Thread: New First Time Cruiser!

Welcome I am a new too and this will be our first cruise ...believe me any questions you have they can help answer!

Welcome to
CruiseLineFans

Reggie

Sounds like a very diverse group. Nothing better than a first cruise with the newness and excitement. You will love it!

Feel free to ask whatever questions you might have. We want to make this as stress free and enjoyable time for you as possible.

Thank you all so much for the warm and wonderful welcome!!

We are so excited about our first cruise, although I am slightly nervous about not knowing what to expect, especially cruising with a 2.5 year old, so I am so thrilled I found this great community! I'm lookign forward to getting to know everyone and getting all sorts of wonderful advice on our upcoming cruise!!

Best way to start to get over your nervousness is to ask your questions. Fire away!

I think alot of my nerves are from silly things, things that I know won't happen, but still can't help but worry about!

My biggest fear is of my son falling overboard. Which I know the ships are safe, it is very unlikely, if not impossible for it to happen, especially since I will be keeping more of an eye on him when we are on the ship, but still it makes me nervous. (Feel free to laugh at me now LOL) I have been searching for pictures of the ship we are sailing on, the Carnival Glory, to help me see that it is not going to happen. Plus the ship is going to be in port here in Norfolk in October, so I want to go to the area next to where it is docked so we can see it, and I am sure that will make me feel better.

I'm also nervous of my son's behavior and making sure that he doesn't disrupt the vacation of others on the ship. Right now he is a VERY busy toddler, he's 16 months right now, he will be 2.5 when we cruise. I know I can put him in Camp Carnival but I don't want to go on vacation with my family and put him in there all day long and not spend any family time. I know he has a lot of time to grow out of his young toddler stage where he is into everything and climbing on everything, but I worry about how cruising with a toddler might affect other people on board. I don't want to be that parent, who others see coming and they start rolling their eyes.

I worry about finding things to keep my son occupied during the day when it is sea days. I worry about what we are going to do with him when we are in our ports (Nassau and Freeport).

I have a tiny bit of claustrophobia, its not bad, but I worry that I'm going to freak out being "stuck" on a ship with no escape. I know the ship is huge, so I shouldn't worry about it. I am sure I will be fine and can find tons of things to do. I also worry that we booked an interior room and I am going to feel closed in when we are in our room.

Honestly, I think and know that alot of my nerves and concerns are totally silly and nothing to be worried about. I think its just the fear of the unknown and once we are onboard I will so much more at ease. The unknown always makes me nervous, which is why, at 430 days before we set sail, I am already researching like crazy so I can know as much as I can before we set sail and it won't be quite as unknown for me. Knowledge is power, right?

Firstly can I say welcome to CLF.

Your nervousness about what your son might do means a child will have parents that cares about him and his behaviour. This is what most of us ask for with people with children. Having caring parents your son will be fine, just go and enjoy your cruise.

I see your cruise is aboard Carnival Glory; if you look at the threads you will see we have an Observation Lounge, we follow people with their consent on cruises and this Saturday we will be following Carnival Glory from New York to Canada and back.

In all probability there are going to be many people on the cruise who will love your son. I remember on one of our cruises, we had a family traveling with a little baby. Poor kid did not get any sleep with everyone ooing and ahing over him. The cutest thing was the first night when Grandpa was taking him for a stroll to tire him out. Didn't work, little guy loved all the lights and people.

I am surprised that you got an inside cabin if you are claustrophobic. I would think you would have insisted on an upgrade to a window cabin. I am not saying that you should, but it might be a suggestion (or hope you get hit by the upgrade fairy!)

As for being apprehensive about not knowing what you are doing, my best suggestion is to relax and read. Lots of stories and reviews by people.

You will do good and have a great time!