Just booked my first cruise!!

[Moosey3]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

[Gracious Rose]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

 

Congratulations. We're going on our first in two weeks from today. We're cruising with RCI and we can't wait. I'd like to book yours for the next time. That sounds like great ports of call. Have fun. And once again, congratulations and welcome aboard. :)

[paul929207]

Glad you have booked such a wonderful cruise.

[Moosey3]

Congratulations. We're going on our first in two weeks from today. We're cruising with RCI and we can't wait. I'd like to book yours for the next time. That sounds like great ports of call. Have fun. And once again, congratulations and welcome aboard. :)

 

Thanks! Enjoy your cruise!!

[Moosey3]

Glad you have booked such a wonderful cruise.

 

 

Thanks Paul!

[paul929207]

Now come the hard part. The Wait!!

[butternut1]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

 

We were going to book this cruise but at the last moment decided on the one for Sept 5th. So, looks like you will be seeing everything a couple weeks before us. This is also our first cruise. I've been going around and around trying to decide if we should reserve some of the excursions. Have you decided on any of the excursions yet?

[Janet Foster]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

How exciting for you. I sure hope you get into your roll call and meet lots of fun people to be excited with...

 

Have a wonderful time!

[Moosey3]

We were going to book this cruise but at the last moment decided on the one for Sept 5th. So, looks like you will be seeing everything a couple weeks before us. This is also our first cruise. I've been going around and around trying to decide if we should reserve some of the excursions. Have you decided on any of the excursions yet?

 

 

Funny enough with all the research I've done I haven't got to researching excursions yet! I'm hoping to do some scuba diving somewhere and hopefully lots of snorkelling. I think we probably won't book anything through the ship since they tend to be really overpriced. Plus I've read that some places you can just walk off the ship and explore everything on your own.

 

What are you guys thinking about doing?? Oh and by the way I'll make sure to let you know how the ship is before you leave!

[Moosey3]

How exciting for you. I sure hope you get into your roll call and meet lots of fun people to be excited with...

 

Have a wonderful time!

 

 

I joined the roll call but sadly there's not many people going the same week as me and it looks like they haven't spoke in many weeks :(

[butternut1]

Funny enough with all the research I've done I haven't got to researching excursions yet! I'm hoping to do some scuba diving somewhere and hopefully lots of snorkelling. I think we probably won't book anything through the ship since they tend to be really overpriced. Plus I've read that some places you can just walk off the ship and explore everything on your own.

 

What are you guys thinking about doing?? Oh and by the way I'll make sure to let you know how the ship is before you leave!

 

Oh, that sounds great, thank you soooooo much!! We are probably going to book one excursion and that will be on St.Thomas. I've read a lot of good reviews on the Ultimate Island Experience. It's a good 4-6 hours depending on how long we want to shop. I'm afraid of running late coming back to the ship and because of this, we'll reserve through the ship so this way should we be delayed, the ship won't leave without us..... Toooo scary :eek: to even think about..... I'd be like Lucy when she got off board to kiss little Ricky good bye and the ship left without her.... :rolleyes:

[Moosey3]

Oh, that sounds great, thank you soooooo much!! We are probably going to book one excursion and that will be on St.Thomas. I've read a lot of good reviews on the Ultimate Island Experience. It's a good 4-6 hours depending on how long we want to shop. I'm afraid of running late coming back to the ship and because of this, we'll reserve through the ship so this way should we be delayed, the ship won't leave without us..... Toooo scary :eek: to even think about..... I'd be like Lucy when she got off board to kiss little Ricky good bye and the ship left without her.... :rolleyes:

 

 

Ha ha gotta love an I Love Lucy reference!! I've also read a little bit about the Ultimate Island Experience and it seems like people really like it. I guess there's a chance we'll book through the ship if it's a tour that runs long or late like you mentioned.

[sjmarante]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

 

I hope you have a spectacular time! I remember my first cruise and i have loved cruising ever since! Have a great time and have fun!

Bon Voyage!:):cool:

[cruiser1014]

Here are some helpful hints for cruising in August in the carribean. Where a really big rimmed hat. You will need to bring lot's of 30 spf sunblock.

I August the Carribean will feel like 150 degrees in the shade. Bring "beach shoes" for when you are hanging around by the pool. I have seen people burn and blister thier feet on the first day of there cruise and not be able to walk again for 6 days. Were your beach shoes all the way to the pool and kick em off so they will be waiting for you when you get out.

It rains alot in August and in August your almost into peak Hurricane season. The ship you picked is the best of the best and so is the service.

 

My last advice is this: you will feel like you are in a wet sunny dessert traveling in August in the Carribben. YOU WILL BOIL. Also the kids are still out of school so there will be at least 900 or more on board. Pay a extra $100 or so "change my cruise date" Change you cruise to The first or second week in December. All the Hurricanes , heat , rains, and kids will be gone and it will be a comfortable 85 degrees and sunny shies on a open ocean. Signed I've been there and done it. :eek: Trust me. :)

 

If you really have to travel on the date you picked Have a wonderful time.

[chachi]

You picked a great itinerary. Have a great time!

[Sheffie]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

 

My friends just returned from this cruise on Sunday. They were THRILLED with the cruise!

 

Enjoy!

[SusanC67]

It's always exciting to me to witness the excitement of others when they do cruising for the first time.

 

You will absolutely love it, without a doubt. My first cruise was on the Royal Caribbeans Majesty of the Seas.

I was incredibly impressed. My only complaint was that it had to end!! LOL

 

I absolutely believe that cruising is the best way to travel.

 

One of my favorite things to do is get up early for breakfast and coffee, sit by the railing and gaze out at sea, witnessing that first morning sunrise. It's almost magical and SO relaxing. Nothing quite like it, that's for sure.

 

You will find that its impossible to be bored, there is so much to do there is not enough time to do it all.

 

I've been on only two cruises so far, one was for 4 nights, the other was for 5 nights. It was impossible to do it all.. and thats the wonderful thing about cruising. There are so many possibilities and opportunities to enjoy yourself, to relax, to meet people, to enjoy adult solitude, to meditate, to absorb the natural beauty of being at sea, to go to different countries, to eat new food, to enjoy a drink whenever you want, to play games, go to shows, dance, sing, swim, read a book, see a movie, shop, etc.

 

If anyone wants to ask me a question, I am more than happy to help. And no, I am not a travel agent, nor do I work for any of the cruise lines.. I simply am happy to cruise and enjoy it so much, I want to share the knowledge with others.

 

Dreaming of my next cruise,

Cruisin Susan

[Moosey3]

Here are some helpful hints for cruising in August in the carribean. Where a really big rimmed hat. You will need to bring lot's of 30 spf sunblock.

I August the Carribean will feel like 150 degrees in the shade. Bring "beach shoes" for when you are hanging around by the pool. I have seen people burn and blister thier feet on the first day of there cruise and not be able to walk again for 6 days. Were your beach shoes all the way to the pool and kick em off so they will be waiting for you when you get out.

It rains alot in August and in August your almost into peak Hurricane season. The ship you picked is the best of the best and so is the service.

 

My last advice is this: you will feel like you are in a wet sunny dessert traveling in August in the Carribben. YOU WILL BOIL. Also the kids are still out of school so there will be at least 900 or more on board. Pay a extra $100 or so "change my cruise date" Change you cruise to The first or second week in December. All the Hurricanes , heat , rains, and kids will be gone and it will be a comfortable 85 degrees and sunny shies on a open ocean. Signed I've been there and done it. :eek: Trust me. :)

 

If you really have to travel on the date you picked Have a wonderful time.

 

 

Thanks for all tips! Sadly my boyfriend is a high school teacher so we have to travel when he has time off. I've traveled a lot to the Caribbean in August so I'm used to the heat. I'm a sun worshiper and love the sun!

[Moosey3]

Thanks so much for all of the replies everyone!! Reading all of this gives me butterflies in my stomach and makes me even more excited :)

[KKB]

Well after weeks of research and hours spent reading posts on here I finally booked my first cruise!! My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess from August 22-29 doing the eastern Caribbean itinerary. We'll be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Marteen and Grand Turk. I'm so excited!! I'm looking to eat myself stupid and enjoy all the ship has to offer.

 

Denise

 

We have done that itinerary 2x (kinda 3 w/ Disney...)

Grand Turks I recommend getting off the ships right away & getting a seat at Margaritaville. Lovely pool, loads of fun.

St. Thomas we LOVE Sapphire Beach, but it is a bit of a ride...make a deal w/ your cabbie that you will only pay him/her if they pick you up a good hour before the ship departs. We also found a courtyard bar downtown that was loads of fun on our last trip.

St. Martaan Margaritaville was OK. I recommend the beach. Go early as you will have to tender.

Pricess Cays...go early. You will have to tender

Have a blast!!!

[Gracious Rose]

I joined the roll call but sadly there's not many people going the same week as me and it looks like they haven't spoke in many weeks :(

 

That'll probably change as the time grows nearer. Don't you think? I'm on a roll call list and it's hopping. LOL But we're leaving in 7 days.

[KKB]

We have done that itinerary 2x (kinda 3 w/ Disney...)

Grand Turks I recommend getting off the ships right away & getting a seat at Margaritaville. Lovely pool, loads of fun.

St. Thomas we LOVE Sapphire Beach, but it is a bit of a ride...make a deal w/ your cabbie that you will only pay him/her if they pick you up a good hour before the ship departs. We also found a courtyard bar downtown that was loads of fun on our last trip.

St. Maarten--do NOT hit the casinos; but shopping is CHEAP. You will have to take a water taxi over to the shopping area; DH was just reminding me of the lady w/ the stand w/ the $1 Coronas!! (PS DO not get suckered in by the time share lady...it sounds great, but they will cab you to a place quite a ways away...then refuse to take you back until you buy...and no cabs to be found!!!)

Pricess Cays...go early. You will have to tender

Have a blast!!!