After boarding - then what?

[calenita]

When we board the ship can we go to our cabin right away? I believe our suitcases are delivered to the room later or am I wrong? Would the kids club be open before we depart?

I guess exploring the ship is a good option the first few hours or what do others do when first on ship? Thanks all.

[ehogan]

Depends on the cruise line - Carnival and Princess, no, RCCL and NCL maybe, depends on if they are finished cleaning and when you arrive.

 

Luggage is delivered anytime up to about 8 PM, so it is good to have your bath. suit and maybe a change of clothes for dinner in your carryon.

 

We usually bring a roll-along carryon with things we feel we will need for a few hours and go for lunch on the Lido deck, take pictures of the public rooms when they are empty of people.

[Mooder]

First thing we do is look at the menus and decide where we want to have dinner and make a reservation if appropriate. Then, we head to the main dining room for lunch. By then, the cabins are ready and we drop off our carry-ons and/or change clothes (packed in carry-on), then explore and find a party (live music near a bar is all I need until the muster drill).

[PassionFruit]

I think areas like the kids club are generally open to meet the staff, tour the facilities, get the kiddos registered, etc., in the first few hours of boarding. I do not believe they are open for drop-offs that early.

[bcs819]

When we board the ship can we go to our cabin right away? I believe our suitcases are delivered to the room later or am I wrong? Would the kids club be open before we depart?

I guess exploring the ship is a good option the first few hours or what do others do when first on ship? Thanks all.

 

 

Depends on what time you get on board. We're always on board by noon, and usually are asked not to go to the cabin until 1 or 1:30. Not sure how long it's been since you visited our roll call, but several of us will be hanging out at the pool bar area from boarding time until 1 ish. Then we(just us - not sure about the rest of our rollcall) make our tour of the ship, and wait for our cabin to be opened up.

[silkhair1]

We usually board early and go to lunchint he main dining room. Usually the rooms are open and we put our stuff there, and then look around the ship. Have fun, you will figure it out!!!!!

[CC Help Michell]

When we board the ship can we go to our cabin right away? I believe our suitcases are delivered to the room later or am I wrong? Would the kids club be open before we depart?

I guess exploring the ship is a good option the first few hours or what do others do when first on ship? Thanks all.

 

You MIGHT be able to go to your cabin as soon as you board -- but you might not. NCL practices Freestyle disembarkation -- that means the passengers on the cruise that ended the day you board weren't booted from their cabins to public lounges at 7 AM so that the ship could start cleaning all cabins at once. The passengers could hang around in their cabins a bit, have breakfast and then go back to shower and head out -- in short, leave the ship at a humane hour in a humane way. You will get those same benefits -- and believe me you will LOVE them -- when your cruise ends, but the trade off for that is that sometimes the cabins aren't ready as soon as the new passengers board the ship. They keep entire decks closed until the whole deck is ready -- it is too big a hassle to have a few pax roaming around while the crew is trying to finish up the rest of the cabins on the deck.

 

So PLAN for a delay, and be happy if there isn't one. Explore the ship -- have a foofoo drink -- make dining reservations -- make spa reservations -- go eat lunch -- have another foofoo drink (well, that might not be you -- but for me, foofoo drinks equal "I'm on vacation!" in my brain!). In a warm climate, pack a swimsuit in your carryon, change into it, and go swimming/sunning.

 

The kids club likely won't be open to accept children, but you can check it out, talk to the staff, and get info on the orientation they will (probably) hold that evening.

[silkhair1]

We usually board early and go to lunchint he main dining room. Usually the rooms are open and we put our stuff there, and then look around the ship. Have fun, you will figure it out!!!!!

[Hobbsey]

As others have said, it really depends on when you arrive and if the cabins have been cleaned and prepared on your deck. Most likely you will have to wait till 1 or 1:30 to gain access to the cabin.

 

Many ships will have both the buffet and one of the main dinning rooms open for lunch - the buffet will be open longer. There will be a table in one of the public rooms to make specialty restaurant reservations. The hot tub and pools will be open. There will be spa tours and a drawing to win free services. The kids club will be open for touring, but not to leave the kids behind. Some ships also offer a walking tour of the ship by a staff member so you can get oriented. When you board you might go to the hotel service desk and pick up the daily activity sheet (it'll also be in your cabin if it's ready) to see what is happening when that day and night. It will tell you when the kids club opens, what shows are coming up that night, etc...

 

Soon enough however, you will have to head (back) to the cabin, get your life vests and go to your muster station for the safty of life at sea drill. Always a joy. Next thing you know, it's over and time for sail away. An aside, my first safety drill (in 1968) was held at sea, in tossing waves, on a ship of just 20,000 tonnes or so. What a thrill!

 

Enjoy the newness of it all. I envy you the excitement of not knowing and the added anticipation that brings.

[Hobbsey]

As others have said, it really depends on when you arrive and if the cabins have been cleaned and prepared on your deck. Most likely you will have to wait till 1 or 1:30 to gain access to the cabin.

 

Many ships will have both the buffet and one of the main dinning rooms open for lunch - the buffet will be open longer. There will be a table in one of the public rooms to make specialty restaurant reservations. The hot tub and pools will be open. There will be spa tours and a drawing to win free services. The kids club will be open for touring, but not to leave the kids behind. Some ships also offer a walking tour of the ship by a staff member so you can get oriented. When you board you might go to the hotel service desk and pick up the daily activity sheet (it'll also be in your cabin if it's ready) to see what is happening when that day and night. It will tell you when the kids club opens, what shows are coming up that night, etc...

 

Soon enough however, you will have to head (back) to the cabin, get your life vests and go to your muster station for the safty of life at sea drill. Always a joy. Next thing you know, it's over and time for sail away. An aside, my first safety drill (in 1968) was held at sea, in tossing waves, on a ship of just 20,000 tonnes or so. What a thrill!

 

Enjoy the newness of it all. I envy you the excitement of not knowing and the added anticipation that brings.

[salty dingo]

As soon as you can get back to the cabin, drop off your luggage and go about exploring the ship.

 

I have found quiet areas that are mostly deserted at embarkation - library or card room, that have big windows and are good places to relax.

 

There will be lots to see over the rail, and I always like to watch the things going on around the ship as they load things. There are other boats usually nearby, and you can see a good long way out from the top deck.

 

Even though it won't be open, often the casino is worth a look, because there will often be flyers on tournaments, etc. and sometimes lessons or freebies being given away to gamers.

 

On our last cruise (Celebrity) there was some really nice live orchestra music in the main atrium. I don't think those performers sailed, so they only were there at embarkation, but it was a nice way to begin the cruise.

[Toyz711]

we got and relax until we can get to the cabin. last cruise, they had signs up...cabins were to be ready at 2pm. since we had a carry-on, the laptop and my camera case..we didn't want to lug them around the ship. as soon as we did get to the cabin and drop most of that off..we could, also, look over the special offers and the daily (on the bed in your cabin).

the people were at the spa for siging up for treatments, a book was at the gym to sign up for special classes, people were in line for dining resevatins...all types of activities were starting.

[chasetf]

When we board the ship can we go to our cabin right away? I believe our suitcases are delivered to the room later or am I wrong? Would the kids club be open before we depart?

I guess exploring the ship is a good option the first few hours or what do others do when first on ship? Thanks all.

We usually are ready to get something to eat, at least a snack at the buffet. We also like to tour the ship and get an idea of where things are and start taking our trip photos.

 

We never have kids (they are all grown) so I do not know about the clubs or what would interest kids. I know we see a lot of the trying out the pools right away. If your kids are so inclined then you may want to pack the swim suits in your carry-ons and not have to wait for suitcases. ;)

[garycarla]

Lots of good ideas above, but bottom line. Explore.

 

Also, they tend to shuffle people to the buffet to eat. Go to the main dining room instead and you will have a nice quiet meal. Or so it has been our our last two cruises and the comments of many many posters here over the past year.