First time cruising

[SmithieNix]

My husband and I are looking at a P&O Med cruise this August. Any tips or hints to make it more enjoyable. We really know nothing about cruising at all.

[kenevenpar]

Welcome to CC. You will find separate forums for each cruise line. I'll post a link for P&O

[kenevenpar]

P&O (UK)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=38

[dwhe]

Wow that first post missed by a mile :D

[ClaudiaB]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and cruising. Although this is the Celebrity Cruises general forum and there *are* forums for each cruise line, we do welcome you here too. There will be some snarky comments at times but just ignore them. Only about 10% of cruisers (if even that much) will ever be on cruise critic. Here you'll get the fanatics at both ends.

 

Hmmm - best hint? Don't try and find out every single thing about cruising before you go. Leave some things so you'll have an even greater "ooh" "aaaah" when you first step on board.

 

Packing? Wear things multiple times - particularly at dinner. You don't have to have a completely new outfit for each dinner. One or two bottoms. Black slacks and skirt and different tops to mix match with scarves and jewelry and you're good to go. A couple capris or weather-appropriate day wear and and tees. My husband takes some "dockers" type slacks and golf shirts and a couple long sleeve button down -- or Hawaiian shirts and short sleeve depending on climate.

 

My biggest gripe about tourists (cruisers or otherwise) is some of them are loud and "entitled" and want things the way they're used to at home. When you're traveling, best to try and fit in and blend in (safer that way too) - so maybe consider not wearing your old worn out tee shirts that advertise something out and about in port. You know, don't LOOK like a tourist. Yeah, you are one and everyone will know you are, but you can at least not call specific attention to yourself. You can be an easy target if you do.

Do a little research about each port of call you'll be visiting and find out what there is to do. Then decide if you want to do an independent excursion or one offered by the cruise line. There are pros and cons to each, but we nearly always avoid the cruise line's offerings and go with a smaller group that is a better tour. If you go to your Roll Call you'll find others doing the same thing, getting groups together. Trip Adviser and Rick Steves' books and Frommers Guides are examples of places to look for good travel advice and information on the ports of call. Cruise Critic has a good "Ports" section too, with whole forums for many countries.

 

And last, the cruise line will have recommended shopping places in port. Those are the ones to avoid, really. They've paid the cruise line to recommend them. The better deals are elsewhere. If a jewelry store has "international" in the name, just walk on by. Best bet is to buy local handcrafted goods that are representative of that country and save your big purchases at home to support your local economy.

 

I know you'll have a great time. Cruising is a good way to see places, economically. And when you fall in love with a location you can always just fly there another time and stay awhile.

[SmithieNix]

Thank you ClaudiaB. That's all very helpful advice! :cool:

[C Cruise Dude]

Wow that first post missed by a mile :D

 

I remember how confusing it was when I made my first post. :o They will catch on. Welcome to CC.

[Texed]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and cruising. Although this is the Celebrity Cruises general forum and there *are* forums for each cruise line, we do welcome you here too.

 

Claudia, that was very nice of you to offer such a nice welcome. :)

[GottaKnowWhen]

...If a jewelry store has "international" in the name, just walk on by.

 

 

But they offer such fine champagne!

 

To continue the point raised by Claudia, note that if/when you wind up cruising in the Caribbean, you will often find artificial shopping villages right at the pier. Walk on by. Shopping here is equivalent to shopping on board. I.e., the merchandise is just ok, the prices are definitely not special. The risk is low, so it is ok to buy, but the value may not be there.

[Host Jazzbeau]

But they offer such fine champagne!

 

To continue the point raised by Claudia, note that if/when you wind up cruising in the Caribbean, you will often find artificial shopping villages right at the pier. Walk on by. Shopping here is equivalent to shopping on board. I.e., the merchandise is just ok, the prices are definitely not special. The risk is low, so it is ok to buy, but the value may not be there.

 

OP is looking to cruise in the Med, not the Carib, so Diamonds International and their ilk are not an issue -- they will have the opportunity to shop at genuine luxury stores ;) Don't know if this is true for P&O, but on the US-centric cruise lines there are good Roll Calls here on Cruise Critic with energetic people who arrange private shore excursions that offer more sights at less cost than the ship excursions. The ship will try to scare you that you might miss the boat because they only wait for their own excursions, but the private vendors know their future business depends on getting everyone back on time.

[SmithieNix]

Great! Thanks everyone :)