Your first cruise ship

[ExpatBride]

One day at lunch, I had to resort to yelling at an older man who was eating the lasagna out of the buffet dish with his hands! The server removed the lasagna and the "gentleman" told me to "Mind your own !!!!ing business!" Never, ever, again on NCL!

 

Wow! Unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me after my Epic fiasco :rolleyes:

[Joyously Sailing Away]

My first cruise was on Holland America Norodom last September. It was a small ship but BIG on class and Service! Every meal was amazing. Crew remember our names after the first day and always greeted us with smiles and hello. Our cabin was kept spotless by the two stewart. We had an obstructed view cabin; but with the floor the ceiling windows there was lots of light and we could see over the lifeboat no problem.

Everyday start with breakfast in bed. You can literally write about anything down on the room slip and they will bring it! Eggs Benedict, fresh fruit and a big pot of coffee; sure no problem [emoji38][emoji106]

I'm pretty laid back for a girl in her 30's and was looking for a quick vacation. That being said, there was always something to do on board. We caught a lecture, played trivia game in the crows nest and really enjoyed a cooking demonstration. Or you can do nothing at all if you wanted. The spa was wonderful and really worth the price of the pass. And what a view form the thermal loungers, it was beautiful. If I could have, one of those thermal loungers was coming home with me.

To say the least I'll be back on a HAL cruise again very soon.

 

 

 

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[Copper10-8]

Home Line's Oceanic, where everyone was treated like a king and queen! Perfect service and fantastic food! Priceless!

 

 

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Home Lines Oceanic

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on Carnival's Carnivale in 1988. Three of us shared an inside cabin--my ex and me on the lower berth and a friend in the upper berth. She had to climb a ladder over our bed to get to hers.

 

My first HAL cruise was until 2005 on the Maasdam with my current DH. We are taking our fifth HAL cruise in August.

 

 

Carnivale Cruise Line's Carnivale

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on Carnival's Carnivale in 1988. Three of us shared an inside cabin--my ex and me on the lower berth and a friend in the upper berth. She had to climb a ladder over our bed to get to hers.

 

My first HAL cruise was until 2005 on the Maasdam with my current DH. We are taking our fifth HAL cruise in August.

 

 

RCI's Radiance of the Seas

[Copper10-8]

Disney Magic! It was just a 3 day to the Bahamas and Disney's private island. We booked a land/sea package because we weren't sure we would like the cruise part. But boy did we ever!!! Hooked since then. After a couple of cruises in the Caribbean, we decided we wanted to try a line that had a casino, entertainment that did not center around a cartoon character, and somewhere less than 2,000 kids on board. So we cruised on the Ryndam up into the Sea of Cortez. Awesomeness - never looked back!

 

 

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic

[Copper10-8]

The Grand Princess in 2001 to the eastern Caribbean...oh was she grand. Hooked- why yes I was/am. [emoji175]

 

 

Princess Cruise Line's Grand Princess

Edited July 27, 2016 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

My First ship was the TSS Fairsea on Sitmar Cruises. Went to Mexico and sailed her many times! I was 14 at the time! Sitmar was bought out by Princess, but then I switched to Holland America.

 

Haven't been on a cruise since 2007.....I'm WAY overdue and booked on HAL next March on the Veendam....can hardly WAIT!!

 

 

Sitmar Cruise Line's Fairsea

[Copper10-8]

My first ship was the Carnival Fantasy in April 1997! It was a 3-day to Nassau from Port Canaveral. I was a sophomore in high school, and it was a marching band trip. We marched in a parade at Universal Studios, then got on the ship and the jazz band played in one of the lounges.

 

That cruise TOTALLY got me hooked. My next cruise wouldn't be for 10 years, though. I've been on 8 cruises, all with Carnival so far, but my next one is an Alaska cruisetour on the Noordam next May! (I've already booked it and my boyfriend doesn't know...it's his birthday/Christmas present. YIKES.)

 

We like Carnival because it's the most affordable you can find, but we're both ready to branch out and see what the other lines have to offer. The loyalty program is hardly a loyalty program anymore, and the perks were the only thing keeping me cruising with Carnival. I'm really excited to try HAL!!

 

 

Carnival Cruise Line's Fantasy

[Copper10-8]

I grew up watching the Love Boat and always wanted to take a cruise :p

 

My first was a solo cruise was in 2011. I cruised the Norwegian Fjords in an inside on RCCL's Vision of the Seas, but it wasn't nearly as classy and romantic and I imagined. I can't say I was hooked, but I definitely was up for trying it again when got married.

 

Last June, I cruised the Fjords again, this time in a balcony with my husband on the Norwegian Star and I was hooked! So was he.

 

But then in January, we cruised the Western Mediterranean in an aft balcony on NCL Epic and had such a horrible time that we contemplated catching a train from Naples to Rome and flying back early!

 

We're trying our luck again next month on the Zuiderdam and we're hoping HAL is more to our taste. This is our make it or break it cruise. If we don't love this one, we're done with cruising.

 

We both want to love it like we loved the Star.

 

 

RCI's Vision of the Seas

Edited July 27, 2016 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

First HAL cruise in 1986 on the old Noordam. Parents took husband and I and 4 kids' date=' 2 brothers and their families on the 11 day Holiday cruise. 9 Kids ranged in age from 7 to 19. They still talk about their memories whenever we all get together. Such a wonderful family bonding time![/quote']

 

 

Holland America Line's Noordam III

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on Holland America Norodom last September. It was a small ship but BIG on class and Service! Every meal was amazing. Crew remember our names after the first day and always greeted us with smiles and hello. Our cabin was kept spotless by the two stewart. We had an obstructed view cabin; but with the floor the ceiling windows there was lots of light and we could see over the lifeboat no problem.

Everyday start with breakfast in bed. You can literally write about anything down on the room slip and they will bring it! Eggs Benedict, fresh fruit and a big pot of coffee; sure no problem [emoji38][emoji106]

I'm pretty laid back for a girl in her 30's and was looking for a quick vacation. That being said, there was always something to do on board. We caught a lecture, played trivia game in the crows nest and really enjoyed a cooking demonstration. Or you can do nothing at all if you wanted. The spa was wonderful and really worth the price of the pass. And what a view form the thermal loungers, it was beautiful. If I could have, one of those thermal loungers was coming home with me.

To say the least I'll be back on a HAL cruise again very soon.

 

 

 

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Holland America Line's Noordam IV

[jm485]

My cruise history is a bit upside down, as my first cruise was a 12 day trip to Antarctica on the then 90-something passenger Ocean Nova. Only 2 more in the intervening 8 years, but I've now got 2 trips planned within the next year!

 

Cruising is just such a pleasurable way to travel -- it's so easy to unwind when you aren't spending days rushing from hotel to hotel or driving for hours or renting a house where you're cooking meals and running wash!

[fatcat04]

Oh I adore this thread! Love the pics Copper. Thank you!

 

First cruise for us was on the Costa Mediterranea, 2007, W. Carib cruise and yes we were totally hooked from day one. Unpack once, be pampered, see the world. What's not to love? :)

[Copper10-8]

My cruise history is a bit upside down, as my first cruise was a 12 day trip to Antarctica on the then 90-something passenger Ocean Nova. Only 2 more in the intervening 8 years, but I've now got 2 trips planned within the next year!

 

Cruising is just such a pleasurable way to travel -- it's so easy to unwind when you aren't spending days rushing from hotel to hotel or driving for hours or renting a house where you're cooking meals and running wash!

 

 

Quark Expedition's Ocean Nova

[Copper10-8]

Oh I adore this thread! Love the pics Copper. Thank you!

 

First cruise for us was on the Costa Mediterranea, 2007, W. Carib cruise and yes we were totally hooked from day one. Unpack once, be pampered, see the world. What's not to love? :)

 

 

Costa Crociere's Costa Mediterranea

[jm485]

 

Quark Expedition's Ocean Nova

 

Thanks for the great picture! I was in the cabin furthest aft on the upper level (with the walkway outside -- not as far aft as the overhang), by the orange life ring. Looking forward to seeing Norway next year and Alaska some day, but it will be tough for anyplace on Earth to compare.

[navybankerteacher]

First cruise was in 1996 on Orient Line's Marco Polo (formerly the Alexander Pushkin - built for USSR in East Germanyin 1964); from Istanbul to Athens via Aegean ports - still sailing at over 50 years old, for Global Marine.

 

(I do not count Queen of Bermuda: New York to Hamilton, then a return a week or so later, many years earlier, as that was transportation rather than a cruise.)

[Copper10-8]

First cruise was in 1996 on Orient Line's Marco Polo (formerly the Alexander Pushkin - built for USSR in East Germanyin 1964); from Istanbul to Athens via Aegean ports - still sailing at over 50 years old, for Global Marine.

 

(I do not count Queen of Bermuda: New York to Hamilton, then a return a week or so later, many years earlier, as that was transportation rather than a cruise.)

 

 

Orient Line's Marco Polo

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on the Volendam to Akaska, August 5th, 2015. Been on three more cruises since then, have four more booked for this year, and one long one for 2017. Looking at others. Totally love cruising and luckily, so does my husband.

 

 

Holland America Line's Volendam

[blacklab16]

First cruise was on NCL’s SS Norway in 1986 out of Miami to the Caribbean and back.

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was for our 10 year anniversary in 2002. It was on the Carnival Imagination. We were in the most forward cabin on the starboard side. There were two portholes as windows. After the first port, the anchor was not secured properly, and it banged for two days, until the next port, when they secured it. Besides the banging, it was great for us then, as it was our first. Since then, we have been on 12 cruises and have upgraded to veranda or suites, mostly on Holland America!

 

 

Carnival Cruise Line's Imagination

Edited July 28, 2016 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

First cruise was on NCL’s SS Norway in 1986 out of Miami to the Caribbean and back.

 

 

Norwegian Cruise Line's ss Norway

[Cruising Is Bliss]

My first cruise was on the old Royal Caribbean Song of America in April 1997.

 

It was a 14 day Panama Canal cruise and a lovely introduction to an already old-fashioned style of cruising. All three meals were at our assigned table in the dining room with the same wait staff. And we had one of very few "suites" which was 150 square feet total but actually quite comfortable and included a decent size bathroom.

[azcruise]

Our first cruise was on the Renaissance Cruise Line's R4 -

 

It was over the millennium in Tahiti. We figured if all the electronics in the world were going to stop working due to Y2K, being on a cruise ship in Tahiti was the place to be!