what was your 1st cruising experience?

[MarylandLady]

My first cruise was on the Carnival Mardi Gras -- the day after Christmas, 1987. I was with my daughter and my best friend and work buddy at the time. We three girls had a blast!!! We left Port Everglades and went to Freeport and Nassau on a 4 day cruise. We spent 7 hours at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport before our flight left that night. When we left the plane flew out over the ocean and we could see the Mardi Gras on its way back to Freeport. Talk about major cruise withdrawal!! My second cruise was in July 1989 on the Festivale, again with my daughter and friend, and another friend and her daughter and niece. We had 2 inside rooms on the Riviera Deck in the very back of the ship and rocked our way around the Caribbean! It was shear heaven! Wow -- such memories!!!

[compucruiser]

Our first cruise was in September 1994 on the Majesty of the Seas. Western carribean, with the most incredible on-board entertainment.

 

On this one week cruise, we had TWO headliner groups, a headliner comedian, a headliner magician and the normal Las Vegas type shows. The two groups - Mary Wilson and the Supremes, and Herb Reed and the Platters. They rocked - - you know it was special when the Captain and bridge staff were in the back of the room dancing and singing.

 

Herb Reed was out on deck the next morning, signing autographs and talking to the passengers.

 

This cruise got us hooked on cruising. It was my surprise gift to my wife for our 15th anniversary.

[travel girl23]

Not counting my first cruise to the World's Fair in Seattle with my college roommate on a tiny ship, the S.S. Yarmouth that was brought around from the Caribbean to cruise to the World's Fair, the first cruise DH and I booked was the Carnival Celebration in 1999. We had decided that a cruise would be perfect for our 25th wedding anniversary. One morning, while getting ready for work, a local radio station in conjunction with a local travel agency, announced a first-ever offered cruise on that radio station at an unheard of price out of New Orleans. We dropped our toothbrushes and ran to the phone and signed up. We sailed the day after Labor Day (middle of hurricane season) and had probably the best cruise ever. We were hooked - totally. We loved the Celebration. Perfect seas and weather (although 2 weeks later there was a hurricane - LOL). The next year they offered the same cruise but on a larger, newer ship. We signed up again along with our neighbors. Two weeks ago, we completed our 7th cruise with Carnival. As you can see, we are definitely members of the OATC club. (Openly Addicted to Cruising). :D TG23

[Kkate]

My first cruise was also first vacation for DH & I after 32 yrs of marriage. It was a Christmas bonus from my Boss. Carnival Destiny December 26, 2004. DH would never fly before but had no choice this time. We had a blast and are going on 2nd cruise next month.

[bluedevil72]

Our first cruise was in the summer of 2000 on the now-defunct Commodore Enchanted Capri. We sailed five days out of New Orleans to Cozumel and Progresso. The ship wasn't too great but we were hooked. (I will say however they may have had the best food we've eaten on our five cruises.) We have cruised Carnival twice and Norwegian twice. Cruised Alaska twice, Hawaii once, and the Carribean one other time. Alaska is our favorite. On our second Carribean cruise in 2002 out of NO on the Carnival Inspiration we saw the Enchanted Capri sitting across the Mississippi from the Carnival dock rusting away.

[Donna n Francis]

Hi my name is Donna and I am a cruise addict...LOL. My first cruise was on the Holiday in 1987 - 7 Day Western Caribbean. DH wouldn't go so I got a friend from work to go. Now I can't keep my DH off them. I am surprised I even booked another one after this 1st cruise because we got caught in a tropical storm coming back from Cozumel. I am terrified of water...can't swim either...the higher the waves the more I drank....I had a big collection of Fun Ship glasses from that cruise.

 

I have cruised mainly in the Caribbean and Panama Canal. In 2001 DH and I sailed from China to Thailand - 16 Days on the Regal Princess....this was an amazing cruise but I love them all. The Western Caribbean is still my favorite itinerary.

 

Next cruise is in 64 days on the Carnival Valor - 7 Day Exotic Western with 19 family and friends.

 

Donna:D

[bandit0000]

Our first cruise was Carnival Destiny on her inaugral sailing, I think 1998. We got a lovely gift of a book of her being made.

We were totally amazed when she came into view & had a fantastic time. We had a week on Miami Beach first , then a week on the Destiny, travelling to Jamaica, Cozumel,StThomas & a couple of other islands.

I rememer one night at dinner the song hey macarana came on & this guy with a mane of blonde hair jumped up & started doing this strange dance. I still remember that after all this time & it still brings a smile to my face.

Suffice to say 13 cruises later we were totally hooked after this first cruise & I think cruising is like no other holiday. It has a special kind of romance, don't you think?

Lisa:)

[Sally Forth]

1974 on the small but lovely SS Prince George (CP Steamships) to Alaska. I was in grade 12, had been sick with mono, and was exhausted. My gramma was jealous of her sister who had just been on a cruise and I talked her and my aunt into going. I remember it was $375 for each of them and $275 for me because I was the third person in the cabin. The ship had a first class and we were in what we jokingly called the "steerage" level, so we never got to see the public areas upstairs. We had a sink in our room but toilets and showers were down the hall. Compared to what you get now and factoring in inflation, I think today's cruises are a bargain in comparison.

 

The food was lovely and I remember the stops quite well- Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, and Skagway. Skagway then had an old dock and maybe two stores in the town, and you could still see lots of remnants of the Gold Rush such as old abandoned cabins. Most people on the ship went on the White Pass-Yukon tour. We ate at Lake Bennett and then turned around.

 

It was late September and I think that was the last sailing for the year. The ship burned to nothing about two weeks later. I won the costume contest and still have the trophy.

 

Viv

[fantavet]

My first cruise was for my honeymoon. We were married on 2/14/97 and flew to Miami to sail on Grandeur of the Seas (RCCL).

 

We had a major blizzard the night of our wedding, didn't think people would make it. But I think everyone showed up. About 5 hours after our reception we were at a airport :eek:

 

Flying the day of the cruise we didn't think we were going to make it but we managed to get there on time.

 

We did the E. Carribbbean route and the one thing that got me hooked on cruising was this. I woke up one morning and turned to my wife and said that it stinks that we only have 2 more days left. She looked at me funny and told me it was only Wednesday, we were not due back in Miami till Sunday.

 

I was like a kid that woke up to get ready for school and realized it was Saturday!

 

I have never been on a vacation that was so relaxing and stress free. Unlike Disney World where your mind is wound up with schedules and planning that you have fun but the time flies.

 

If it wasn't for buying a house that needed some major renovations and sucked up about 30 cruises in $ amounts I'd go more often.

 

But now the wife and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on a cruise to Bermuda.....as long as the mechanic that is working on my truck this Tuesday is nice to me :rolleyes:

[newmexicoNita]

Our cruising days began before most of yours, but some have us beat. It was March of 84, we had 2 cabins and 5 of us: our DD and SIL, DH his mother and me. We took the only line offering what is referred to as an interline rate. WE paid $500 a person including $40 port charges. The 3rd person in the cabin (my MIL) was charged $199.00. The ship Commodore's Caribe II. It may have only held 995 passengers, been older than we were and certainly the cabins were nothing to write home about, but boy were we hooked. There was no entertainment like the Vegas class shows we get now. The crew did the nightly stage presentations, much of it being audiance participation type with some singing and dancing. There were no choices as to places to eat; breakfast was the main dining room or the hash line on deck (I don't mean a really breakfas buffet) I mean bacon, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Lunch was similar, hamburgers on deck or the dining room with maybe 2 choices. Dinner was in the dining room and there was only one. Of course the food was the best in the world, the service made you feel like royalty and the room stewards couldn't do enough for you.

 

Of course we can't forget the casino: what a joke, 8 or 10 slots, maybe a few more, one crap table and 2 BJ tables. Oh yes, the midnight buffets; the wonderful food which was nothing more than stuff created from the left over entrees the night before (no I don't mean the food that wasn't eaten off the plates) I mean left overs as what wasn't ordered. but again, maybe I was wrong, it certainly wasn't anything great. Lovely to look at, ugly to taste.

 

We visited San Juan, Puerta Plata and St Thomas. Of course I could go on and on, with the exception of DH, DD and SIL thinking I came along to baby sit my MIL it was the vacation of a life time. I cruised a couple more times in the few years between then and 91, but DH didn't. His second cruise was on the same ship, just before it left the fleet. We had another laspe of about 5 years between cruises. Now, since the mid 90s we have cruised about 20 times, all mass marketed lines except one and always remember that first expeerience.

 

NMnita

[liv2cruise4ever]

My first cruise was for my honeymoon. We were married on 2/14/97 and flew to Miami to sail on Grandeur of the Seas (RCCL).

 

We had a major blizzard the night of our wedding, didn't think people would make it. But I think everyone showed up. About 5 hours after our reception we were at a airport :eek:

 

Flying the day of the cruise we didn't think we were going to make it but we managed to get there on time.

 

We did the E. Carribbbean route and the one thing that got me hooked on cruising was this. I woke up one morning and turned to my wife and said that it stinks that we only have 2 more days left. She looked at me funny and told me it was only Wednesday, we were not due back in Miami till Sunday.

 

I was like a kid that woke up to get ready for school and realized it was Saturday!

 

I have never been on a vacation that was so relaxing and stress free. Unlike Disney World where your mind is wound up with schedules and planning that you have fun but the time flies.

 

If it wasn't for buying a house that needed some major renovations and sucked up about 30 cruises in $ amounts I'd go more often.

 

But now the wife and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on a cruise to Bermuda.....as long as the mechanic that is working on my truck this Tuesday is nice to me :rolleyes:

 

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary. On 2-14-97, we were also married. We honeymooned on the Carnival Jubilee, out of LA. Now 7 cruises later, we're boarding the Golden Princess on 4-12. Don't ya just love em........:D

[liv2cruise4ever]

My first cruise was for my honeymoon. We were married on 2/14/97 and flew to Miami to sail on Grandeur of the Seas (RCCL).

 

We had a major blizzard the night of our wedding, didn't think people would make it. But I think everyone showed up. About 5 hours after our reception we were at a airport :eek:

 

Flying the day of the cruise we didn't think we were going to make it but we managed to get there on time.

 

We did the E. Carribbbean route and the one thing that got me hooked on cruising was this. I woke up one morning and turned to my wife and said that it stinks that we only have 2 more days left. She looked at me funny and told me it was only Wednesday, we were not due back in Miami till Sunday.

 

I was like a kid that woke up to get ready for school and realized it was Saturday!

 

I have never been on a vacation that was so relaxing and stress free. Unlike Disney World where your mind is wound up with schedules and planning that you have fun but the time flies.

 

If it wasn't for buying a house that needed some major renovations and sucked up about 30 cruises in $ amounts I'd go more often.

 

But now the wife and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on a cruise to Bermuda.....as long as the mechanic that is working on my truck this Tuesday is nice to me :rolleyes:

 

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary. On 2-14-97, we were also married. We honeymooned on the Carnival Jubilee, out of LA. Now 7 cruises later, we're boarding the Golden Princess on 4-12. Don't ya just love em........:D

[ladycaveat]

I like to do these to see what people say , but when was your 1st cruise ? to where ? and what did you think? just curious to see if everyone is like me and got hooked,,,,

post as much info as you wish...

happy cruising

Melissa

 

My first cruise? Ah . . . I remember it so well. It was in 1974 on the Regina Magna . . . Chandris Cruise Line (poor ship sank in China years ago). It was a year after my husband and I married (we'd spent our honeymoon in Hawaii and wanted something different for our first anniversary). It was out of Purto Rico (know I spelled that wrong . . . sorry) and we cruised the Southern Caribbean. It was so romantic and beautiful. Hum . . . my last cruise was to the Mexican Riviera last month with my son. I wonder why I ever divorced my son's daddy . . . I'll have to ask his wife. Tee Hee . . . I still love my former husband to death (as I do his wife and three kids) . . . we've even talked about taking a cruise together . . . the new "extended family" . . . .

[GAMOM4]

Our first cruise - my husband, me & our two children cruised for the first time in 2004 out of Jacksonville, Florida on the Carnival Jubilee - it had us hooked! Especially my husband - he thought it was great not having to say "where are we going to eat, where are we going to stay, what are we going to do". We sailed the next year out of Jacksonville, on the Celebration - loved it also! In May of this year we are going with my daughter and a group of high school graduates (not many, but hoping we won't regret it, LOL) on the Celebration again. I love cruising - but I'm not so much into the ports. I would prefer to just stay on the boat. We did go to the Blue Lagoon the 1st cruise - and we enjoyed that - but just walking around Nassau & Freeport isn't for me....and I'm not going to take one of the excursions you book yourself - I guess I'm just not that convinced of the safety of this....even though lots of people love it!!!

[hightownCO]

My first cruise was May 2005 on Disney Wonder - 3 nights.

 

I would never have booked a cruise because of seasick problem but I actually won this one and wouldn't have wanted to refuse the prize. I took my daughter, mother and sister (the prize was for 4 people incl air).

 

LOVED IT and thank goodness for meclazine!

 

We booked our 2nd cruise on Carnival almost immediately after the Disney cruise was over and our 3rd cruise on Princess is coming up soon.

 

What a way to vacation!

[momofmeg]

Our first cruise - my husband, me & our two children cruised for the first time in 2004 out of Jacksonville, Florida on the Carnival Jubilee - it had us hooked! Especially my husband - he thought it was great not having to say "where are we going to eat, where are we going to stay, what are we going to do". We sailed the next year out of Jacksonville, on the Celebration - loved it also! In May of this year we are going with my daughter and a group of high school graduates (not many, but hoping we won't regret it, LOL) on the Celebration again. I love cruising - but I'm not so much into the ports. I would prefer to just stay on the boat. We did go to the Blue Lagoon the 1st cruise - and we enjoyed that - but just walking around Nassau & Freeport isn't for me....and I'm not going to take one of the excursions you book yourself - I guess I'm just not that convinced of the safety of this....even though lots of people love it!!!

 

 

You should try another cruise that goes other places-I don't care much for Nassau or Freeport-been to both WAY too many times.

[Grandpaul]

Our first cruise was the Fall of 1989. It was our 25th anniversary and I thought that was the perfect gift. The one problem was I had never been on the sea before and wasn't aware of hurricane season out there. We were fortunate that we were on the Norway for one of their Oldies Cruises. I was having a terrific time as I was listening to everyone complain about the rough seas. We took a tour of the Bridge and the Captain explained why we were having such a tough time. We were right between Hurricanes Gabriel and Hugo. 25 foot waves and lots of rain. But I was having a blast because of my limited intelligence on these matters. I have video of that trip and I laugh at my stupidity now. As I said it was an Oldies Cruise and our 25th anniversary and lo and behold, wasn't the group on board that recorded our wedding song and they dedicated it to us when they performed it. That was 33 cruises ago so the waves didn't stop us from getting hooked. I really miss the Norway.

[Princess Cruiser27]

First cruise was on the Carnival's Imagination. 5/96. 7 Day Western Caribbean. A former co-worker talked me into going on a cruise for a vacation. 11 years later, I'll be sailing on my 9th cruise. :)

[shawilson]

Oh, thanks folks for your stories! I just love the old ones. Especially hearing about being in "steerage". Guess not everyone cruised in style "back in the day".

 

We took our first cruise in 2005. My UPS guy talked me into it., thanks Joe, wherever you may roam now. I researched cruises for two years! We wanted to go on Princess, but we changed to Carnival Pride so our 18 y/o DD could go with us to the casino (Princess is 21). Had a total blast. Had cabin 6232 which has a triple long balcony. We got so spoiled, I don't think I would cruise without a balcony.

 

Taking our second cruise in April, on the Golden Princess, out of San Francisco, our home port. We have an aft side mini on Emerald deck. Very excited about this, as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary, hence DD is not along!

 

Please keep the stories coming.

[LA_FadeAway]

Our first cruise was on the Sun Princess in 1997 from Acapulco to Los Angeles for our honeymoon. We were upgraed from an outside guarantee to a balcony :) We really enjoyed it but have only taken one 3 day cruise since then. We travel A LOT, but generally on independent land trips. We decided to do another Princess cruise for our upcoming tenth anniversary to be a little nostalgic. If we enjoy it as much as the last one, I imagine we'll start adding more cruises into the travel rotation.

[last_mango]

My first cruise was December 2005 on the Norwegian Jewel, we left from Miami and visited Roatan (Honduras), Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Great Stirrup Cay.

 

I was never really interested in cruising until December of 2004. That was our first winter "up north" (Kentucky...yeah, yeah, I know, but this is the farthest north we've ever lived) and we were snowed in. A blizzard kept us stuck in the house for 5 days. As I was sitting around watching snow turn gray and surfing the internet, ads for cruises kept popping up everywhere. I was desperate to be somewhere tropical and warm, so we checked prices and booked the Jewel. We had a year to wait for the cruise and build up expectations, but we were totally hooked the minute we got on board! The itinerary was great, we could not have asked for better places to visit or better weather.

 

Also, this was our first relaxing vacation. I have traveled the world, and it's always go, go, go. I usually come back from vacations tired - it sucks needing a vacation from your vacation! The cruise was full of fun stuff to do, but we had plenty of time to relax and kick back. We can't wait to go again in a few months!

[ali07]

Our first cruise was a 3-day Bahama cruise on the Disney Magic in 1999. There were of 5 us + my parents. We had a two-bedroom suite (they were cheaper back then....) My parents had a balcony stateroom. The ship was beautiful and everyone loved the restaurants. Every meal seemed to come with some entaining flourish. Disney's evening shows were fantastic...the whole family loved them. Even our oldest, and shyest, child found friends the first night. She still corresponds with people she met on those Disney cruises (we subsequently went on three more Disney cruises of different lengths and itinerary). I have wonderful pictures of the kids with Goofy, Chip&Dale, Captain Hook and Wendy... My husband and I especially enjoyed the quiet piano bar at night. Our cabin was beautiful with lots of dark polished wood and I'll never forget how nice it was sleeping at sea.

[Ashlea13vb]

2006... Grand Princess... 12 amazing days in the Mediterranean.

 

Nothing like starting out my cruising experiences with a bang! It will be hard to top that trip, but I'm sure going to have fun trying :).

[Maryutah]

Like a few others who posted, my first cruise was in on the Imagination. It was December 1996, and included my twin sister, and 2 of our friends.

 

We knew nothing about cruising, but had a fantastic time! We spent 1 week at Disney, then drove to Miami and sailed to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.

 

We kept planning on going again, but did several fun 'land' trips, and finally we are going on our second cruise in 7 weeks along with our mother and 4 friends (all of whom will be going on their first cruise!).

[dunbawn]

Our first cruise was Carnival Jubilee in July of 1991. We had our teenage daugthers with us. On board were a group of kids who had just graduated. Falling down drunk down the stairwells. Four left behind in Puerta Vallerta(trouble in one of the bars). My DD's being served fully loaded drinks. One was 15 and the other 16. It was many years before I could talk my DH into cruiseing again.

 

Eileen