If you could have your first cruise back...?

[MrsP_29]

How lovely! I married a coworker who helped me with computer issues. Best thing I've ever done! <3[quote name='cpayne']Wouldn't change a thing about my first cruise! In fact, 8 months after my first cruise and meeting my dinner mates I married one of them! 12 yrs later and he's still the best vacation souvenir ever! :)[/quote]

[grandmato4]

The only thing about our first cruise on the Celebration, that seemed so large back then, was that I would have liked to be able to do different was do more research on what to do in the ports before going BUT for that first cruise the internet wasn't what it is today and there was no forums such as this to gather great info so what is possible today wasn't back then.

Other than that, I wouldn't change a single thing about that first cruise. It was wonderful!!:)

[toby #1]

Wouldn't have gone because now we are addicted,:D

[twinklen01]

1. instead of a 4 day I wish I had did a 7 night cruise.
2. Tried breakfast in the main dining room
3. packed less
4. taken more photos

[MsShel330]

What I would take back is I would have done more research. We had no idea about cruises so there was so much that we didn't know.

[memphiscruiser68]

Our first cruise was in the fall of 98 on the Dawn Princess. I wish that I had known something (anything) about cruising. My (at the time) DW and I wanted to try a cruise so I simply called Princess. We were so excited at the thought of going we took every suggestion they offered. We ended up flying from Memphis to San Juan two days prior to the cruise for "pre-cruise package". 7 day Eastern cruise with an ov cabin. We fell for every upgrade, excursion, bingo, casino, DOD's with foo foo umbrellas, spa treatment, trinkets, jewls, liquor, and t-shirt that were offered. Now dont get me wrong....I had a blast! from the moment I first saw the ship I knew it was for me. I only wish that we had shopped around or asked someone before booking. That trip cost us $5200.00. I would not trade the first time for anything in this world, but I now know that you can shop prices, cabins, dates, specials etc. Live and Learn as they say! I shop around to get the best deals, cabins and dates. And like most everyone here have learned to avoid the "gotta have its" and "specials" that you encounter on EVERY cruise. I am "shopping" now. The children and I are ready to go...

[jhale]

I would've kissed that boy! Well, everything else was great.. but I chickened out, lol.

[eviledna]

This thread has been very helpful as its our first cruise in feb....so cheers guys!!! and enjoy your future cruises as though its your first!!!

[OBX-Cruisers]

Our first cruise was on the HAL Maasdam in Dec. 2006 because it sailed close (Norfolk) to where we live in NC and it was incredibly priced for an 11 day cruise :rolleyes: our first but the Maasdam's last from that port!!

 

What I would do differently is to have booked a back to back to back 33 day cruise:D!!! We have gone on other cruise lines and the Maasdam twice since then but the old girl is starting to show her age and now they plan to stuff more people on the ship with new cabins that will greatly alter the aft section near the Lido.

 

That cruise hooked me that NEVER!!!:eek: EVER could figure out why ANYONE in their right mind would want to spend time imprisoned on a metal can. Boy was I wrong, There I Said IT.

 

Ron in OBX

[littlemoonrabbit]

As amazing as my first cruise was, there are a couple things I would change.

 

First, I wouldn't have scheduled so much to do. We had excursions booked for every single day of the 7 day cruise. We were EXHAUSTED. One of our excursions was cancelled, and I think we were both really happy about it, lol. It gave us the chance to relax a little. The ship is so big, and there are so many things to enjoy while on it!

 

My second thing, which stems from the first, is that I wish I had been a little more independent. There was one night where we were both soooo tired from just being on the go the whole time. Well, he wanted to see one of the shows... I wanted to order room service, stay in, and watch a movie. We ended up getting into a tiff about it. I have now learned- it's okay to go and do your own thing. I ended up going with him, and I fumed in the seat the whole time for him "dragging me" there. A little more marriage experience (we were newlyweds then) has now taught me that I could have stayed in and enjoyed myself in the room, and he could have gone to the show on his own.

[rednose83]

I would have picked a different itinerary.

[dustyroad]

Our first cruise was in the fall of 98 on the Dawn Princess. I wish that I had known something (anything) about cruising. My (at the time) DW and I wanted to try a cruise so I simply called Princess. We were so excited at the thought of going we took every suggestion they offered. We ended up flying from Memphis to San Juan two days prior to the cruise for "pre-cruise package". 7 day Eastern cruise with an ov cabin. We fell for every upgrade, excursion, bingo, casino, DOD's with foo foo umbrellas, spa treatment, trinkets, jewls, liquor, and t-shirt that were offered. Now dont get me wrong....I had a blast! from the moment I first saw the ship I knew it was for me. I only wish that we had shopped around or asked someone before booking. That trip cost us $5200.00. I would not trade the first time for anything in this world, but I now know that you can shop prices, cabins, dates, specials etc. Live and Learn as they say! I shop around to get the best deals, cabins and dates. And like most everyone here have learned to avoid the "gotta have its" and "specials" that you encounter on EVERY cruise. I am "shopping" now. The children and I are ready to go...

 

that is an easy answer for me. i was so excited about the cruise and worried about my clothes getting wrinkled in my carry-on that i missed the sail away because of hanging up things in the closet and organizing the bathroom with my makeup and stuff. i was so mad at myself when i finally got out on deck and vancouver was in the distance. i did get too see us go under the bridge though so that made up for my mistake a little. from then on i make sure i am out on the deck with a drink in hand as we pull away and start the cruise.