Cruising 101: Welcome Newbies!!

Are you taking or even considering taking your first cruise? Why do so many people cruise and love cruising? Simple: cruising is popular because it takes you away from the pressures and strains of contemporary life. Cruise ships are really self-contained resorts, with little or no crime, which can take you to several destinations in just a few days. Cruising offers you and your family a wide variety of fun, entertainment, destinations, and romance…even the children, and teens, yes, teens- will enjoy cruising especially if you choose the right cruise line or ship. Cruises are almost like summer camp for adults!!

I am both a cruise agent ( 18 yrs.) and an avid cruiser ( 33 cruises and counting on all but MSC & Costa), so I know something about cruising & cruise ships. Compared to most land destinations, cruises offer you much better value for your money. For a start, your initial fare includes your accommodation, main meals ( many now have "specialty dining", which may cost extra $$, some do not..) and all your snacks, room service ( some cruise lines have just started charging small fees for room service), entertainment, lectures, social functions, participation events, movies AND use of the ship’s facilities, including the Gym and fitness center, casino (don’t have to be a member for either), and perhaps air tickets and transfers to get to and from your cruise ship. Compared to a land vacation, there is something else that is often overlooked. When you are at sea on a cruise ship, you share a bond with every other cruiser on that ship. You are sailing together on an adventure. This bond I find adds to the overall adventure of the cruise. You feel a connection with the other passengers and a love for the ship. This is one of the reasons I find why cruise lines have been very successful in creating an experience that cannot be matched by any other type of vacation.

Even before the cruise, passengers filled with excitement, will meet others who are sailing on the ship on websites like Cruise Critic ( more on that later here..). Roll Calls, Meet & Mingles, Meet & Greets will be formed, friendships will be made. Information about the ship, ports of call, dining, etc., will be shared back & forth about the cruise. Do you think people going to a Marriott or Hyatt in Orlando do this? I seriously doubt it! Once on board, cruise passengers will explore the ship with great interest & excitement, admiring it’s cleanliness and impressive features. From the grand atriums, huge theaters, shops & restaurants, bars & casinos, to the spa, pools & sports deck- it is a thing of beauty and wonder to see all of this on a ship!! Then when the massive multi-story ship begins to move ( called a “Sailaway”), cruise passengers line up along the railings of the ship and wave to those on the beaches, and those in houses, condos, and boats that pass by. People on land will line up to watch the Sailaway from several areas in various places near the ports themselves ( more on this later..)..The ship’s horn will sound, and there will be cheering and laughter. Drinks of celebration will help seal the moment..for me, this is THE time I know I’m on a cruise vacation!!

Passengers once on board are sometimes amazed by the dining choices & experience, the Broadway style shows, the live music ( like the piano music ), the singing and dancing ( British Pubs, 70’s -80’s dance parties, ice-skating shows, etc..). Many passengers participate in cooking lessons, seminars, and more. Perhaps it’s the karaoke contest where everyone becomes a star for the night ( now, who would do a silly thing like that????) . Some ships have an adult quest game where people really let go. Some participate in the marriage games and discover things about their spouses that they never knew, much to the amusement of the passengers ( but sometimes NOT to the spouse- LOL!!). For many, these games & activities give cruisers a break from the stress of life, a chance to let their hair down and just have a good time. These are some of the things that make a cruise vacation one of ( if not THE best) the best types of vacations one can take. It is an experience that cannot be matched and one reason why many that cruise become addicted to it and keep going back for more & more. In fact, cruise vacations have a satisfaction rate of 94%, higher than chocolate!! The hassles of a land based vacation are completely eliminated in one very neat package- and you only have to unpack once!

So an important thing to remember here on Cruise Critic: You may read reviews of cruises & ships or ports of call that may be positive or negative, or perhaps a "mixed" review ( has both positive & negative comments ) , but remember that these reviews are OPINIONS only..I have found that what I think was a great cruise with top entertainment , service & dining, others may not, and VISA VERSA...sometimes I have read reviews of a cruise I was on that was so bad, I thought to myself, this person must've either been drunk the whole cruise, or they must be very hard to please. On Cruise Critic you can not only find information and reviews on cruise ships, but the entire cruise line itself, as well as ports of call, cabin selections ( I have 2 well read posts on balcony cabins & why they are the most preferred kind of cabin to cruise in under "cabin selection tips" ) , Roll Calls & Meet & Greets / Mingles ( this is a group of people who have met here on CC & decide to have a "meeting" or "greeting" on the cruise ship sometime during the cruise ) , first time cruisers ( like on here..) , and many more areas of cruising you can find info on..a fair warning though- some people ( especially the last 3-4 years) have become a bit aggressive and rude on CC, and G-d forbid they disagree with you, you might read some of these comments..just remember there are always idiots & rude people on all message boards, which is what Cruise Critic ( CC ) is..the good thing is though, that 95% of CC posters are helpful , nice, and want to help you if you post a question or ask for opinions..so let's begin our adventure and ask away..BTW- there are NO stupid or silly questions, most of know you are newbies or Cruise Virgins ( my term, lol..) , and welcome to the wonderful world of cruising!!!

Big Al

New definition of the word "solicitation?"

????? I did not get that impression at all. :confused:

Big Al, What a wonderful introduction for newbies to cruising. Your letter was very well written. Thank you for sharing.:)

Thanks Al. I just may take you up on that. I just booked my first MSC cruise on the new Seaside. You may be sorry you offered to answer any questions....LOL :):):)

Lol...the Seaside looks like she will be awesome & outrageous!! Have you seen the promo video on her? You can find it on the MSC website or YouTube ( just put in MSC Seaside tour in the search box..)..the Divina is also wonderful, and I have close friends who have cruised her twice & loved her both times...I am never sorry when I can help people take their first cruise..I know much of the info may be overwhelming, but many of us here can help with excursions, ports of call, cabins, dining, etc...feel free anytime to ask me or others on here!!

Big Al

Lol...the Seaside looks like she will be awesome & outrageous!! Have you seen the promo video on her? You can find it on the MSC website or YouTube ( just put in MSC Seaside tour in the search box..)..the Divina is also wonderful, and I have close friends who have cruised her twice & loved her both times...I am never sorry when I can help people take their first cruise..I know much of the info may be overwhelming, but many of us here can help with excursions, ports of call, cabins, dining, etc...feel free anytime to ask me or others on here!!

 

Big Al

Yes, I have watched it numerous times. I was originally going to book the YC, but the one thing I am not crazy about, is you cannot order cocktails outside of the YC. I know you can purchase vouchers, but that sort of defeats the purpose. I booked a Aurea suite instead. S3 category. The balcony is the SAME size as the cabin!!!!! Amazing. Yes, we also did the status match, which gave us an additional 5percent off the bill. Also received THREE HUNDRED OBC. Holy cow. What a deal. We wanted to squeeze in the Divina, but cannot... Hate to wish my life away, but is 2018 here yet???? Lol:D

Yes, I have watched it numerous times. I was originally going to book the YC, but the one thing I am not crazy about, is you cannot order cocktails outside of the YC. I know you can purchase vouchers, but that sort of defeats the purpose. I booked a Aurea suite instead. S3 category. The balcony is the SAME size as the cabin!!!!! Amazing. Yes, we also did the status match, which gave us an additional 5percent off the bill. Also received THREE HUNDRED OBC. Holy cow. What a deal. We wanted to squeeze in the Divina, but cannot... Hate to wish my life away, but is 2018 here yet???? Lol:D

Hey, $300 OBC is wonderful!! The S3 suites are nice & yes, the balcony is HUGE...it's only 18 months away now...I have a cruise in Jan with $350 OBC..that's a lot of beers & B52's, lol!!!

Big Al

Thanks for posting :) I enjoyed reading it and remember my first (and only so far) cruise last year very fondly as you describe above.

Thanks for posting :) I enjoyed reading it and remember my first (and only so far) cruise last year very fondly as you describe above.

Glad you liked it and you are welcome Goosebear Mum!!!

Big Al

Summed up all I loved about my first cruise, especially the camaraderie. Always someone to chat to. Next cruise in 6 weeks & 3 days [emoji3][emoji3]. Thanks for sharing. May show to my brother & his wife who I'm trying to indoctrinate!

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Summed up all I loved about my first cruise, especially the camaraderie. Always someone to chat to. Next cruise in 6 weeks & 3 days [emoji3][emoji3]. Thanks for sharing. May show to my brother & his wife who I'm trying to indoctrinate!

 

 

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Thanks for the kind words! Yes, tell your brother & wife that I have DOZENS of people I have indoctrinated to cruising simply by telling them all of these things I wrote & more...it took 18 years of me trying to convince my cousin to try cruising instead of his over-priced land vacations & FINALLY this past NYE he tried the NCL Getaway and LOVED it..he said he couldn't believe the quality of entertainment & food options all over the ship, and said I was "right all along"..he now is currently looking into booking another cruise at Thanksgiving..many, many more stories similar...and you are right about camaraderie- sometimes I can sit in a hot tub for an hour discussing stories & opinions on Disney cruises / RCI / NCL / Princess cruises or others, private islands, ports of call, best private excursions on each island, etc..so much fun!!

Big Al

I thought it was a very thoughtfully written post. I don't have many cruises under my belt but since discovering this type of vacation we are hooked. I look forward to reading upcoming questions and answers because I am always up for learning new things. Thanks for the post :)

I thought it was a very thoughtfully written post. I don't have many cruises under my belt but since discovering this type of vacation we are hooked. I look forward to reading upcoming questions and answers because I am always up for learning new things. Thanks for the post :)

You are welcome shadow8800...please feel free to comment or ask questions about any facet of cruising..like you, I have been "hooked" on cruising since 1990, and as both a cruise agent and avid cruiser who has cruised RCI, NCL, HAL, Disney, Celebrity, & Princess in ALL four cabin categories ( inside, outside, balcony & suites) , so I have experienced a lot to make comparisons & offer some ideas/ opinions- which are exactly that..thanks for the nice post!!

Big Al

You are welcome shadow8800...please feel free to comment or ask questions about any facet of cruising..like you, I have been "hooked" on cruising since 1990, and as both a cruise agent and avid cruiser who has cruised RCI, NCL, HAL, Disney, Celebrity, & Princess in ALL four cabin categories ( inside, outside, balcony & suites) , so I have experienced a lot to make comparisons & offer some ideas/ opinions- which are exactly that..thanks for the nice post!!

 

Big Al

Thanks Big Al...One thing I just now learned is when you are booking make sure you check your stateroom location which I did not do at first and got lucky on my first cruise and but for the upcoming I think we are stuck right below the the pool and I am concerned about the noise or if it will even be a problem. We are on Deck 9 on Celebrity Summit any ideas? Thanks

Thanks Big Al...One thing I just now learned is when you are booking make sure you check your stateroom location which I did not do at first and got lucky on my first cruise and but for the upcoming I think we are stuck right below the the pool and I am concerned about the noise or if it will even be a problem. We are on Deck 9 on Celebrity Summit any ideas? Thanks

Shadow8800- This is a tough one..IF you or spouse is a light sleeper, you may hear noises EARLY in the morning ( 6-7 am) when the crew puts all those lounge chairs down..I am a VERY light sleeper and I avoid the deck under the pools area like the plague..my wife sleeps thru everything..are you light sleepers? If so, you MAY want to book on deck 8..I ALWAYS try & book mid ship, about 3-6 cabins down from the elevators, and very important..cabins above & cabins below- never below or above PUBLIC decks & areas ( pools, theaters, disco, etc..)...hope this helps...

Big Al

Shadow8800- This is a tough one..IF you or spouse is a light sleeper, you may hear noises EARLY in the morning ( 6-7 am) when the crew puts all those lounge chairs down..I am a VERY light sleeper and I avoid the deck under the pools area like the plague..my wife sleeps thru everything..are you light sleepers? If so, you MAY want to book on deck 8..I ALWAYS try & book mid ship, about 3-6 cabins down from the elevators, and very important..cabins above & cabins below- never below or above PUBLIC decks & areas ( pools, theaters, disco, etc..)...hope this helps...

 

Big Al

We have a balcony cabin and can't afford to pay a higher fee as I am now paying on our cruise for December 2017, at least for that trip I made sure the only thing above and below are other staterooms. My dh is telling me it will be fine but he does sleep like a rock lol. The cruise has 5 ports in 7 days so maybe everyone will be tuckered out in the evening :) I definitely learned a lesson check the deck plan before blindly agreeing to just take it. Thank you for your input:D

We have a balcony cabin and can't afford to pay a higher fee as I am now paying on our cruise for December 2017, at least for that trip I made sure the only thing above and below are other staterooms. My dh is telling me it will be fine but he does sleep like a rock lol. The cruise has 5 ports in 7 days so maybe everyone will be tuckered out in the evening :) I definitely learned a lesson check the deck plan before blindly agreeing to just take it. Thank you for your input:D

Normally, the HIGHER your cabin is on a deck, the more $$ it is..you may pay less to switch your cabin from deck 9 to deck 8..it's worth looking into..if Celebrity / whomever says it costs more $$ to change, then never mind..one of the best sites I use (besides the cruise itself ) is called http://www.cruisedeckplans.com...just click on the cruise line first, then your specific ship, and you can find all the deck plans PLUS details on each category including cabin size, balcony size, and even specific cabins that have bigger balconies.. great site..any questions give a shout!

Big Al

Normally, the HIGHER your cabin is on a deck, the more $$ it is..you may pay less to switch your cabin from deck 9 to deck 8..it's worth looking into..if Celebrity / whomever says it costs more $$ to change, then never mind..one of the best sites I use (besides the cruise itself ) is called http://www.cruisedeckplans.com...just click on the cruise line first, then your specific ship, and you can find all the deck plans PLUS details on each category including cabin size, balcony size, and even specific cabins that have bigger balconies.. great site..any questions give a shout!

 

Big Al

Dh said wanted to try aqua class this time so I think we are limited in cabin options but I might call TA to find out anyway. Thank you so much for your advice.:D

I really liked this post. Thanks Al. I booked our very first cruise in April and now I'm waiting impatiently for January to crawl around. I am so excited and your post made me even more so.

I really liked this post. Thanks Al. I booked our very first cruise in April and now I'm waiting impatiently for January to crawl around. I am so excited and your post made me even more so.

Thanks CupcakeSusie, nice words!! It is hard to wait, especially for your first cruise, true..heck, I am going on a cruise in January, our 34th, and It's still hard to wait, lol..BUT, you can do some research on the ports os call by going to the ports of call section on the boards page.There you will find info on tours, beaches, restaurants, stores, etc..just about anything, and if you DON'T find what you want, put a post up & ask...a research on the ship itself...go to the "reviews" section on the CC opening page and at the top you will find "reviews"..click on the cruise line, then the ship, and you will find many reviews..OR put a post up on the cruise line thread on the boards page & ask...Happy Cruising!!

Big Al

This is awesome big_al. A perfect post to introduce newbies like me to cruising. Until recently I stayed away from cruising because of reasons like, fear, nervousness, afraid of sea sickness, I don't know for sure what reason it is. :):o. I think watching some travel movies might have changed that. I am now very interested in starting my cruise life and right now in the middle of planning one. :)

This is awesome big_al. A perfect post to introduce newbies like me to cruising. Until recently I stayed away from cruising because of reasons like, fear, nervousness, afraid of sea sickness, I don't know for sure what reason it is. :):o. I think watching some travel movies might have changed that. I am now very interested in starting my cruise life and right now in the middle of planning one. :)

steph001- What wonderful words!!! I am very pleased that my post has encouraged you to take your first cruise...many have had the same concerns & feelings that you have...I recently put 2 people on their first cruise..one, my 1st cousin last New Year's Eve on the NCL Getaway with his GF..I wasn't sure he would like cruising..got him an aft balcony and when I asked him how it went, he said, "It was fantastic! I couldn't believe the quality of entertainment & dining options there was..loved my cabin & balcony...loved it, and I feel soooo stupid now I didn't listen to you all those years & go ( I had been telling him how great cruises were the last 20 years..)..I'm ready to book again"...WOW!! The other guy is a friend who cruised for the first time this past May with his wife & mother, both whom had cruised a little before..Scott called me as soon as ge got off the ship & said he LOVED the cruise..ready to go again...picking the right cruise line & ship is important, so if you tell me a little about what you like when vacationing, I can help you..

For example, if you like beaches, shopping ( great deals on alcohol, jewelry, leather, clothing, etc..), go to the Eastern Caribbean ( St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Nassau are common ports here..)..if you like scuba, diving, more culturally diverse stuff like Mayan ruins, forests, etc. then try the Western Caribb, which often include Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and more ..do you want a lot of options for dining, entertainment & activities? How old are you? over 55, & no kids, try Celebrity, Princess or HAL..maybe RCI..Have kids? Disney, RCI, Carnival, & NCL would be good..just some ideas...any questions on which first cruise to take, give a shout!!!

Big Al

steph001- What wonderful words!!! I am very pleased that my post has encouraged you to take your first cruise...many have had the same concerns & feelings that you have...I recently put 2 people on their first cruise..one, my 1st cousin last New Year's Eve on the NCL Getaway with his GF..I wasn't sure he would like cruising..got him an aft balcony and when I asked him how it went, he said, "It was fantastic! I couldn't believe the quality of entertainment & dining options there was..loved my cabin & balcony...loved it, and I feel soooo stupid now I didn't listen to you all those years & go ( I had been telling him how great cruises were the last 20 years..)..I'm ready to book again"...WOW!! The other guy is a friend who cruised for the first time this past May with his wife & mother, both whom had cruised a little before..Scott called me as soon as ge got off the ship & said he LOVED the cruise..ready to go again...picking the right cruise line & ship is important, so if you tell me a little about what you like when vacationing, I can help you..

 

For example, if you like beaches, shopping ( great deals on alcohol, jewelry, leather, clothing, etc..), go to the Eastern Caribbean ( St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Nassau are common ports here..)..if you like scuba, diving, more culturally diverse stuff like Mayan ruins, forests, etc. then try the Western Caribb, which often include Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and more ..do you want a lot of options for dining, entertainment & activities? How old are you? over 55, & no kids, try Celebrity, Princess or HAL..maybe RCI..Have kids? Disney, RCI, Carnival, & NCL would be good..just some ideas...any questions on which first cruise to take, give a shout!!!

 

Big Al

All great points to consider when finding the right cruise for you! Just fyi...for other new cruisers . I have an anxiety disorder and I do very well on cruises. I don't feel crowded in or anything I even do well in the small staterooms surprisingly, they are designed as efficiently as they can be in such a small space. I don't usually suffer from motion sickness so that has not been a problem for me so far *knocks on wood*

I don't know if that will help encourage anyone else but I thought I would just toss it out there. ;) Cruising is such a great way to see different places and with the ability to make payments beginning a year or more out it makes it easier for some of us to budget.

Happy Planning :D

All great points to consider when finding the right cruise for you! Just fyi...for other new cruisers . I have an anxiety disorder and I do very well on cruises. I don't feel crowded in or anything I even do well in the small staterooms surprisingly, they are designed as efficiently as they can be in such a small space. I don't usually suffer from motion sickness so that has not been a problem for me so far *knocks on wood*

 

I don't know if that will help encourage anyone else but I thought I would just toss it out there. ;) Cruising is such a great way to see different places and with the ability to make payments beginning a year or more out it makes it easier for some of us to budget.

Happy Planning :D

Great tip & encouragement! You are right about cruising being a great way to see the world ( and more economical) ,as well accommodating all budgets....

Big Al