What to do- embarkation day?

Only been on 2 cruises. The last one out of Manhattan the boarding process was a nightmare on and we literally got to our rooms and was called to the muster drill. It was rainy so we got a late lunch and drinks inside and got a seat by the window to watch the scenery as we sailed away. At night we went to the welcome aboard show which was a preview of the shows they were having during the cruise.

The first one was out of Boston and the boarding went much quicker and we got lunch by the pool and enjoyed the atmosphere of all the excited cruisers and enjoyed the band. After that we explored the ship for a little while and then relaxed by the pool for the sail away party.

Keep in mind it might be a little while before your room is ready and maybe longer before your luggage gets to the room so bring whatever clothes you might want to wear doing whatever you decide to do unless of course you wear it boarding. We usually pack a little sun screen in our carry on.

The most important thing you can do is to start relaxing and enjoying yourself. Should be easy to do. Good luck and enjoy your first cruise.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of extra time to get to the port in case of traffic problems along the way.

Once onboard, we like to enjoy lunch and then wander around the ship getting familiar with the layout, snd hsve some time outdoors on the Lido deck. Our luggage has always been delivered early so we unpack and then we are ready for more time out on the deck before the muster drill.

Hope you have a great time on your cruise.

We enjoy embarkation day!. If you are on the ship early enough, go to lunch then tour the ship. As soon as  we can we drop our carry-on luggage in the cabin.  We find the spot we want to be for the sail-away, usually aft on one of the weather decks. Our tradition is to have "champagne" delivered to the cabin and have a toast as we set sail from this spot (generally shortly after the safety briefing).  We also check periodically to see if our luggage has arrived at the cabin, if so we unpack.  This is also a great "people watching" time.  It is especially fun when you have others to do this with (thanks JCOAKML, BonMike & JusMe for the most recent adventure).  

I am a big picture taker. We get on ASAP and I roam the ship taking pictures before there's too many people aboard.
Then I make sure that I hit Guy's Burgers and see what's going on on Lido. 

I think the key here is how many cruises you've been on, or at least posting the question in places like this so you can learn....our first cruise we were lucky to find our heads with both hands...got to our cabin, no luggage yet...found the buffet...that was a big deal, back to the cabin, luggage, unpacked, old style muster drill, watched the sail away from our balcony...went to the Buffet for dinner....wandered, then collapsed.....now, were way older...ought to collapse sooner, but its just the reverse...get on board, make reservation for stuff that cant be done online, head to the MDR for lunch (yes you can), wait around to be interrupted by the "new style" muster drill...get a good spot for sailaway, and...there we is... happy as little clams...until dinner...then its probably Cagneys or La Cucina.....interesting phenomenon...embarkation day a lot of em are empty...or just what I take to be experienced cruisers...toward the end they get packed....like people  just discovered em...We get so many included we can eat in one every nite and only do the MDR for lunch....or the buffet on port days when its empty...my suggestion...do as much wandering as you feel you need to...in a few days, you'll be wandering like a professional....discovering good stuff all over...and the stuff you discover, the "way" to do things, is probably fleetwide....

We have got to the point where once we get on board, we drop off what we carry in the room. Sometimes the luggage is there, sometime not. We then take a quick turn around the ship, check for our luggage, book the Spa, hit the buffet--then check for luggage. After luggage is done---hit the sail way.... then plan the shipboard time and schedule---which we promptly toss overboard, because we are on Vacation.---Oh and most important----locate the bars....

Embarkation day is a day for a nice leasurely breakfast, mid morning arrival, and once checked in and on board lots of picture taking and exploring and some food. Love embarkation day.

Check in,  drop off carry on's,  go get lunch,   look around the ship to find the MDR, bars, clubs,  pizza and soft serve.   After Safety Drill get a drink and relax (and start thinking of what's for dinner)

Usually we check to see if our room is ready & drop off our carry ons.  After lunch at the Lido , we tour the ship if we have not been on it previously.  Then we check to see if our luggage is in our room yet.  If yes, we unpack or if not we get something to drink by the pool & people watch.