Gotta love newbies!

[bumorgan]

We actually got DODs and sat there in the comfy chairs in the Atrium lounge waiting for the room is ready announcement. What were we thinking??? There was so much to explore, and we sat there like we were waiting for a bus LOL. We didn't know to go up to the Lido for lunch or anything!

 

Thanks for my first laugh of the day!

[L_K]

On our first cruise (march 2009, Fasniation) we did not go to the mdr for the first 3 nights because we did not bring suit and tie and elegant dress, like in the movies !

[Timmys_mom]

We actually got DODs and sat there in the comfy chairs in the Atrium lounge waiting for the room is ready announcement. What were we thinking??? There was so much to explore, and we sat there like we were waiting for a bus LOL.

LOL! I am always amused by the number of people who stop dead in their tracks at the Lobby Bar and don't move. There are 15 other bars, but everyone is lined up 5 deep to get their first drink.

 

On my SO's first cruise, he was told by their "group leader" not to order room service because it was expensive. Imagine his surprise when I told him it was free - he hasn't missed morning coffee on our balcony since that day.

[JenniLynn]

I have had the joy of taking a couple newbies on their first cruise. It always amazes me that my words are never able to prepare them for the first sight of the "boat."

 

When I took my mom in November or 09 she came and stayed with me at my house in NC for a few days before we left for Florida. We have a retired WWII battleship that is moored in our downtown area permanently as a museum. When we drove by and she saw the battleship she said "Our boat won't be much smaller than that boat, will it?" I started cracking up! The battle ship is probably 1/3 as long as the Valor and 1/2 or 1/3 as tall. I told mom to take 3 of those ships and line them up, then stack them 2-3 high and is about the size of our ship. She accused me of exaggerating to calm her fears of it being too "Small."

 

A few days later when we were arriving at the port she simply says in awe "Damn... you really weren't exaggerating." She wasn't even looking at the right ship! She was looking at a Fantasy Class ship. (I don't remember which one.) When I pointed out our ship docked further down, and even larger, she started laughing and saying that now instead of worrying that it would be too small she worried that it may be too big and that she'd never find her way to the "Dining Hall."

 

Don't worry, she never missed a meal :)

[DocF]

Back in 1961, or so, I remember folks approaching the 291 foot long, S. S. North American at Chicago and talking about how big it was. People cannot conceive of how large even the smaller modern cruise ships are.

 

Doc

[ruag8tr2]

My Uncle went on his first cruise in 2002. He was a real newbie and didnt want to go but succumbed to family pressure. I found out later that his family told him that he would always be within sight of the land. He only went because he thought he would be able to swim to land should there be a problem on the ship. I imagine how surprised he was when we sailed away and the land got smaller and smaller. The next time he saw land was when the Captain announced we were sailing around the tip of Cuba and it could be seen with the naked eye.

 

Needless to say, he wasnt too happy about that either!

[Alwaysundecided]

I have a bunch of newbies going on a group cruise next August. I like two things....when they first see the ship from up close and when they step into the atrium for the first time....i can't wait!:D

 

 

I completely agree! This is the best. I always remember my first time and how amazed I was at the size of the ship, and then when we stepped into the atrium with all its lights and neon (Carnival, of course:D), it was fantastic!

[derf5585]

The next time he saw land was when the Captain announced we were sailing around the tip of Cuba and it could be seen with the naked eye.

 

Seeing Cuba, Naked eye

Belongs in another thread;)

[Pennyscandy]

In 1978 DH and I took our first cruise. After watching the TV show Love Boat, I thought I knew all about cruising. We were shocked that most of the passengers were old, I mean, really old, and our cabin was the size of a walk-in closet with twin beds. Not at all like the Love Boat cabins. But the food was the best I've ever eaten. Did not realize that I would get sea sick either. I was so sea sick that I did not cruise again for 19 yrs.

[molole]

you must have started cruising after they stopped with the brochures.

 

i read that thing back and forth almost every day after booking, right up to my first cruise.

 

i am still amazed occasionally reading people not knowing the mdr is included.

 

Brochures? What brochures! :p

[molole]

:D This post wins the NEWBIE prize! How funny! You must have enjoyed it, though!

 

Yes I did! :D

 

We were on vacation in Florida when our hotel reservation in Miami fell through and this 3-night cruise fitted the lodging gap. Luckily we had our passports with us so it seemed like a perfect solution. I called to book the cruise as if I was booking a hotel room, and the TA told me: "yes, the ship is just like a floating hotel that takes you to places!" And I took her words very literally.

 

Who knew that hotel had a theater, a casino and five restaurants with free food! :D As I said before, I had no idea what I got myself into but I came back hooked. :p

 

Boy, was I hooked!

[Grammie1950]

We took our family on an early Christmas cruise last year the first week of December. Our son, daughter and two grandkids were the newbies out of our family of eight. When we made that last curve on Harborside Drive in Galveston and you could see the Ecstasy, our granddaughter started screaming and laughing uncontrollable. Our son who is 43 years old, acted like he was 22 the whole cruise. He’s even on the Funship Films doing karaoke. Out of 8 cruises, I’ll have to say watching my children and grandchildren enjoy themselves so much and seeing them smile the whole time was one of my best cruises. It’s always great to share something you love doing with the people you love. And we are planning on doing it again.....because I never met a cruise I didn’t like. Smooth Sailing to all.

[msdesinyc]

Took my first cruise this past August on the Pride. Everything was going great! Enjoying my first day at sea, stuffed my face at the lido deck, then decided what the hell, lets try the ships beer, now I'm not a drinker, but thought beer is safe. I took a couple of sips, then started to walk around the casino area. I noticed I kept going from one side to the other, really off balanced, so I sat down thinking; "boy this beer is really strong". I must have had a look of confusion on my face, because next thing I know people are gathering around me asking me if I'm ok?

 

Me: "I just think the beer got to my head, because I keep feeling like I'm rocking back n forth, going from side to side"

 

Well I made a handful of sail buddies on that trip.......I think some of them are still laughing......

[spaden]

Funny for the day! a couple months before my last cruise I was talking to my brother-in-law about the cruise. He was going to be sailing with me and asked the following question, "Can I bring my fishing pole?" I asked why and he said "So I can fish off the boat." No lie. It was priceless. Then when we got to the port and he saw the boat he simply looked at me and said "guess my pole would have been to small anyway." :D

 

The look on newbees faces when they see the ship is priceless!

[derf5585]

Was talking to a coworker who was taking her first cruise. She said she would wear her lifejacket for the whole cruise.

Well she didn't