How was it the first time you did it?

[GlamorousGirl]

I just got back this week from 5 days on the Crown Princess to Amber Cove and Grand Turk, my first cruise, with road trip to port stops in Jacksonville, Miami, Savannah, and Ft Lauderdale. It was absolutely magical, almost surreal, and one of the best trips of my life at 46. I have no earthly clue why I didn't do this sooner, but I'm hooked for life now. We have 3 more cruises scheduled before the end of the year! I will never, ever pass up another land based casino cruise comp again! We had the deluxe vow renewal package which made it even more special. I can't wait to go on the next one! Everything exceeded my expectations - from the ports, to the ship, to the service, to the road trip destinations!

[TNcruising02]

My first cruise was a little less than four years ago. I was nervous because it was something I had never done before and I didn't know what to expect. I am the type of person who gets dizzy on a swing or roller coaster. I was worried that I would get sea sick. I have gotten sea sick on small boats. Surprisingly, I haven't been sea sick once after 6 cruises.

 

Once I went on my first cruise, I was hooked. It was a Disney cruise and everything was amazing. Since then, I have been on Carnival, Norwegian, and RCL. I love being on different ships and having different experiences. I enjoyed every one of them and have two more cruises planned for this year. Thankfully, my husband loves cruising just as much as I do.

[Sancho_proudfoot]

It was that "dead period" after Christmas and before New Year. Sat idly reading the Sunday colour supplement, and there was a full page advertisement for a 10 day cruise on the still-being-built Independence of the Seas.

 

Further the offer said if you booked before 31 December, they would throw in free parking at Southampton. Well, that clinched it!!

 

We'd done a river cruise down the Nile that summer, and the idea of an ocean cruise appealed, so we booked it, on a low low low deck inside cabin.

 

Went to Southampton the day before; had a mega argument in the hotel as the kitchen was closed for refurbishment, so no food available.

 

Managed to get a refund on that hotel and booked into another, from the same chain. Further argument at that restaurant as we sat for over 90 minutes without being served. Evening meal worked out as beer and whisky!

 

Thankfully a decent breakfast next morning. Drive to the dockside for our free parking. As we arrived DW points to a HUGE ship and says "OMG! Is that her? She's massive!"

 

Gently point out to DW that no, that's not the Indy....THAT'S the Indy,which makes the first ship look like a bath toy.(IotS was, at the time, the biggest cruise ship in the world)

 

On board, greeted by the semi-legendary CD Ken Rush, who on this second ever sailing of the ship was greeting all the passengers.

 

What can I say about the cruise? Epic! A brand spanking new ship, our first ocean cruise..........well and truly hooked from that moment on.

[solocruzin]

First cruise was in 1994 on the SS Britanis, the very first passenger cruise ship, owned by Fantasy Cruises, which is now known as Celebrity Cruise Line. Ship went into "cruise" service in 1974. Before that it was a medical ship in World War 2, being built in 1932. I was 22 and with the man who in now my ex-husband,lol! I was nervous, excited, and ready to see a part of the world I had never seen. I was in awe of every single thing! Since then it has been a Carnival cruise every other year. I'm about to embark on my second solo cruise aboard the Sensation on 4/29/2017. Still excited as the very first time:cool:!

[CruzieSue]

My first cruise was in 2012 at the ripe old age of 52, with my hubby who was 48 ;p I had wanted to go to the Caribbean as long as I can remember, but no one would go with me and no one wanted to take a cruise. I actually WON OUR FIRST CRUISE from Royal Caribbean. I have listened to the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning syndicated radio show (out of Dallas) for years, just happened to come across the contest on their web page and entered on a whim. Initially they were only giving away 6 cruises for 2, but decided to add 2 more and I was one of the lucky last two !!! :D Hubby decided he DID want to go on a cruise and, needless to say, we were both hooked from day one on the ship.

 

Yes, I felt nervous (not knowing if we would like it or not and be stuck for 7 days) but very excited and ready to "see the world" and travel for the first time out of the country. We were upgraded from an ocean view cabin to a balcony cabin and cannot imagine cruising without one - probably my favorite place on the ship is my private balcony!! Also being "rocked" to sleep at night is the best. It's hard to describe to someone the colors of the sea - from the deep royal blue of the gulf to the greens and turquoises of the Caribbean; the soothing sounds of the ocean waves; the sunrises and sunsets; unpack once, somebody else does the "driving", cooking and cleaning ... it's just the most relaxing, enjoyable vacation imaginable. :hearteyes:

[Joyride37]

One time in band camp

 

 

Lmao.

 

 

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[wombatsoup]

My first ever cruise was on the Azamara Journey travelling from Italy to Portugal. I was married at the time. Absolutely loved it. Wasn't too formal, and had an absolutely brilliant time. Five years later, and now divorced, I'm now doing my first single cruise (at the age of 41 - not quite reached the answer to life, the universe and everything - yet) on P&O's Arcadia in a few month's time. TBH, I'm not quite sure what to expect - particularly as a single traveller - but nevertheless, I'm absolutely looking forward to it.

 

Martyn

[solocruzin]

Don't worry Wombatsoup...you will have a great time. I'm a 45 y/o female divorced for 4 years now and I've been cruising solo ever since. Previous cruises included my ex and 2 (now grown) daughters. Cruising solo is very relaxing and you meet some very interesting people. Do what you want, when you want, no worries!! Have a great time!

[wombatsoup]

Thanks Solocruzin. The one thing that I enjoyed the most from my first ever cruise was sitting on tables with people whom we never met before - you got to meet some very cool, very interesting people. I'm on a Freedom Dining plan with P&O - but hope that it offers the same experience (e.g. they put me on a table with others, and not by myself).

[Eleteace]

I was 11! :-)

 

 

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[MicCanberra]

Were you nervous? Were you excited? How old were you? How many people did you do it with?

 

I know many people are eager and nervous at the same time when they go on their first cruise. I remember all the excitement and anticipation but I wasn't nervous at all. My inlaw is coming on this cruise with us and she is nervous as this will be her first time sailing on water. She has never even been on a boat. I would love to hear how you felt when you first cruised.

I wasn't nervous but I was very excited. I was 21 and I just did it with my new bride, it was our honeymoon after all.

[wilkiaj]

Hi,

First cruise was back in 2011 around the South Pacific for 8 nights. We only saw one Port , Noumea on the second day. Then we headed to other Ports which we could not get off due to rough weather. We then had a Tsunami warning on about Day 4, along with Cyclone with 18 foot seas. We never stopped at another Port for the entire trip. To top it off on our return we could not enter the Port of Brisbane due to floods, so we sailed to Sydney. It was fantastic. The P&O crew looked after us extremely well, put us in a suite in Sydney and flew us home to Brisbane.

We had a ball. I think everyone was too busy trying to keep their balance to be worried about sea sickness.

One memory I will never forget is the dance floor and seeing everyone going in one direction and coming back a few seconds later. So funny

 

We are taking another cruise later this in the US at the end of the hurricane season., so if it happens again we will know what to expect.

 

All cruises are exciting, its just what you do on it that's makes it memorable

[MicCanberra]

 

 

All cruises are exciting, its just what you do on it that's makes it memorable

I agree, everyone of them has a different build up but the excitement is always there.

[GUT2407]

Hi,

First cruise was back in 2011 around the South Pacific for 8 nights. We only saw one Port , Noumea on the second day. Then we headed to other Ports which we could not get off due to rough weather. We then had a Tsunami warning on about Day 4, along with Cyclone with 18 foot seas. We never stopped at another Port for the entire trip. To top it off on our return we could not enter the Port of Brisbane due to floods, so we sailed to Sydney. It was fantastic. The P&O crew looked after us extremely well, put us in a suite in Sydney and flew us home to Brisbane.

We had a ball. I think everyone was too busy trying to keep their balance to be worried about sea sickness.

One memory I will never forget is the dance floor and seeing everyone going in one direction and coming back a few seconds later. So funny

 

We are taking another cruise later this in the US at the end of the hurricane season., so if it happens again we will know what to expect.

 

All cruises are exciting, its just what you do on it that's makes it memorable

 

 

And if they stop being exciting I'll seriously consider stopping cruising. Which may be sooner rather than later.

[donaldsc]

Were you nervous? Were you excited? How old were you? How many people did you do it with?

 

I know many people are eager and nervous at the same time when they go on their first cruise. I remember all the excitement and anticipation but I wasn't nervous at all. My inlaw is coming on this cruise with us and she is nervous as this will be her first time sailing on water. She has never even been on a boat. I would love to hear how you felt when you first cruised.

 

Can I count my "cruises" on the Staten Island Ferry? LOL!!!

 

DON

[MicCanberra]

Can I count my "cruises" on the Staten Island Ferry? LOL!!!

 

DON

Were you nervous? Were you excited?

[oneloveshaq]

We went on a cruise few years ago Carnival Sensation my first cruise with my annoying brothers and girlfriends/wife's. We went to Bahamas 4-5 day it would have been better if I went alone.

Going on our second cruise Carnival Glory August 2017 [emoji846]

 

 

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[IntrepidFromDC]

Our first cruise, I was "eh", but that's because our previous vacations were trips to Europe where we would train around from city to city. I thought my first cruise would be my last, but two things coincided to convince me to take a second cruise, and I have enjoyed it more each cruise since then.

 

First, my teen daughter enjoyed the teen clubs on cruises more than learning European history up close and personal. :-(

 

Second, we were awarded a "free cruise" because I spent enough time in the casino.

 

So, our first cruise was late 2013, and we're about to go on our 9th. I'm not a cruisaholic but I do see cruises in my future retirement years, as long as Carnival keeps rewarding me so generously for my two-to-four hours a night in the casino.

 

Remembering back to that first cruise, I recall not knowing I could have lunch in the MDR and fuming at how crappy the food was at most food stations on Lido. MDR at breakfast and lunch made things a bit better, and Steakhouse sealed the deal.

[SNJCruisers]

So, our first cruise was late 2013, and we're about to go on our 9th. I'm not a cruisaholic

Nine cruises in less than four years...you have Cruise fever.

 

 

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[broadwaybaby123]

Excited because I've always loved to travel. I was 5 years old, been on 15 cruises since then!

 

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[sandasavi]

I was 11! :-)

 

My Son is 11 and going with us on his (ours too) first Cruise this June with my parents. They have Cruised so many times I can't count.

[Sea Hag]

Our first cruise was in 1991, Mexican Riviera to see the total eclipse of the sun. Hubby's grandma had cruised, so he wanted to try one. I don't think we had any expectations, and I can't remember being nervous. I do remember that we were gobsmacked at how big the ship was. The was the Carnival Jubilee, a tiny little thing by today's standards. Loved the cruise!

[SNJCruisers]

The was the Carnival Jubilee, a tiny little thing by today's standards. Loved the cruise!

Ahh...the Jubilee. She was my first back in July of 86 when she was still virginal. She was 1/6th the size of RCI's behemoths. Skeet shooting off the aft, looking for Cuba up on the funnel deck....

 

 

 

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[Bosrox]

Love this thread. I'm a cruise virgin, booked on our very first cruise, over New Years Eve on TheMagic. I'm reading every thread, post, I can, plus hours and hours and hours of you tube watching. I am here on cruise critic daily just hoping and praying for new threads to read. I'm already addicted and I haven't stepped foot on a boat before.

[SNJCruisers]

I'm already addicted and I haven't stepped foot on a boat before.

It's a matter of samantics, but it's technically a ship you'll be stepping on, not a boat. Boats (life) fit on a ship, but not vice versa. Happy cruising.

 

 

 

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