Hello everyone. I am a month away fromm my first cruise ever. I will be on the Carnival Paradise from Tampa.
I came up with two top ten lists. One is what I am looking forward to the most on my vacation. The other is the negative list, things that especially worry me or that I want to avoid.
Here is the positive list
1. Exploring the ship and people watching.
2. Sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It will be night when it happens, so it won't be as spectacular as during the day. But it's something I really want to see.
3. Meeting captain and officers on elegant night
4. Spending time on the Serenity deck, during day & night. My goal is to do it on port days as opposed to sea days
5. Being in live audience for the cruise director's morning show on at least 1 of the sea days. I may have to do this solo.
6. Love & Marriage show. We aren't married BTW. But from the videos I've seen, looks like a fun time
7. Hasbro the Game Show. I will not try to be a contestant. Repeat, will not try to be a contestant. Also looks like a fun time.
8. Any show or trivia having to do with 80s music. It's my favorite.
9 and 10. Our excursions in Roatan and Cozumel respectively
Switching over to the other side
1. Not posing for the ship's photographers. I know I'm not paying for them, so what's the point.
2. I apologize in advance if this upsets anyone. Avoiding vloggers when we're on the gangway about to board the ship. I'm sorry, but I really don't want to be trapped in your YouTube video-from the front or the back. And neither does my travel companion.
3. Not going to the buffet once on the ship. But knowing my travel companion, she's going to want to get something to eat, so I'll have to suck it up and deal with the madness.
4. Not being first or last to muster station. Hoping to find happy medium
5. Not interested in doing any line dances. I'll watch from a safe distance, unless she drags me out there.
6. When the other passengers at the next table try to meet us at dinner the first night, or any night for that matter. BTW we're doing your time dining. Plus, we're quiet people.
7. In addition, when the other passengers try to meet us in the hot tub. If we feel too crowded, we'll have to excuse ourselves and try some other time.
8. What goes on during Elegant night. Will we have the patience to deal with the long lines? The other passengers?
9. Getting to comedy club early enough to sit in the best spot. Need to avoid sitting in the front or wearing brightly colored clothes. I'm there to see the show, not be the show!
10. Staying as far away from the casino as possible. Not trying to overspend so that I can truly enjoy my vacation.
Just wanted to share my thoughts as the countdown gets closer. Hope all is well with you.
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My top 10 lists
22 Answers
Liked No 9 on the comedy show... will try to remember that one..!!!
I don't know about all cruise lines, but Carnival has a coin (or coins or in at least 2 case dollar bills) welded in a box somewhere on the weather decks. It varies from ship to ship. There is a huge ceremony when placing the coin when the ship is near completion. It is great fun looking for it.
Don't feel that you have to stick to your list. There will be plenty to do on board and I don't if you will get bored. Enjoy your cruise and go with the flow. How do you find the ship's coin?
Been on love and marriage show on triumph, a blast
Love being "picked on" on the comedy shows
Every time we get on a different ship, we meet the captain
We let the ships photographer photograph us especially in Cozumel, I get to feel the mermaid up
We avoid elegent night like the plague
Got to eat at steakhouse at least once
have to find ships coin
got to get in liquor tasting line
stay away from casinos
live in the arcade
higherwill - I love your lists, both wants, and do not wants! My wife would probably agree to 95%, I am at 90% because I have to do the breakfast & lunch buffets for the variety of fish selections.
I hope you print out your lists, take them, and cross off items as they occur. Should you happen to miss a 'want to do' item, I trust it will not dampen your enthusiasm for the rest of the cruise. That can be the first item on your NEXT cruise list.
And as others have said - relax, have fun, enjoy yourselves.
P.S. Love & Marriage does not imply 'Married and in love'. You probably qualify under the first part - not to worry about the marriage portion. Good luck on all your cruise shows.
What a nice list. I agree with what everyone else said, plus I might add... don't sit next to me in the dining room. I will introduce myself and try to make friends... but then you would already know me and I'm not on your sailing...so you're safe.
Relax. Have fun. Be flexible. Ignore the grippers. Remember you'll probably never see these people again. What happens on the cruise.....
You nailed my concerns on the head. Also, I hope not to encounter chronic complainers and drunk people.
We've been on only 5 cruises but have never encountered chronic complainers or drunks. I think folks with complaints would likely take their concerns to Guest Services, or to the wait staff in the MDR, and not share their displeasure with the general public. As for the drunks, sure we've seen people drinking and partying and having a greate time, but never anything obnoxious, or out of control at all.
Try to go with a very open mind and good attitude. You are sharing a relatively small space on decks, dining areas and hallways with a few thousand people so you will interact at times, and it's great. We've chatted with so many really nice people while waiting in line to get off in a port, or sitting close to their table in the Diningroom. Have fun!
I’ve been part of the show once on Carnival and on NCL one time I was up front and the comedian made a comment directed towards me that was funny and we all laughed. Both times it’s was part of an over all great time onboard.
I agree with Todd: relax. Don’t have an unrealistic outlook about interactions with others because you will have to eventually. If it’s a negative interaction just remember you’ll never see them again and you can make the choice not to let that person ruin your cruise. I’ve been on several cruises and have had a very very small number of negative interactions but an overwhelming number of positive ones. Your always going to meet the occasional a-hole but really most people on a cruise are in a great mood and aren’t interested in causing trouble.
You nailed my concerns on the head. Also, I hope not to encounter chronic complainers and drunk people.
Thanks.
Also when I was selected to go up front for the comedy show I was way back, wearing dull colors, and trying to not look conspicuous. For some reason the ship’s staff has a way of knowing when someone is trying to hide as they go through the crowd.