Any advise for 1st time cruiser?

I just booked my first cruise! We are going on a 7-DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS CRUISE going from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Turk (Turks %26amp; Caicos), San Juan, PR, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay Bahamas. Any suggestions to make this the best cruise experience ever?Any advise for 1st time cruiser?
Be nice to your room steward. They know everything, and can make your trip the best. Plan shore excursions ahead of time, then you can board and relax. Get to know your dining companions, etc. They may include you in their special plans. Try new things. Don't bring lots of valuables; you'll just worry about them. Keep your passport with you at all times.Any advise for 1st time cruiser?
If you are coming from a cold weather state where the weather is unpredictable, I'd suggest flying down to Ft. Lauderdale the day before you set sail and enjoy a relaxing day in FL before you set sail.





Others have already given some good ideas re: packing etc. So I'll tell you a bit about the islands. Of those you are stopping at, St. Thomas is my favorite. If you love to shop (especially for jewelry) you won't be disappointed. Depending which pier you dock at - be sure to get a taxi to downtown for some serious shopping. There's good shopping at Havensight pier - but more competitive usually downtown.





You can always find a good beach and get a fairly inexpensive cab ride there and back. Be sure to negotiate your price before you get into the taxi! Do a little web research on fun things to do on each island before you leave.





Be sure to bring some sunscreen if you plan to spend a lot of time on deck or outside. If your a northern girl like me - the sun seems a lot hotter on the cruise and I tend to burn more quickly!





Have a great time!





Experience: 14 cruises to date (13 on Carnival and 1 on Princess)
Every evening, you should get a newsletter telling you what activities are going on the next day. Use this to plan your daily activities while the ship's at sea.





On the first day or two, the cruise director will have a presentation in the main showroom about the shore excursions. If you go to this presentation, you can ask questions about the excursions. They will also videotape this and play it repeatedly on the ship's closed circuit TV channel.





At least watch the replay to find out what a lot of the excursions are like before purchasing any. The cruise director and his staff have been on most - if not all - of the excursions they offer and they can give you valuable info on which ones are the best. You can then purchase the ones you want to go on through the in-room TV. Do this as soon as you can after the presentation. Some of the better and/or more popular excursions will sell out.
Above all else-----be prepared!!!





Start a packing list now--like a check list





Go to the cruise lines website---they offer tons of great info





Start to think about shore excursions----plan ahead--they can get pricey!





Be advised that most cruise lines automatically bill you for your tips to the ship employees----you can add to or subtract from the amount they charge----don't be afraid to subtract from the amount they bill and of course you can give cash to employees that go the extra mile!





If you think you will be calling family or friends back in the states make sure your cell phone has an international plan-----it can get Very costly if you do not. Another way to get around the high price of calling home is to get an international calling card and use that at a payphone while you are in port!





Have a great cruise and good luck!!
i just went on my first cruise and i would just tell u that you should be ready to get up early so that u can get off the ship to go to the places. if you dont get off early then you do not have enough time to go do everything there is to do. just have fun and if the ship moves a lot, dont think to much about it or it makes it worse.
I was going to book a cruise with the same excursions!! Let me know how this is!!!! I would say take a TON of pics, it's never too much!!! Get involved with all that is going on, and even though you're on vacation, don't sleep too much!!! I almost missed a HILARIOUS midnight comedy show because I was tired and went to sleep at around 10. Luckily my bf woke me up and dragged me to it lol. You can recover when you get back!!
Check out cruisecritic.com! They have message boards there that are very helpful! You can also get on a roll call board and meet people that are on your cruise! Happy cruising!
Oh WOW, where do I start?





Now that you're booked, you're hooked. A few weeks in advance, go on the cruise lines web site and sign in to get your on-board spending account linked to your credit card. This checking in ahead of time will expedite your standing in line on the day of embarkation. Also while on the cruise lines web site, find out what amenities are in the room...some have hair dryers, some do not.





Apply for your passport now. After June 1, 2009, you will need a passport to re-enter the US.





Plan what clothes you will take. Pack nice clothes; the formal dinner night is usually dressy like going to church or a wedding. Invest in a digital camera with a memory chip of at least 2 gb. Take a disposable under water camera if you plan to snorkel. Pack comfortable shoes for dinner, for lots of walking, and for wet time...and pack a swimsuite cover-up if your're a woman.





It's best to wait to book shore excursions until you're on the ship. Weather will affect certain excursions or other things may change. If you book while on the ship and changes are made, the cruiselines is a lot more helpful.





Cash needed on land only...my husband and I took $600 and spent barely $200. We bought only a few t-shirts, small trinkets, a bigger item, and a little bit of food. (Grand Cayman and Cozumel) BTW: These two places do business in US currency and usually give change back in US currency. Take cash in denominations of $20 and smaller.





Flying in a day in advance will give you time to relax. Find a hotel that services the airport and cruise terminal...some charge to go to the cruise terminal, some do not. Relax a little the night before, then get to the terminal early the next day...around 11:00. There will be a long line and you might be able to get on-board a little bit earlier than they say.





Check out the TSA.org web site for what's allowed on planes and carry-on's. Do the same with the cruiseline's web site..





INSURE YOUR TRIP! Purchase travel insurance through whomever you made your reservation with. Generally it covers delays, interruptions and cancellations. Don't worry about insuring a hotel reservation...most of the time the policy stipulates cancellation 24 hours in advance or cancellation the day of.





While on the ship, you'll get a daily itinerary, and watch the cruise director's show daily for important information, especially the night before disembarkation.





Lastly and very informative: go to cruisecritic.com, go to REVIEWS and look up ship reviews and member reviews about the ship and excursions. READ READ READ!!! You will gain a wealth of information from other travelers. The site is free to browse and when you return, member sign-up to create your review is FREE.





Good luck and have fun!