first time cruises

[coxy]

due to sail on sea princess on 22nd july for silver wedding aniversary this will be our first time on a cruise has anybody got any useful tips or advice on criusing dont know what to expect still unsure on what we need to pack, shore excursions life on board will be grateful for any helpful hints.

[cntrydncr1]

Be sure to read reviews of the sea princess as they will give you lots of information on that specific ship. Also read the sticky at the top of the Princess thread which will give you lots of general info on Princess. Then check out the Ports section and find the threads for each port you will go to. Read lots and then ask specific questions. Also, do a search for packing....there is more information here than you will ever want to know. Your question is very broad and is difficult to answer. The first cruise is probably the best as you have few expectations! Enjoy and welcome to cruise addiction.....

[mindykatz]

Yeah, just read the boards here...CruiseCritic.com is one of, if not the best place to find information for cruises. It's great because you can find reviews and opinions on each individual ship from people who have sailed previously.

 

As your cruise gets closer, you will become more and more addicted to these boards! Enjoy!! :D

[Pam in CA]

due to sail on sea princess on 22nd july for silver wedding aniversary this will be our first time on a cruise has anybody got any useful tips or advice on criusing dont know what to expect still unsure on what we need to pack, shore excursions life on board will be grateful for any helpful hints.

Coxy... come and join us on our roll call. There are several of us CCrs on this cruise. You'll see the link in my signature below. We're meeting in the Wheelhouse Bar 30 minutes after Muster on embarkation day, and we're meeting the next day in the same place at 5PM.

 

As for packing, it'll be very hot in the Med so I'm packing lightweight, loose clothing. In Spain, Florence and Rome, if you go into any churches, you'll need clothing that covers your shoulders and your legs.

 

Onboard the ship, it could possibly be cool in some areas with the A/C going, so bring a wrap or a light jacket.

 

If you have any questions about tours, please join our roll call. Several of us are taking private tours in Monte Carlo, Florence and Rome and you may be interested in joining us.

 

See you in just over two weeks!

[ppeckham]

First of all, congrats on your anniversary! Making it to 25 years is not as common as it used to be.

 

Be sure to read the patters each evening. This is the list of the next day's activities. Take a highlighter to note the activities that interest you. Don't feel like you have to do everything though. Take some time to relax.

 

On our first recent cruise (we cruised in 1988 but not again until 2001), we packed too much. We figured we'd eat in the dining room every night. We ended up eating in the dining room just 5 nights instead of all 7. I didn't have to pack as much. The next cruise we packed much lighter.

 

Let Princess know that it's your anniversary. They'll put balloons on your cabin door.

 

Enjoy your trip!