1st time cruise on sea princess to med.?

Question

This will be our 1st ever cruise and I would like any advice or thoughts from anyone who has been on a cruise before please.I am shy and not very confident so am a bit scared.

Answer 1

I have been on many cruises including one to the Mediterranean. I have been on three Princess ships but not sure if the Sea Princess is one of them.  

Some people worry about getting sea sick, but the ships being used these days have automated stabilizers which minimize the rocking.  The larger ships cut through the water so easy that you don’t even feel like you are moving.  When there is bad weather the cruise lines will steer around and away from it, sometimes changing the order of port stops.  Also, the ships generally move overnight and dock in the mornings so you don’t feel much movement. Consequently, your chances of getting sea sick are minimal. There is generally less motion than on an airplane.  If you do get sick, all ships have a doctor and they will dispense sea sick medicines.  If you are prone to motion sickness, just get pills or a patch from your own doctor before you go, or go to a boating store and get a sea sickness bracelet.  The cruise that we did on the Mediterranean was very smooth, not much ocean motion at all.

Here's what to expect:

When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will have an on board charge account set up and receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir, tours, photos, etc) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will have you insert your key card into a scanner and then will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card.  Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship.

The first thing that they will do when everyone is on ship, and usually before they leave the port, is what is a safety drill called a "muster drill".  Every passenger will be required to go to his/her cabin and get the life vest that is there and report to a place on ship that is marked on you cabin door, and on your life jacket.  This  is a mandatory drill and they do take the roll and make sure that everyone attends.  They explain exactly how to put on the life vest, and where to come in the event of an emergency.  

All cruise ships these days have more than enough life boats, enclosed ones too, for all of the passengers.  They also have open life rafts for the crew.  So there is no need to worry about something like what happened to the Titanic.

Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations.  Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tour of the bridge. There will be organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are generally shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service.

All ships, except Disney, have a casino with slots and table games. Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room.  Some Princess ships have a big movie screen on the top deck for movies at night; not sure if your ship will have this. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to.  There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities.

Ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails.

There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course.

There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf.  Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent).  There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music.  Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave.  On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party .      

I suggest that you go to the Princess web site and look at the , the features for the ships and the port stops so that you will know more about what to expect.

Answer 2

Cruising is a great experience.  No need to fear being at sea.  Cruise ships are like floating cities.  You hardly feel the ship moving.  You will be cruising with lots of people but there is still the opportunity for personal one on one time.  While cruising take in the pool, gym, casino, bars, shows, great food, shopping and much more.

Answer 3

Well, i have never personally been on that ship but i have taken more than 30 cruises in my life so i can safely say that you shouldnt be scared. Cruising is one of the easiest and most fun ways to travel. Here are some tips that i have learned over the years.

Before you board-

Packing- start packing a couple days ahead of time. That way you can go over everything you'll need, lessen the chance that you'll forget your favorite pair of shoes or a toothbrush

Have all your travel plans confirmed. Know how and when you are getting to the pier. I would suggest showing up at least 3 hours before the ship set sails. Make sure you have all your travel documents and passports handy, because your baggage will be checked when you get to the pier. Once you get checked in, it will take a little while for your bags to get to the room, so you will have time to explore the ship. Most ships will also have a dinning room buffet open so you can get something to eat.

Onboard-

There's going to be ton's of activities to do once the ship set sails. You'll be given a phamplet that lets you know when and wear everything is going on. I like to look at it the night before and plan out what activities i NEED to go to and which i'll go to if i have the time. Keep this with you.

Shore Excursions- On your first cruise it's sometimes best to book your shore excursions through the cruise line. They generally offer the most popular excursions and also offer you some peace of mind, since you will be accounted for on the island/port.

Make sure you go to at least one show onboard. Most cruise line's offer vegas quality shows that should not be missed

Check the weather before you go, but bring a couple sweaters anyway because the cruise ships tend to be on the cold side.

Those are the basics.  I would suggest looking for reviews on the ship you are sailing on. They often provide tips from people who sailed on the ship.

Have Fun!!!