How Well Do You Remember Your First Cruise?

My first cruise was on the Carnival Imagination. It was a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean out of Miami. There are a lot of things I remember about that cruise, including getting a free balcony upgrade! Okay, it had an obstructed view, but that didn't matter! We were hooked on balconies and on cruising from the moment we stepped into our cabin. Next was the amazing blue water and the size of the ship as we were moving away from the ship on a tender for our excursion to Tulum. Just an amazing trip all together and looking forward to every cruise we take in the future.

Towanda

Love all of your posts about your own first-cruise memories, thanks for sharing them (and hope folks will continue to jump in here with new stories). I wrote a From the Bridge column this week on the topic -- thanks to everyone who shared, and only sorry I had to limit 'em. Read every-single-one -- and then went back and read them again.

Carolyn

Story is here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8153

My first cruise was the Ruby Princess in 2010. I was accompanying my fiancé who was undergoing chemo at the time and was very ill. He needed to attend a board meeting in Tortola so he insisted that we make the trip. We had an obstructed view cabin and I spent much of my time trying to make Jim comfortable. But I was able to experience enough of cruising and our very attentive crew to know that I liked cruising. And I’m a very experienced scuba diver who is used to rough sailing. Anyone who has dived the USS San Diego off the Wahoo in the Atlantic will know what I mean. So after Jim died, I decided to simplify my life. I told my daughter that if she helped me to sell my house and move into a townhouse where I would not have as much upkeep, I would buy us a cruise. She was unsure that she would like it. Now we are preparing for my 7th cruise and her 6th. To us, no other type of vacation is as relaxing and stress free.

First cruise was way back in 1961 when I was "Sweet 16" -- Senior class cruise on SS Bahama Star!

Yes, I still and always will remember it. :D

 

Just Adding .... That simple 3 day cruise gave me a lifelong love of cruising. :hearteyes:

Our first was a 4 day 1996 on the Fantasy out of Port Canaveral. I remember driving into the port and was amazed by her huge size. Our last was on the Harmony of the Seas that looks down on the Fantasy size ships. From small to large, they've all been fun.

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June 1969 Rhine river cruise, probably Basel to Amsterdam. Was extremely cold weather for June, so I had to wear the same outfit all week as it was the only warm outfit my mother packed (I was 11 years old). Since it was a dress, this tomboy was not well pleased. I remember Strasbourg cathedrals and clocks, and visiting the Anne Frank museum. We were on our way to Monrovia, Liberia for an ex-pat assignment. I got the travel bug!!!

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First cruise for our 10th anniversary - RCI Viking Serenade in 1993, 4 nights to Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina Island.

At the time, the ship seemed huge and beautiful. We had great table mates for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise experience. We stayed with Royal for most of our subsequent cruises.

Mine was on the Freedom of the Seas in August 2016. My hubby and a TA planned the cruise ( I'd always wanted to cruise) and our wedding. All I had to do was pack for the cruise and make sure I had a dress and shoes ( and accessories) for my wedding...the details were a surprise. We got married on Grand Cayman and it was beautiful. Since it wasn't a first wedding for either of us we didn't bring anyone else. It was perfect! And I got my dream cruise. I have my 8th one planned now. Oh yeah I forgot one detail. He bought me an engagement ring when we stopped in Mexico the day before we got married. And he officially asked me to marry him on a horse and buggy ride back to the ship!

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Mine was on the Freedom of the Seas in August 2016. My hubby and a TA planned the cruise ( I'd always wanted to cruise) and our wedding. All I had to do was pack for the cruise and make sure I had a dress and shoes ( and accessories) for my wedding...the details were a surprise. We got married on Grand Cayman and it was beautiful. Since it wasn't a first wedding for either of us we didn't bring anyone else. It was perfect! And I got my dream cruise. I have my 8th one planned now. Oh yeah I forgot one detail. He bought me an engagement ring when we stopped in Mexico the day before we got married. And he officially asked me to marry him on a horse and buggy ride back to the ship!

 

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Sounds like he is a keeper:D....congrats and it really sounds like a great cruise

Sounds like he is a keeper:D....congrats and it really sounds like a great cruise

It was wonderful. We've gone back to the cove where we got married twice and we're going again in July.

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Love this story, toxicfairy!

Carolyn

Mine was on the Freedom of the Seas in August 2016. My hubby and a TA planned the cruise ( I'd always wanted to cruise) and our wedding. All I had to do was pack for the cruise and make sure I had a dress and shoes ( and accessories) for my wedding...the details were a surprise. We got married on Grand Cayman and it was beautiful. Since it wasn't a first wedding for either of us we didn't bring anyone else. It was perfect! And I got my dream cruise. I have my 8th one planned now. Oh yeah I forgot one detail. He bought me an engagement ring when we stopped in Mexico the day before we got married. And he officially asked me to marry him on a horse and buggy ride back to the ship!

 

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My first cruise was on Carnival's Carnivale in 1988 with my ex and a friend. The three of us shared an inside cabin. Our friend had the upper berth and had to climb an angled ladder over our bed to get to hers. It was a four-day cruise that went from Miami to Freeport and Nassau.

We separated later that year. My current DH and I sailed on our first cruise together the next year on NCL's Seaward. It was a seven-day western Caribbean cruise that went to Cozumel, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman. We put on our seasickness patches behind our ears before leaving for the airport because I had read about thoroughly washing our hands after touching them. The flight attendant said some other passengers asked about why we were wearing them so soon and I gave her the warning about to avoid touching their eyes. She later asked what liquor we drank and brought us a barf bag filled with mini bottles of vodka. That episode taught me that not all vodkas are created equal. Some of the premium brands truly are better.

My first cruise was on the Crown Princess in 1991. It was described a few posts above as an all white ship with a domed casino on top.

 

Our day itinerary was Fort Lauderdale - St. Thomas - San Juan - Nassau - Fort Lauderdale.

 

One thing that stood out for me on that cruise on one of the sea days at the stern, we did some skeet shooting. Something that is totally unheard of these days.

 

I didn't cruise again until 11 years later in 2002.[/

 

I think they should bring it back! *skeet shooting. :D

My first cruise was on the Crown Princess in 1991. It was described a few posts above as an all white ship with a domed casino on top.

 

Our day itinerary was Fort Lauderdale - St. Thomas - San Juan - Nassau - Fort Lauderdale.

 

One thing that stood out for me on that cruise on one of the sea days at the stern, we did some skeet shooting. Something that is totally unheard of these days.

 

I didn't cruise again until 11 years later in 2002.[/

 

I think they should bring it back! *skeet shooting. :D

 

I agree about the skeet shooting, with one modification. I think we should use the chair hogs as the targets;p