Going on a cruise for the first time?

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stepmiller2

Cruises are a great way to go on vacation. You get to go to several different countries yet not have to move your luggage. They provide Vegas style entertainment and excellent food all included in the price. As a first time cruiser I would strongly urge you to explore the ship when you first arrive. (if possible prior to the muster-the mandatory life boat drill) By doing this you will avoid wasting time trying to find things later on. These ships are very big and it is easy to get turned around. You will want to locate your dining room, the ship pools, the buffet, the casino, all the bars, the lounge where the shows will be put on and any other place that might be of interest to you. You will also want to find the purserâ€™s office. This is like the front desk in a hotel and is where you will go to get many of your onboard ship questions answered (They are also the â€œOâ€ on the phone.)

A few things you might want to keep in mind: Try new things, in the dining room order something you might not otherwise try. If you donâ€™t like it just ask for something else and they will get it. Get involved, you canâ€™t have fun if you donâ€™t participate even if itâ€™s just as an observer. There will be parties and activities around the polls run by the cruise director and his minions. Be sure to check out at least some of the shows, and finally be sure to go to the talks on shore excursions and shopping. The few hours you spend doing this will be well worth it. Good luck and bon voyage.

Kristina L

Hello, you'll want to get a passport, but you aren't required. Until June 2009 you can use your drivers license and birth certificate - but a passport is far less trouble and I recommend you get one.

One of the benefits of doing the western Caribbean is that you get all the Mayan ruins. Some are good, some are great. If you want to check some out, do a little research (you can check excursion options from your cruise lines website) and find out which ones are the best. Generally, the better they are, the more expensive the excursion. But if you have the option of the zip line - jump on it, its a blast.

Also, if you scuba - take the scuba trip in Belize, its one of those places that people travel to all over the world.

In regards to the actual first cruising. Beware of your "key card" - its attached to your credit card and you can buy things with it. You put all your drinks on it, souvenir shop on the ship with it and can bury yourself in debt in a couple of days. So don't go hog wild if you are on a budget. And don't forget your camera! Or sunscreen!

Enjoy the food - my favorite part :)

As for hotels in Ft Lauderdale, there are thousands of them. You'll probably want to check with the cruise line for the ones that are closest. Or check out hotel.com or one of the other travel sites and they'll fix you right up.

MomSezNo

It would be too late to get passports now, unless you got expedited service [may still be too late, even with that]. You wouldn't need a passport unless for some reason you needed to leave the cruise and fly back home.

There are lots of hotels in FLL. The ones on the 17th Street Causeway will be very close to the port and have lots of stores nearby in case you've forgotten something.

Go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards", then check out "Ports of Call" for your port information, "East Coast Departures" then "Florida" at the top of that section for info on FLL hotels. You might also want to browse through "First Time Cruisers" and/or "Ask a Cruise Question". There's lots of great, reliable info from experienced cruisers there.

Have a great cruise!

E=MC2

You will have fun. Try hotels.com for hotels. But anyway a cruise is very fun. Nothing that you would think. It really is like a moving city. Especially on a Caribbean cruise what more can you ask for. A tip for you: DO NOT GET DRINKS FROM YOU ROOM it is very expensive. Also check with your cell phone company to see about roaming because some changes extra just for having you phone on while roaming like verizon. But have fun. Good Luck!!

Also you can check TripAdvisor.com for reviews on hotels in FLL.

1Cheapcruise

you can expect a great vacation!!!! Enjoy and relax.

kkyo

im 21 ive been on 20 cruises i got alot to tell. First off im sorry i cannot help you with getting a hotel in ft lauderdale. and of all my cruises i have never left out of their but what i can tell you is that if you booked a flight through the cruise line you do not have to worry about your flight being canceled or any of that. the cruise line will make sure you are on the boat before they leave. Make sure you pack good. Inside your cabin will be many things depending on what type of stateroom youu have and what cruise line. For most, you will have soap/shampoo, towels, hangers, a safe, paper, pen, sometimes a refridgerator ( DO NOT DRINK THEIR DRINKS IN THEIR FOR THEY MIGHT BE VERY EXPENSIVE), and all that. You really dont have to pack like snack food b/c they have plenty of food on the ship...you will gain some weight so i would suggest working out alot before you go on and work out on the ship. they have a running track and a gym. the caribbean is a hot place so dress accordingly personally i wear flip flops, a shirt and some swimming trunks. just be comfortable.

YES you will need a passport, i believe its late to get one right now, check with your travel agent asap about that and also talk with your cruise line and see if you can make any arrangements with them to make sure you can get on the ship.

when you arrive at the dock, there will be luggage handlers and usually you tip them 1-2 dollars a bag if they are full size. Then you go in for check in, make sure you have all your documents at hand b/c they are extremely important and make everything move faster. it could take awhile for you to check in but just wait it out.

When your checking in have a major credit card ready, passports and all documentation to get you on that ship, i would suggest making a checklist before you leave the house

After your checked in your about ready to start your vacation, you will be greeted by workers before you get on the ship have your cruise card at until you are actually on aboard ship. right before you even get on they will take your picture with some dancers or what not.

when your about inside the ship you are met with security who will takr your card and make you look into a camera to take your picture (YOUR CRUISE CARD IS YOUR WAY IN AND OUT OF THE CRUISE SHIP AND WILL ACT LIKE A CREDIT CARD THROUGHOUT YOUR CRUISE) once your done with that your vacation begins. you will most likely be greeted with cocktails, the captain/officers.

try to find your room and go to it just to see how it looks and everything, your cabin stewardess will most likely greet you when you arrive to your room and will be really helpful with telling you where everthing is around the ship. Your luggage will not be there till later, so you dont have to worry about dressing up for dinner unless you get your luggage on time. Also in your cabin everyday will be an activites paper and other information telling the activites for the day etc

time for food, usually they will have a buffet upstairs on like on the 11/12 deck depending on the ship. This is the pool deck where you will spend most of your afternoons under the sun. The pool deck is filled with activities they will conduct throughout your cruise like pool games, island parties at night etc. During this time before you set sail i would suggest finding everything, it does take a day or 2 to actually know where everything is.

During the sail away party there will be a big deck party on the pool deck where drinks will be served, island music etc.

Dinner: be prepared to unbuckle your belt.

Appertizer, soup, salad, main course and dessert (if you have the stomach for it) there are many choices each night and there is a menu that is avaliable everynight. Dont be afraid to ask your waiter for whatever you want if you want 2 filet mignons take 2 of them, get your moneys worth.

after dinner there will be a some variety show in the theatre showing you the acts they have set up for the week. After the each show, they either have a buffet or some late night entertainment. There is also a club onboard if you like dancing.

DRINKS ARE EXPENSIVE AND THAT IS WHAT THE CRUISE COMPANY MAKES THEIR PROFIT OFF OF.
ISLANDS: Make sure your back on ship an hour or half hour before the ship leaves dock you will be in a long line and if your late good luck trying to find a way back to your ship b/c it will leave you

make sure you have everything: cruise card beach towels which will be provided in your cabin, money etc Also if you do plan to buy alcohol you are allowed 2 bottles a person i believe due to customs. alcohol is extremely cheap on the islands. The cruise company will hold that alcohol until the last night on the cruise. so if you are sneaky you can put some vodka in a water bottle and bring it on board from the island

BELIZE: from my personal experience i do not like it and will never go on the island. if you take a ferry over from your ship or

syento_ny90

yes u will have to have a passport. i just recently went to mexico belize and honduras. belize was my favorite i would recommend doing the zip line and cave tubing combo through shoretrips.com its an amazing experience.

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