chapter. By the time we went back to our cabin at night, I was too tired to read.

The next cruise will hopefully have some "book time".

Exactly... Where does the time go?


:D:D:D

[suse]

I think it's great fun to watch all the trucks unpack all the food and supplies for the week. I really do that from my balcony. It's crazy.:)

[kryos]

So it is not a matter of stuffing our faces but one of health reasons.That's an entirely different issue. In my case, it would just be chowing down, so I prefer to wait until dinnertime for that.

I've gotten to a point as I've gotten older ... between the bad gall bladder and maybe natural aging ... I just don't have the appetite that I once did. So I know that if I stuff my face in the Lido, chances are I will have no appetite left come dinnertime. And that first night's dinner is often soooooo good ... it would be a shame to miss it. :)

So that's why I generally stick to a cup of tea or coffee in the Lido and save the appetite for dinner.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[brucory]

That's an entirely different issue. In my case, it would just be chowing down, so I prefer to wait until dinnertime for that.

I've gotten to a point as I've gotten older ... between the bad gall bladder and maybe natural aging ... I just don't have the appetite that I once did. So I know that if I stuff my face in the Lido, chances are I will have no appetite left come dinnertime. And that first night's dinner is often soooooo good ... it would be a shame to miss it. :)

So that's why I generally stick to a cup of tea or coffee in the Lido and save the appetite for dinner.

Blue skies ...

--rita


You are a rare species... Most of the crowd chow down big time... And that comes from the staff... The embarkation lunch is the biggest feed of the lot!!!

:D:D:D

[jglass]

The spa is my first stop on boarding, then exploring the ship. This, of course depends on how tired, cranky, and hungry I am. This time we will be arriving on an overnight flight and I believe food, a shower and a nap will be first priorities.

[mrsltg]

I like to be one of the first on board. The ship is my vacation so I want to be on the ship!!!I'll make any needed reservations and then head to lunch. I do enjoy lunch. I won't stuff myself, but I will eat a normal lunch. From there it'll be time for a drink and maybe a little wandering before heading to the cabin. Last cruise I was able to get completely unpacked before the muster drill. I don't know that I'll get that lucky again as I never have before but we'll see!

[Harry1954]

We try to board as early as we can as we are generally haggard from a long flight, assuming the embarking port is overseas. We first go to Neptune to meet the folks acting as concierge for the voyage. Dropping our carryons there or if room is ready, in there, we then have light lunch, head to room and drink some wine while waiting for bags to arrive. Nap for an hour or so to shake the flight/lack of sleep from our heads. Unpack and go to drill.
Look forward to meeting new tablemates and hope for good ones.
harry

[shandryl]

I have stayed @ a hotel the night before. Take my time getting to the pier. I like to avoid the lineups and crowds. When I get on the ship! 1st thing I do (if room is ready) go to the room! Put all my stuff in the safe & leave the carry on in the room. Find the bar and get a nice cold drink!

Find a table & chairs around (the bar & pool) and relax. Plenty of time to look around & eat later :) just take it all in and enjoy. When I cruise 14days or longer there really is no rush to do anything. :D Just have a great time!

[DutchByAssociation]

Okay, so if you are a cruise critic, you are most likely one of the first people to board the ship when you go on a cruise. What is your favorite thing to do when you get there (especially if your room is not ready yet)?

Run around like a madman with my camera, visit with some of the staff and crew and grab a bite to eat (make your own caesar salad from the station and a small plate of nachos from the Terrace Grill)

[hrhdhd]

A lot of posters stated that they checked out a book from the ship's library...I did the same thing, but never got to read it. There was so much to do and our cruise was port intensive that I never really got a chance to get beyond the first chapter. By the time we went back to our cabin at night, I was too tired to read.

The next cruise will hopefully have some "book time".

I usually take my books to the Promenade Deck to read in a deck chair, and then "book time" quickly becomes "nap time." ;)

[pipedreams62]

I head up to the crows Nest, grab a recliner and crash out for an hour.

[JerseyJaguar]

On my last cruise I had been travelling for two weeks before getting on the ship in Seward, never being able to completely unpack since I never stayed anymore more than three days. I didn't get on the ship until after 4pm (we sailed at 8), but my room was ready so I dumped my carry ons and grabbed my camera and explored the ship and visited the spa to see what deals they had for the first day (got 20% off). When I got back to my cabin my bags were there and I unpacked and found some stuff I thought I'd lost along the way. It was so nice to be able to unpack completely, that was the highlight of my first day.

My other two cruises I went to the ship after hotel checkout, grabbed the camera and explored. Haven't been on the same ship anytime so they are all new to me and I love seeing where everything is. Spa is always an early visit.

[CuriousJ]

I think it's great fun to watch all the trucks unpack all the food and supplies for the week. I really do that from my balcony. It's crazy.:)

I like to do that, too! Or, watch them load the luggage - it seems rather precarious how they do it; I wonder if they ever lose a piece to the sea?

Haven't been on too many cruises but the pattern seems to be: we like to board in the early afternoon after enjoying a lunch near the cruise terminal - since we are likely boarding in a city we've never visited, this gives us a chance to enjoy a little more of the local flavor and avoid the long lines. We then head right to the Lido pool area and have some fancy tropical cocktail, grab a couple of snacks off the buffet, take some "haggard travelers no more" pictures, and then do the obligatory phone call to home to let the family know we've made it safely aboard (and yes, to gloat a little). When the rooms are ready we head down and check out the accommodations, and hubby (having learned the hard way) tries on his pre-ordered rental tux to make sure it fits *before* we leave port.

We then tour every nook and cranny of the ship, comparing the real life places to all the pics we've been ogling online. By then it's about time for the mustard rill (as my daughter calls them!) and...we're off!

[flag fan]

I like to just wander around and check out the different parts of the ship.

[brucory]

I like to do that, too! Or, watch them load the luggage - it seems rather precarious how they do it; I wonder if they ever lose a piece to the sea?!

Funny, I have wondered the same thing. Seeing how they squash all the bags into the cages and then bang the cages around really makes me wonder about damage to the luggage...

Yikes...

[mudscraper]

Like so many cruisers do,we get to the ship early,fight the crowds and then go to the overcrowded Lido.
Well Im changing my tune. Next cruise we`ll eat a late breakfast and arrive later to the dock. Once onboard we`ll find a good bartender (Crowsnest) and enjoy a libation or two.

The first day on any cruise ship seems to be a hectic one. I`m going to try and slow the pace down a little bit.


Rich

[DutchByAssociation]

Run around like a madman with my camera, visit with some of the staff and crew and grab a bite to eat (make your own caesar salad from the station and a small plate of nachos from the Terrace Grill)

I don't know how I forgot to mention this...

And a Wang Wang from the first beverage staff I see :D

[TiggerG]

when we first board the ship we go to the neptune and meet our concierges.

then we either snack at the neptune lounge or go to the dining room for lunch.

after that we stop by the pinnacle and make certain that our pre-booked reservations are all in place.

usually by then our cabin is ready.


how does one get pre-booked reservations at the pinnacle? :)

[mrsltg]

how does one get pre-booked reservations at the pinnacle? :)

Log on to the HAL site with your cruising confirmation number. You can do all kinds of things like purchase shore excursions, on board credit, print your boarding pass, and make reservations for the Pinnacle Grill.

Have a great cruise!

[jtl513]

how does one get pre-booked reservations at the pinnacle? :)

Log on to the HAL site with your cruising confirmation number.Or call Ship Services, 800-541-1576