i leave on 6-21-07 for my first cruise excited
about the first thing i should do when i get on
the ship. will there be anyone to show me the way to my cabin? i have the late sitting for dinner (8:00or8:30) will my bags be there before then? oh by the way that's the fascination cruise to nassau bahamas.

hi there. you will have such a great time on your first cruise. of course u will be sailing on a carnival "fun ship".

mostly every one gets the drink of the day and heads up to the spa to make reservations, then goes to eat lunch.

we always have the late seating too, sometime our luggage is at our room before then, and sometimes not. if u want a change of clothes u might want to pack it in ur carry on bag


hope ive been of help

I would get there early so you can have a nice lunch onboard.

On my Fascination sailings I arrived at the pier around 10:45 and got through check in pretty quick. After that there was a nice waiting area where you can sit until they let you board. That is usually around 11:45. If you get there later there will be a LONG line to wait in.

Make sure to do the Funpass online before you go, it will save a lot of time at check in.

As for being shown to your cabin, they will point you in the right direction. They are pretty easy to find. If you know your cabin number you can look at the deck plan at Carnival's website and see where it is.

Your luggage should be there before 8:00 PM, the latest I have received my luggage in 8 cruises was 7:30.

Just to add..

Go find your cabin and meet your Steward if the cabin is ready. If not get some lunch as Larry said. The early ones get the feast And meet the main bartender before it gets busy.

If the cabin is ready, stow your carry on stuff, meet the Steward, set your safe up, and do a little dance. Freshen up, or whatever and go explore the ship. Then head for Lido to sail away and a "boat drink".

Then get the drill, recieve your luggage most times. Then head back up to Lido as you sail away. "Reservations?, I don't need any reservations" I just sailed away.

~ I want to go where it's warm!

The other thing I'd do is to get a copy of that day's Carnival Capers. There will be a copy in your stateroom, or by one of the main desks in the lobby area. This outlines everything there will be to do on your first day aboard. You may find you want to take a ship tour, visit the spa to make an appointment for later in the cruise (spots fill up fast), or perhaps there's something else going on that you'd like to see.

I usually take one of these when I go to lunch soon after boarding.

Normally the cabins are ready by 1:30.

Like IslandCruz said you have to be up on deck for sail-away with the drink of the day in your hand.

OK...first thing is some oriental guy telling you to SKOOT TOOGETHA...SKOOT TOOGETHA for your pictures. Then you eat much more than you need just because it's there. Then you buy a fruity drink you wouldn't normally get just to have a 50 cent plastic drink glass.

And I can't imagine anything else more fun!!!!

And don't forget the fun and thrill of the muster drill!!

I can't wait!!

[quote]OK...first thing is some oriental guy telling you to SKOOT TOOGETHA...SKOOT TOOGETHA for your pictures.

Wow...Hope none of my Tongs, or Crazy Asian Boyz see this...

Been some time since I've even seen the word, "Oriental"!

I,I, aye! I think I'm dis-oriented!

I believe "Asian" is the proper terminology.

A'ndrea

The first thing you do upon boarding your funship is to run to the pursers desk and get that coveted upgrade, then take off to the maitre'd to see about swapping to a better table, then you run to the bar and grab a quick cocktail, then you head for your cabin and use the restroom which sometimes is a little disturbing to the first-time cruiser as you feel like it is going to suck the entire room down the drain. Alas, then you must don your oversized life preservers and head to your assigned muster stations where everyone is bumping into one another like a pinball machine. (Don't try to get out of the safety drill, they will track you down) Enjoy the little safety presentation, make sure your whistle and little emergency strobe light work, then head to your cabin where your luggage still might not be there. Then you are ready to make your way to the coconut bar and grille for a relaxing lunch to help you wind down from all the previous activities. Just enjoy yourself. You picked a great ship for your first cruise and I hope that you have a truly rewarding experience. By the way, if you ever leave a pair of sunglasses in your room when you go eat dinner, upon returning they will likely be incorporated into a whimsical little towel animal. lol

Pinch yourself to make sure you aren't still dreaming about being on a cruise....then do all of the other things everyone else has said to do....and just HAVE A GRAND TIME....

Bob E

Well said, Bob, otherwise pinch someone else and see if they are really there!

When I meet the maitre'd, I pre-tip him as well. Then in the next couple days, measure his response to you. Look for him, get his attention and see how things go. This will tell you if he deserves a tip later, but I think you will get excellent service. That is what you want right?

I give my room person a crisp $20 when first meeting them...works wonders for the rest of the trip...the waitstaff I do at the end of the cruise...they are giving me food...the room people are cleaning and making me comfortable..
Happy Cruising...

Bob E

Hi Shondie. First thing our family does is check out our cabin and see if it's ready. If it is, we put our things in it, and head out to explore the ship. We like to get a feel for the layout of the ship and where dining rooms, lounges, gym, spa, pools, etc., are located. We grab a bite to eat on the Lido Deck and then grab a lounger up on deck for sail away.

You will feel "oh so" tropical sailing away while the steel drum band is playing. There's nothing like it!

A'ndrea

I couldn't agree more with Andrea... There is nothing walking through the interior door and smelling the food being grilled on the Lido Deck. I don't care if you just had a 5 course meal, it will still make you hungry.

Yummm a cheeseburger on the Lido deck!

on my first cruise, the wife and I had a go at it, as soon as we got into the cabin.....but we usually get the drink and a cheesburger now....

Hey,
We just got back from our first cruise yesterday. The first thing to do on the ship is to get to the cabin, someone will show you if you ask (ships are confusing at first), and check out your surroundings. Next, get everything unpacked because you want to have room in the cabin area so you don't have to fool with it until you pack back up. Next, make your way to the food and eat, eat, eat until the ship disembarks. Have a nice whiskey sour in your hand as the ship begins its journey out to sea. It was the best time of our lives!!!!! We are planning another cruise in December we liked it so much!!!