Please tell me your cruise experience from start (airport) to return?

Question

I am going on a cruise, first time. I need to know the detail

from start to end.

1. Airport to Cruise Bus transport

2. on board detail

3. Returning home

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Here you go, you can read my reviews.  I warn you, they are long (ranging from seven type written pages for a three night cruise to 28 type written pages for a 13 night cruise).  However, they do provide the detail you seem to be looking for ...

NCL Star - Oct 2005 - http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

Carnival Glory - April 2006 - http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

Freedom of the Seas - June 2007 - http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

Monarch of the Seas - Dec 2007 - http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

NCL Jade - Feb 2008 - http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

Answer 2

That's a lot of information to ask for.  And TinkerToy gave you a lot of good info.  However, if you want even more, go to CruiseCritic.com and click on "Boards", then go to the cruiseline you're interested in.  People post accounts of their trips from start to finish.

Re the "cruise bus" - you'll probably do better grabbing a cab and going to the port on your own [depending, of course, on what port you're using].  If you take the bus, you have to wait for it to fill up [both going and coming] and then you are checking in with the entire busload [of course, you won't be alone checking in anyway!!].  It will be cheaper, faster and more convenient if you do it on your own.  The CC board has lots of info on this - go to the "Departures" board for the area you're leaving from.  

Returning home, do the same.  After you get your luggage, get a porter to help you get a cab [much easier than doing it yourself and worth the few bucks you have to tip him].  Don't schedule your return flight too early, as the ship is sometimes delayed getting into port, or non-US citizens sometimes aren't prompt about getting cleared [and no one can debark until everyone is cleared], etc.  I wouldn't schedule a flight before noon, for a cruise scheduled to end in the early a.m.

If you are flying, especially from an area prone to weather delays, be sure an fly in the day before your cruise, in order to avoid missing the ship or just having the anxiety of whether or not you'll make it.  There are lots of suggestions for hotels at the same destination board I mentioned above.

I'd also suggest you get a book on cruising from your library, for a general overview of what the on-board experience is like.  There are so many activities that you can't possibly do them all.  And don't forget to take time to just relax.

Have a great cruise.

Answer 3

Both answers are great.  I also suggest you fly in the day before.  With there being delays all the time anymore, you don't want to miss the boat!  And they will leave without you.  just as they will leave if you miss the boat at any ports of call.

My last cruise I wanted to use the ship's program where you leave your luggage and they cruise line takes care of it for you - they get it to the airport, check it in and you don't have to touch it until you land at your destination.  I couldn't use it because I flew home on Southwest, and apparently it doesn't work with that airline. So double check with your specific cruise line.  Also, the flight has to be later than a certain time, so they can get the bags to the airport in time.

As Momsez, go to cruisecritic.com.  Tons and tons of information there.  It also gets you more jazzed up for your cruise - you can read reviews about the specific ship, ask questions about the ports you will be stopping at, general things like "what do I wear?"  it's great.

Most importantly, relax and have fun.  It all works out in the end.

Answer 4

#1. airports (2) was great. very little wait for planes. Once on the plane we taxied to runnway & took right off. Cruise Bus only took once out off 22 cruises. Faster & easier by taking a cab after checking luggage in with cruise. They charge you for ground transportation & a cab is not much more.

#2. Food ( buffet where you get to try all different types of food) was great, cabin ( always take an inside cabin as not in it much) was good, always clean. The things that each cruise offers to take up your time was great. Alittle something for everyone.At each port of call there was easy access on & off the ship without any big lines or problems. The actual time spend underway unless you looked at the water or scenery you did not know you were moving. The crew went out of their way to help you. I have sailed on Norwegian, Holland & Princess & found all 3 lines do their best to make everyone comfortable & happy. No complaints about anything on any of the cruises.

#3. Same as #1. easy in and getting threw security. The plane ride was great & service too. By the time I got downstairs my luggage was there waiting. Going again in 3 weeks for 6 weeks.

Answer 5

First of all, not all passengers take the cruise line's bus.  Some take a taxi from the airport.  Some drive to the cruise port.  I have done all three.   If you take the "transfers" bus provided by the cruise line, they will have a representative meet you at the luggage claim area and help you get to the bus.  Some cruise lines will even retrieve your luggage and take it to the bus, based on the luggage tags that you should put on before you check your bags.

If you drive to the port or take a taxi there will be porters at the pier who will take your bags (except carry ons) and take it to the ship's gangway to be put aboard.

Check in at the cruise ports goes like this.

-You arrive at the port by car or bus and drop your luggage with a porter who works for the port, not the cruise line. So tip the guy a couple dollars at least. These people put all of the luggage in carts based on the luggage tags on your bags. The porters take your bags to the ship's doors and there ship's personnel send then through a scanner, one bag at a time just like at the airport, with someone watching content. I don't know for sure but my bet is they have dogs sniffing for bombs and other stuff too. Then your bags are delivered to your cabin door.

Meanwhile you get in a line where they check first to see if you are even supposed to be there; many cruise lines use a self print pass that says you are to sail at that date and time.

-Then you get in line to go to a window to have your passport and other paperwork checked and to give your credit card so they can set up your on board cruise account.

-Then some cruise lines take your photo at the check in desk and other will take it at a different location as part of the check in process.

-Then they issue you your cruise card which serves as your room key, pass to get off and on the ship in ports and your charge card for everything you buy on ship.

- Then you and all of your carry on things (including handbags, camera, cell phone, and all packages) go through a scanner just like at the airport. Everything you are carrying goes on a belt to go through an X-ray machine, just like at the airport.

-When you clear the scanner/x-ray machine you head to the gangway and there some cruise lines take your photo (those that did not at the check in desk). The photo is an image that is on the magnetic strip on your cruise card so that when you enter or leave the ship they have your photo as well as your name.

Now all of the foregoing may vary just a little by cruise line but that's been the process when I have cruised with Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess.

The activities on the cruise ship can be the most fun. You did not say what cruise line or ship you are going on but regardless just about every line and ship has  programs for kids. The cruise lines have professionally trained staff who develop and run programs for kids by age groups. These staff people supervise the kids in activities on ship all day and sometimes into the early evenings. The kids are grouped by age. Some ships have special areas where the kids go to participate in the activities.

For adults there are always pools and hot tubs and many ship have a Solarium (a cover area) with a pool and hot tubs for adults only. This is in addition to the regular pool and hot tubs for everyone. Some ships have water slides.  Ships have great gymnasiums with a variety of equipment. The RC's Freedom and Liberty have THE best gyms I have ever seen on ships.

The cruise director will organize games and activities around the pool, especially on "at sea" days when there is no port stop. They may also have a midnight party on the pool deck with a buffet, music and dancing one night. Each night there will be a show and it is usually run twice so that no matter what time you go to dinner you can see the show.

If you are a gambler there will be a casino, except on Disney ships. Each day you will receive a "newsletter" type flier in your cabin that details the time and location of all of the activities on ship the next day. So you will know what is happening and where. Also, most ships will have a channel on the TV in the room that recaps activities for the current and next day. If there is a port stop the next day most ships will have a presentation in the show room or a lounge that talks about where to shop; then this is repeated on TV.

Most ships these day have 2,000 to 4,000 passengers so things on ship are very well organized and in most cases the ship does not even feel crowded.

AND WHAT DO YOU DO ON BOARD THE SHIP??

The things that you can do on ship will vary by the cruise line and the ship. Many of the newer ships of all of the cruise lines have more activities than there are on the older ships. Older ships would in general be those launched before about 2000.

The types and number of activities also varies by cruise line with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line having by far THE most activities. Things and activities that may be available, depending upon the ship:

- pools, hot tubs and water slides

-water surf on a boogie board on ship (RC's Freedom class ships only)

- a full service gymnasium with all types of free weights and exercise machines

- a full service spa where you can get hair and nails done and massages and wraps.

- a sauna and/or steam rooms

- a mini-golf course and/or a golf driving range or golf simulator

- a roller blade track and/or an ice skating rink. If there is an ice rink there will be an ice show like the ice capades

- a rock climbing wall.

- a full sized basketball/volleyball/tennis court

- table tennis

-over sized Chess/Checker sets and shuffle board

- walking/ jogging track

- a video arcade

-a kids only area, some with a pool and/or water slide

- a teens only area, some including a teen disco

-a bowling alley (NCL ship)

- pool tables (RC ships)

- a show room where there will be a show every evening, one for each dinner seating

- a game room with games and cards provided

- an internet cafe (they charge a fee for this)

- a library with books provided or bring your own

- a disco that is open every night starting about 11:00 PM and lasting until the last person leaves.

- piano bar and a sports bar

- all ships will have lounges and cocktails bars at various places on ship

- some ships have a small movie theater and you can also watch movies (most for free) in your cabin. Princess has movies under the stars on top decks of some ships.

- free 24/7 room service

- a casino for gambling

- a huge variety of food and plenty of it, seconds and thirds are OK too.

- sit on a deck or your cabin's balcony and watch the ocean go by.

- go to art auctions

- go to lectures and learning seminars on some ships

- go to the Karaoke bar

- Wine tasting

- shop for souvenirs

There may even be a few others things that I have not listed. Remember that not all ships have all of these things. Some may have only a few.

OK lastly, the evening before your cruise ends you will receive another set of luggage tags for your bags.  You need to pack your bags, put the luggage tags on and put them outside your room by about 2:00 AM so that the ship's staff can start taking the bags to the lower floor to off load the next morning.

You may also receive on the morning of the departure a copy of your bill that was charged to your credit card.  If you want you can go get a copy of your account from the purser's desk at any time.

People are allowed to depart the ship in categories; usually based on those with the earliest flights.  Some cruise lines use a process called "Express Walk-off" for people who want to just leave first and carry their own luggage.  I have used that when I drive to the port so I can get started driving right away.

When you luggage tag color is called you proceed from the ship, scanning your cruise card on the way out.  Then go  claim your luggage which will likely be spread out in a big room, or on a revolving luggage belt, depending upon the port.  Then you go through Customs and Immigration, turning in the Custom's card given you the night before.  Then you board your bus, or car, and you are off to the airport or home.

Whew,  I need 20 points for this !!! LOL