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

Interested to know everyone's favourite bit of cruising in the first 24 hours!

For me its seeing the ship for the first time - when it comes into view from your coach!

Then, I love it when you have your first photo taken as you board - you know that getting onboard is only seconds away! Then you pass through and onto the ship and get the first glimpse of her! Its just magic & so exciting!

Oh - and then of course, when you set sail and you're off! Nothing can beat it!

What about you?

The minute the life boat drill is over, that's my signal it's "my time" and vacation has begun!

Yep, while first entry into the Centrum is great, its the end of the Muster Drill - the "work" of the cruise is over, and now its party time!!!

I have to admit - I quite like the muster! (just because my husband looks so ridiculous!!!!! LOL - it sets me off laughing everytime).

Also, I am a bit of a stickler for knowing what will happen in an emergency. Hubby and I always have an agreed meeting point in case of an emergency and we are separated. I couldnt bear to have to search the ship for him so this way we would just go to our designated meeting place! I would rather go down with the ship with him than be searching frantically for him not knowing where he was! Sorry - bit morbid there :(

Anyway - just cant wait to see my dad in May with his life jacket on. Extra giggles for me I think!!!!

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

The first fruity cocktail. The signal that all my planning, packing, organizing, overthinking, and stressing are over and I have seven days to decompress and relax.

I can't wait!

That is a good one! The sound of 'Deck...whatever'.

RCI should have that on there adverts - in their words.....

'Bing Bong.....that's when it hits you!!!!!!' LOL LOL

Stepping out onto my balcony and looking at the dock watching people arrive. I wave and smile and think I'm here let the good times roll! :D :D

I would have to say that first step onto the ship from the gangway. It's all work, fun work, but still work, until then. After that, then ship isn't going anywhere without you so its all good.

My favorite is after the ship is well underway and most people have left the upper deck areas and it is mostly quiet. The sun setting and the shore line disappearing. The feeling that, at least for a little while, I have no worries in the world. And in my own little way, thank God that I have the means in which to do this.

Walking into the pool deck area, hearing the band and grabbing my first frozen Drink Of The Day. :D

I also love the time right after I'm unpacked and everything is organized, and I realize that I have nothing I HAVE to do for the duration of the cruise. The choice is mine. I can eat when I want, sleep when I want, drink however much I want (God, I sound like such a lush by I'm really not) and spend every morning out on my balcony, feeling like I'm the only one on the ship!

... or basically what Sarah said!

First getting on the ship, watching all of the crowds streaming into the elevators to find the lido and the first of the free food, or the bars to begin their first of many drinks to follow...and I head the opposite direction, to check out the rooms and lounges of the ship, one by one, all nearly empty, ready to be photographed, and I learn the lay of the ship and my directions around it on that first exploratory walk.

Next, it's the moment that the ship clears the channel or breakwater of whatever home port it is leaving from. First underway is nice, but once you clear the channel, and watch the last of the beach, coast, and markers beging to pass the sides of the ship and fade aft...that's when you are officially ON the sea, and the cruise has truly begun.

And finally, it's that first sunset, from the upper decks of the ship, before late-seating dinner...especially nice when cruising out towards the east so the sun sets off the aft, and the sliver of land that you just left from is but a silhouette on the horizon. The decks begin to empty as everyone flees for their room, and the early seaters have to go unpack and get dressed...a handful of late seaters can relax in silence, feeling sea breezes, smelling the salty air, and watching every hue of red, yellow, and orange in the sky as the ship begins to finally catch a rythm on the first of the deep-water swells, rocking ever so gently.

Great question............

I think walking in to our cabin the first time really has me realize........the trip is about to begin........and like previous posters.........once muster is over..........the vacation begins in earnest........

Jim

Absolutely - we are so lucky to be able to go on a cruise. We all have our little likes and dislikes, but at the end of the day, its an amazing holiday and we are very blessed to be able to go! I love it all - especially the first morning. We wake up and rush to get out on the balcony. Then its up to the top deck for a relaxing stroll knowing you have the whole day to do whatever you want. Its a great feeling to be travelling without having to actually think about the travel! (If you know what I mean.) No better way to holiday IMO!

Of course the first drink is always a special moment! ;)

I love walking into our cabin seeing our life vests lying neatly on the bed. I always announce to my DH - "I'm glad to be home - another long shore excursion has ended." And, at that moment, I know another wonderful cruise awaits.

What a wonderful question. For me, it's the moment I step off the elevator on the pool deck and walk outside to a breeze blowing and the Caribbean music playing that "Red, Red wine" song and a very sweet RCCL employee comes up to me and asks if I would like a Pina Colada. Oh, it is like an addict getting a fix. I know I have a wonderful vacation ahead of me.

There's so much to enjoy during the first few hours of a cruise...

I think the best part for DH/I is after we enter our cabin. We close the door, look around, pinch ourselves to make sure we are really here and

JUMP UP AND DOWN LIKE LITTLE KIDS.:D

It's been tradition for years and a funny one as well. So far... neither one of us has hit our heads on the ceiling.

After that is getting a drink, toast each other and have a blast!

There are so many great moments that first day. When we board as early as possible, that first pinacolada before noon always feels so decadent. Sailaway is great - the sound of steel drums and upbeat music as you watch land disappear. You can feel the anticipation of everyone around you. That first time you walk into the dining room for dinner. The hopefulness that you will have a fun table and a great waiter. And for us, we love hitting the casino after dinner and meeting the dealers we will be torturing all week. It also seems to be the same group of people at the table night after night so that first night is kind of funny seeing how folks will interact. I love the feeling of "I have no responsibility" that really hits me the first morning. Wake up, hit the breakfast buffet, then I generally head to the Aquaspa/Solarium with the perfectly selected cruise vacation book. The first time I hit the water, the first time I walk the deck --- oh man, this is making me "homesick."

I'm with the poster on the elevator - we adore that ding ding sound and love hearing "Deck Nine."

"I think of this as a temporary exile."

Hubby likes getting to the cabin and getting settled in. First thing he does is step out onto the balcony and surveying his view!!!!

We pop open the bubbly and that's it - we've arrived!!

Next he likes hitting the Windjammer and getting his first plate of cookies :D

Next cruise is exciting because we are going with family on their first cruise - so looking forward to their reaction when they see the ship.

My mum called the other day to say she had seen a 'huge' ship similar to the one she is going on in May. I rang the port master and found out that the 'huge' ship she had seen was only 40,000 tons. She went very silent on the phone when I told her and then explained that she was going on the 138,000 tonne Navigator!!!!:D The word that comes to mind is 'speechless':eek: !!!!! LOL :D

OK dachshunddoglover, I think I am your twin in a parallel (sp?) universe! I also love my weiner dog, always think of cruising when I hear "Red, Red Wine" (1st song on my cruising tunes CD) and ALWAYS start the cruise off with a pina colada! (Insert theme from Twilight Zone here)

My favorite thing - to start taking pictures on a nearly deserted ship (as Platinum members, we get to board early) as we drink from a frosty glass. And it just gets better from there on............................;)

Wow, this is a good one....i can't believe I have to wait 3 more months to do ANY of these!

I have two:

First getting to the room and opening a bottle of Champagne, and the first time we walk out onto the Lido deck and hear the Reggae music!

My favorite is walking up to the port and seeing my ship. Second is sailaway!!

The first thing we do when we board the ship is drop off our carry-on bags in the cabin. Then we head to the dining room to request a table for two (which is always refused). Then we get something to eat in the windjammer. Then muster drill. Then time for fun and touring the ship.