Things To Do "As Soon as You Get on the Ship"

[Ssutera]

It's been a while since DH and I have cruised. Last time the kids were little and we were on DCL. We are very excited to be sailing on the Getaway in July with our now teenage boys. I was just wondering if there are any suggestions of what things to take care of as soon as we embark, besides eating and becoming familiar with the ship. Please suggest away!!!!

 

Norwegian Getaway July 3, 2016

Disney Magic 2008

RCL Oasis of the Seas 2000

[Turtles06]

Take photos of your cabin as soon as you enter, while it's in the most pristine condition it will be in during the entire cruise (that is, before you mess it up! :) )

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[King of Cruising]

Cocktails!!! :eek: Get your wine package. Take pictures of what you're leaving behind.

ENJOY!!! :cool:

[Kealy]

Pack your swimsuits in your carry-on and use the waterslides the first day -- before it gets crowded. Begin enjoying the amenities immediately while other folks are getting walking in circles.

Enjoy your cruise!

[FreestyleNovice]

- drop off carry on soda/water

- lunch

- explore ship (indeed; pack swimsuit/shorts in carry on!)

- greet room steward

- muster drill

- dinner/sail away

[casofilia]

Make sure you only carry a small carry-on.

Have a leisurely lunch in the MDR.

Explore the whole ship.

Go for a swim/use other amenities.

Have a welcoming drink.

By then your room should be ready so have a rest!!

Then, of course there is Muster Drill and unpacking.

By now you will be ready for your next meal!!

Finally it is time for the evening show/casino/bar w.h.y.

[DrNora]

Make comedy show reservations- they have been filling up fast from what I have read lately on CC. You can also download

The iConcierge app and make the show reservations while waiting to board.

 

 

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[david_sobe]

Explore and decide where to go for your sailaway party. Also they have spa raffles that you enter prior to sailaway when you do tours of the spa, etc.

[timberlysmom]

I love this topic! I always get the obligatory first vacation fruity beverage. We usually take advantage of the low crowds found early in the day and take time to pose for silly/fun pictures with each other at different "hot spots" on the ship. For example...

[Ssutera]

Thanks so much for the great suggestions so far. I love the thought of taking a pic of the cabin, it will never be the same once we unpack. Also did not know about the spa raffle. Would love to win rather than pay if it was an option. Does anyone know if teens have to be registered for teen club?

 

Keep sharing learning a lot and hopefully others are too!!!

[mking8288]

Assuming you've read/scan quickly the Freestyle Daily for Day 1 while waiting to (priority) board after checking in early ... activate your free iConcierge App by connecting to ship's WiFi inTRAnet before boarding/while waiting for lunch served in the MDR that's open (avoid the buffet as we do) - reasons: book any & all specialty dining reservations and shows, as additional time slots & seating are open and avoid standing in lines, otherwise - they will go quickly & be gone, faster than using the concierge services on the ship (s/he can't get to everyone at the same moment)

 

Eat a "light" lunch, return to the room & take a power nap (30 minutes to refresh & feel energized again ... not good to swim or do the hot tub after a meal) - set the alarm clock & upon awakening, check to see if the luggages are outside waiting in the hallway, begin unpacking - should be just about time to "report" for the mandatory life boat safety/muster station drills. Go to join the sailaway activities - if not already done, put emails & voice mails in "on vacation mode, DND"

[TougherThanTheRest]

For the boys: if they have any interest in the ropes course, go there and enjoy while the crowds are low.

[BirdTravels]

It's been a while since DH and I have cruised. Last time the kids were little and we were on DCL. We are very excited to be sailing on the Getaway in July with our now teenage boys. I was just wondering if there are any suggestions of what things to take care of as soon as we embark, besides eating and becoming familiar with the ship. Please suggest away!!!!

 

Assuming that you will board early,,,

 

1) If you can connect to the ship's wifi from the terminal, register your phone and iConcierge with the ship.

 

2) Once registered, scan through the entertainment each night and determine if any of your pre-booked activities (shows, dinners, etc.) conflict with what you can see now that you are on board.

 

3) If you did not book dinner or show reservations before you arrived at the ship, now's the time. You can do a lot from your phone while waiting in the terminal. Kinda clunkly, but doable. If not, onboard there will be touch screens in all of the public areas which can be used to make new dinner and show reservations. If you have technophobia, then work directly at the reservations stands in the atrium to fix or add new reservations.

 

4) Have the first of many meals on the ship. The buffet will be open up on deck 15 as soon as you board. The Taste and Savor Main Dining Rooms will be open at noon for seated dining.

 

5) Explore the ship. If you won't be getting a spa pass, prior to muster, the spa personnel will allow you to wander up into the thermal suite,,,, just to check it out. Walk into the sauna and steam rooms. Lay down on the hot stone loungers. Enjoy a few minutes in the spa before they close it for paying customers.

 

6) Don't go to your room until you are invited by the Cruise staff (usually about 1:30.)

 

7) Get your kids set up with the Entourage Teen Club (you may not see them again until disembarkation day).

 

8) Checkout the ropes course, water slides, rock wall, etc.

Edited June 5, 2016 by BirdTravels

[erocrobro]

Definitely make show reservations. Especially if you want to do the comedy shows. Last week there was a very long line of people in the standby line who didn't get in.

 

 

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[Cruisermom2nick]

The touch screen kiosk will be working after muster drill. Take time to reserve comedy shows, theater shows, Howl at the Moon and any dining you haven't reserved yet. Things book up quickly! :)

[elruth]

We always go to the dining room that is open and skip the buffet as the latter is too crowded. Taste or Savor will be open when you board. Much more relaxing than the hectic buffet. I think the Getaway reservations are in the place where they have the comic show ( darn, can't think of the name right now) and that's where we make reservations for dinners at specialty restaurants once we board the ship. Once you get in your cabin, wipe down the phone, handles, light switches, tv remote etc. with a Clorox wipe and be sure you wash your hands often. This sounds a bit obsessive but we have never gotten ill on any of our cruises.

[Ssutera]

Thank you all! I always pack wipes, OCD about that stuff. We have made our dinner reservations and entertainment reservations already through our PCC who is great! I have to check about the comedy club, don't think I have that.

 

Is the iConcierge worth paying for and if so how many of us should put it on our phones? (DH and 2 teen boys traveling with us)

 

We are planning to board asap. We have a incoming 9:30 flight to FLL from NYC. So nothing to do but stop to buy a case of water and get to port.

 

Cannot wait to try Flamingo Grill. Really hope they do not change it to after our July 3rd cruise!

 

Keep the suggestions coming!!!

[Kfamilycruise]

Thank you all! I always pack wipes, OCD about that stuff. We have made our dinner reservations and entertainment reservations already through our PCC who is great! I have to check about the comedy club, don't think I have that.

 

Is the iConcierge worth paying for and if so how many of us should put it on our phones? (DH and 2 teen boys traveling with us)

 

We are planning to board asap. We have a incoming 9:30 flight to FLL from NYC. So nothing to do but stop to buy a case of water and get to port.

 

Cannot wait to try Flamingo Grill. Really hope they do not change it to after our July 3rd cruise!

 

Keep the suggestions coming!!!

 

IConcierge will be totally worth it for you. you can call/text your boys anywhere on the ship.

[jimandami]

Thank you all! I always pack wipes, OCD about that stuff. We have made our dinner reservations and entertainment reservations already through our PCC who is great! I have to check about the comedy club, don't think I have that.

 

Is the iConcierge worth paying for and if so how many of us should put it on our phones? (DH and 2 teen boys traveling with us)

 

We are planning to board asap. We have a incoming 9:30 flight to FLL from NYC. So nothing to do but stop to buy a case of water and get to port.

 

Cannot wait to try Flamingo Grill. Really hope they do not change it to after our July 3rd cruise!

 

Keep the suggestions coming!!!

 

We are on this cruise as well! Can't wait. We have a facebook group and have organized a meet and greet/slot pull if you are interested.

[luckyinpa]

I love this topic! I always get the obligatory first vacation fruity beverage. We usually take advantage of the low crowds found early in the day and take time to pose for silly/fun pictures with each other at different "hot spots" on the ship. For example...

 

what ship has an elephant?

[Kilmar]

Pack your swimsuits in your carry-on and use the waterslides the first day -- before it gets crowded. Begin enjoying the amenities immediately while other folks are getting walking in circles.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

I plan to do exactly this! It's going to be a bit hairy since I'm embarking in NYC in mid-December in possibly subzero weather, but what the heck, you only live once!

Edited December 7, 2016 by Kilmar

[luckyinpa]

I plan to do exactly this! It's going to be a bit hairy since I'm embarking in NYC in mid-December in possibly subzero weather, but what the heck, you only live once!

 

i regularly go from my house to my hot tub in all weather. but its more than 20 feet from my cabin to the hot tubs on the ship lol. are the bathrooms near the pool warm ? i never went in them last time on BA. then again it was 70 out.

 

can you see the statue pretty easily if you are in a hot tub on BA?

[LakeWobegon]

Great tips. I like the iconcierge one. Last year, I downloaded it and booked all the dining reservations using the ship's wifi from the terminal. Checked one thing off early which felt great. We also learned to just bring the absolute essentials in a small carry on as noted. And yes, swimsuits to begin enjoying the pool and waterslides asap.

 

We found on Escape during Easter week last year that the waterslides had unbelievably long lines and wait times the first day and then opened up considerably in the days after. Also found that if you get there each day to ride the slides right when they open, you can almost just keep getting back in line and going down the slide a few minutes later again for the first hour or so. Who would have thought there would be water slide strategy on vacation.

 

One last note, we are notorious for liking to unpack immediately but on this cruise found we like to just experience the ship until after sailaway, then get organized and head to dinner. Too much to see and do right away before it gets busy to waste time unpacking!

[lisakoivu]

I second signing the kids up in Entourage as soon as it opens. There can be a long lineup later.

[luddite]

Find the Pub and see if there is any decent beer.