First time cruise.

hop cruise was great. just read this great place to cruise.

Thanks for the info! For this first cruise I will be making it fairly short - leaving Galveston on Thursday for Cozumel and returning to dock on Monday. I will be driving from San Antonio and I plan to pack very light. I guess that since this is my first time aboard a big ship, I am slightly overwhelmed at what to anticipate. Thank you for helping with good info!

Book your flight at least a day before departure and stay in a hotel. The extra cost is worth it to not have to stress about getting to the ship on time.

Pay attention to the all aboard time when you're in port. The ship will leave without you if you're late.

In spite of what some comments have said, there is no casino on Pride of America Hawaii cruises. Hawaii is one of two states that have no form of legal gambling, so the ship can't have a casino.

The best place in Hawaii to get high quality, authentic Hawaiian clothing at a reasonable price is (no kidding) Wal Mart.

You'll get the Freestyle Daily each day, it's a newsletter telling about activities, weather, port information, entertainment, etc. Get familiar with it.

NCL has a laundry special, anything that you can stuff into a good size laundry bag will be cleaned, pressed, folded and returned to your room the next night for $29. It's some time in the middle of the cruise, look in the Freestyle Daily.

Take advantage of the Free at Sea offers. The dining package will give you free dinners in the specialty restaurants. While the main dining room is very good, the specialty restaurants are well worth the small fee you pay for it. It's called free, but you do pay the gratuities, same with the drink package.

Finally, and most important, have a good time!

Final payment is due 120 days before the cruise. If you book within that 120 days, yes, you do have to pay in full.

This thread has some great info in it on alot of different subjects. easier than endlessly banging keys. Just make sure you've completed your check in online whenever they "liven it up" Checkins at the terminals can be a zoo, but the lines are used to it. You'll get used to it too..Some folks show up the day before and stay in a motel, then grab a cab or other transportation to the terminal. Eliminates the anxiety of showing up at the last minute. Bad weather, transportation issues etc. We've been doing it for years. Sure you can schlepp your luggage, as long as its not much more than a backpack or a small carry on. But if its a regular piece of luggage, print your luggage tags and let them handle it. Losing luggage can happen but this isn't the airines...It'll magically show up. Sometimes it can beat you to your cabin. That steward needs to be tipped. Which is another whole subject entirely. And yes depending on the length of the cruise, there may be up to two so-called formal nites. FWIW, they're really not so formal anymore...Some folks LIKE to dress to the nines or mebbe they're having pictures taken. Either way...dressing casually is just fine...and if you don't feel like the MDR, there's ALWAYS other venues. The agendas and schedule you mention sometimes STILL appear on the "dailies" that cruise lines are getting away from. They used to appear on your bed every evening, along with a cutesy towel animal. Used to automatically fold one up for my back pocket. Oh well......You need to download the app to your cellphone. It'll only work onboard. It's got everything you want to know, mostly, and if it doesn't, don't be shy about GOING to Guest Services. First time we used it for reservations and things onboard I was sure we would absolutely screw it up. A twenty-something in a dinner line gave me a primer on the thing. Now we're experts heheheheh..Don't overstress yourself. its a learning experience, and seems to me you've got a bunch of experience anyway...deep breaths dear!!!

Thank you. Right now I don't know enough to even know what questions to ask. One question is what is the process upon boarding? All I have seen is what the old Love Boat series shows, which really probably isn't as smooth as they make it look for TV. May I take my luggage to my cabin myself (I pack very light)? Does my cruise have a formal night and if so, may I opt out? I really would like to know the agendas/schedule for the cruise.

OK, so that's a few questions...thank you for your patience and insight.

Then by all means stick around in here...try to ask specific questions as they occur to you....believe me, they've only been asked/answered by a zillion other folks in your exact situation. free advice is our specialty.

Great info! I treated myself to a 4 day cruise for my 72nd birthday in December and this will be my first cruise! I am so excited and trying to learn everything I can prior to that day! I know nothing about the process and am alone. All useful information is welcome.

Welcome. Tips..have fun! Cruising is nothing like you think it is and way better then you will ever realize. After I went on my first I really wished I had started doing it along time ago.

I am a Vegas junkies and today's boats feel like a nice Vegas resort to me. Tons to do and tons of fun! I started cruising again in March of this year and going again this October. (Just Booked it yesterday in fact), Things at the dock ran a little different.

NCL post Sept time frame requires you to bring the COVID test with you there will be undoubtedly services all around the port for you to take one. In March they were doing the tests for free. As of now 3 Sept 2022 and beyond guests 12 and up no longer have to be vaccinated. 12 and over have to show proof of negative PCR or Antigen taken no more then 72 hours prior to embarkation. Age 11 and under no additional anything required.

So when I went earlier in the year the day we did not have to wear the masks was occurring like one day into our trip. Due to that happening most people wear not wearing one. You always can if you elect to.

As for things to do..book your excursions early if you can, book your restaurants early as well. They have free dining of course but the Cagney's Steak House and Teppanyaki restaurant should be visited. Explore the whole boat! There are all sorts of cool vistas, cozy places etc.

If you're a gambler make sure you sign up for Casinos at Sea Players card. I haven't paid for a cruise since the 1st one. Well I had to pay taxes/port fees etc. One could say I am prepaying but no one is keeping me away from a Casino lol.

I find trying to plan what do on the cruises to be kinda hard there is so much to do. Hope that helps!

Pretty standard now. NCL moved the final payment from 90 to 120 days just before the covid shutdown. The 3 weeks checkin was something that started within the past 6 - 9 months, just since the reopening.