Oh my, Brenda. what a wide open question ! It would be so much easier to answer you if you could narrow that down a bit. You said:
i am not really sure how cruises work or what to expect
What do you mean "how they work"?
It sounds like you have the arrangements already made. So I assume you've already researched and chosen a cruise line, a ship and an itinerary, and you've already got a price you can live with.
Next in line would be booking your airfare, and possibly a precruise hotel. Have you taken care of that already? Or do you need advice on what time to schedule the flights? Where to stay in your embarkation city? How to get a good price on a good hotel? (BTW, The suggestion to arrive at least one day before you sail is probably the best cruise advice anyone can give you.)
Or are you wondering what happens at embarkation? I think this might be what you want to know, so heres the Cliffs Notes version of a cruise:
Assuming you have booked the airfare and/or just, the transfers from the airline, and are arriving on the day of the cruise: You will look for the cruise agent (holding up one of those little signs, with the cruise ship name on it) when you get off the plane, either right where you get off the plane, or at the luggage claim area. You give them your name to check off their list, and turn over your luggage to them. ( The cruise line will have provided you with cruise lines luggage tags. You fill those out at home and put them on your suitcases before turning them over at this point.) The cruise line representative will then direct you to their transfer bus and you will be taken to the pier. You won't see your luggage again until it arrives in your stateroom on the ship.
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If you did not book the transfers or cruise air, then just claim your luggage at the airport as usual, attach those cruise line luggage tags, and then catch a taxi for the trip to the pier. If you stay at a hotel precruise, you can take either a taxi or the hotel shuttle to the hotel, and you can deal with the luggage tags in the hotel room. In the morning you catch a taxi or the hotel shuttle to the pier. (
If taking a taxi, just tell the driver the name of your ship. He will know where it is. Have your passports or ID ready in the taxi, as you will probably have to show it to guards as the taxi gets near the peirs. Once at the pier, You pay and tip the taxi driver and then you will turn over your TAGGED suitcases to the luggage handlers, and you will also tip them ($ 1 per bag is average. )
Keep with you your carry on bag and all your boarding documents, ID, Money, and valuables. You might want to keep with you a walkman or book as you will likely be waiting in line for a while ( BTW, even after 17 cruises,I'm ususlly too excited at this point to need the book or any kind of distraction. But some people hate to wait in line.)
[You will of course, have filled out ALL boarding documents, and paperwork while at home, either on the paper documents that they sent you in the mail, or on line, at the cruise line's web site. To do this, you will need your booking number, provided by the travel agent at the time you made deposit. You will have all proper identification, and have verified if it is a passport, it is up to date. You will have checked with your TA to verify what is and isn't proper ID. As of right now that would be either (1) a passport
OR (2) an official original or certified copy of your birth certificate
AND a government issued picture ID. You know now you will not be able to board without this.]
You will find the huge line, once it starts moving, does usually move fairly fast. You just follow the instructions from the cruise line worker. Once at the deck you will hand over your SetSail pass (printed at home, from the cruise line web site, after you had filled out all your registration information.) show that ID, and have them swipe your credit card, and sign for it. This sets up your onboard account through which you pay for ALL onboard expenses. Then they hand each of you a SeaPass card (looks like a credit card). This card is your onboard dredit card, it is your boarding pass, (for getting on and off the ship in the ports) and is usually the door key to your cabin.
Just follow the other passengers as they make their way to the gangway. You will make a brief stop to have your picture taken twice. (One mandatory shot, that is embedded in the boarding pass information. And one optional shot that you will late be able to purchase later, should you want a momento of that moment. This will be the first of many, many photos they will take of you and offer for your purchase later. (You will find the photos in the gallery, the next day. Absolutely no obligation or pressure to buy.)
And then you walk up and through the gangway, and board your ship.
Now, if you are like many of us, you will probably have the deck plans nearly memorised before you left home. So now go find that cabin. Try out your new key card and inspect your new home for the week. Yes it's small. They all are, but usually it's adequate.
In the cabin you should find some welcome aboard information, and your first copy of the Carnival Capers. This is the ships daily newletter that has all the info you'll need about the times and locations for meals, shows, shops, and all other events and entertainment. BE sure to read this thoroughly everyday, or you will miss out.
Now lock up your wallet and valuables in the safe, stash your carry on and then head out to inspect your ship. As you exit the cabin, be sure to look at the sign on the back of the door, an note the location of your muster station. As you look around the ship these are the main things to do:
First check our your dining assignment. Be sure you got the time and the size table you requested. See the Maitre D' to correct any errors.
Next, if your excrusion tickets were in your cabin, you will have verified that they are what you ordered. And if not, you can now find the excursion desk to get errors corrected. Or you can make reservations now, if you haven't already done this at on line at home.
Be sure to stroll by the spa while out and about. Today, boarding day is your one chance to see everything they have to offer. They will be taking tours through the spa for most of today. And if you want your hair or nails done during the week, now is the time to make reservations. They get booked up quickly especially for the day of formal night.
And take note of where your muster station is.
Now it's good to start any tour of the ship, from the bottom, up. That way you end the exploration at the top. Thats where the Lido deck is. :grin The Lido deck is where there will be a huge welcome aboard buffet in the food court area. It's usually pretty special, being boarding day. Now, if you've got early seating dinner, don't be temped to each too much. It won't be long until your next meal.
Actually that caveat goes for the whole week. At any moment in time: it won't be long until your next meal.
Now it's time to head back to your cabin. Yes there's lots more to explore, but it's almost time for the muster drill. It's just easier to start already at your cabin. Otherwise you will be like salmon, swimming upstream as you try to get back there, after the call. The call to muster is unmistakable.. Eleven short (LOUD) blasts of the ships horn, followed by one very long blast. When you hear that, take your life vests from your cabin and make your way to your muster station. The muster itself needs no explanation. The crew will direct you and tell you what to do.
But when it's over, it's time to take your vests back to the cabin, and see if your luggage has arrived yet. You'll want to unpack as much as possible. There will lots of fun stuff to do tonight, and you won't want to miss it my spending the time unpacking. I can't tell you how many first nights on a cruise I found myself unpacking at midnight. I didn't want to miss anything.
Especially sailaway. When muster is over you've only got a little time until sailaway. So maybe leave that unpacking and head up to the upper decks. Break in the Sign and Sail card, and buy yourself a festive drink. Can you feel the engines yet? I think it's one of the most exciting moments of the cruise, when you first feel that ship come to life under your feet. Now find yourself a place at the rail, join in the party and toast the shoreline goodbye, as you head out to sea.
Hey, you've been partying too long. It's almost time for dinner. You packed an easy change clothes in you carryon, so you can make that quick change and head out to the dining room.
It's time to get you know your tablemates and your serviing crew. Darn, I can never remember everybody's name. I have to go over and over it in my head. But that OK, I've found everyone else does the same thing. What do you mean you're not hungry yet. I warned you not to eat so much at the buffet. :grin.
Well it's now your first evening on the ship. Be certain you don't miss the welcome aboard show. Especially if you haven't cruised before it will be full of useful information, and a preview of the entertainments coming up during the week. It helps to bring your Capers with you when you leave the cabin, and check to see what's happening. If you forgot or lost it, you can always pick up an extra at the pursers desk.
Gosh it's been a tiring day. Taking a stroll on the outdoor promenade is a great way to end the day, before heading back to the cabin. Don't let the ship's wake hypnotize you, or you'll be out there very late.
Back at your cabin you will find the bed turned down, a mint on your pillow, tomorrow's Capers on the bed, and maybe a towel critter there to welcome you.
If you have an early excursion be sure to arrange a wake up call for the morning, or set your alarm, if you've managed to unpack it yet. And better yet, put the room service card on the door too. Order what ever you want, (it's free) and check off the time you want it for. (A buck or two tip is considered appropriate.)
Now let the ship rock you to sleep.
BTW, when you said
any tips from expert cruisers are welcome
Being that the Cruise Addict's own Cruise Travel tips page is a pet project for me, I have to suggest you also take a look here:
http://www.cruise-addicts.com/Cruise-Travel-Tips/cruise_travel_tips_hints.html
