My first cruise...

[icantbejon]

Originally Posted by mrreindeer

Sounds like fun! Which boat and what ports?

We're heading out of Ft. Lauderdale and stopping in Ocho Rios and Cayman Islands. The boat is the Navigator of the Seas (or something like that). Headed out on Royal Carribean.

try not to laugh, but most cruises have one thing in common.....

Starboard. Remember starboard.

That's the deck levels you are allowed to smoke on!!!

(Other than the cigar lounge or your stateroom balcony!!)

[Parshooter]

Originally Posted by tobii3

try not to laugh, but most cruises have one thing in common.....

Starboard. Remember starboard.

That's the deck levels you are allowed to smoke on!!!

(Other than the cigar lounge or your stateroom balcony!!)

Uh, starboard is a side, right side I believe, not a level.

[Willygt]

one question,

In these cruises, do you really feel the movement enough to feel sea sick?

Because i have gone out fishing but on small fishing boats and I never hold more than 10 min. before i am really sick hahaha. I have always thought that since these are a lot bigger you really do not feel the movement. is that true?

Originally Posted by Parshooter

Uh, starboard is a side, right side I believe, not a level.

there are usually two decks that are open air...the one with the pool, and the one above...hence the starboard side of the decks.

Don't ask me why, but every ship I've been on lists the starboard sides of the decks as the smoking areas.

And Willygt -

You only feel the ship move in rough seas....technology has come a LONG way with these cruise ships - you can be in 8 - 12 ft swells and the ship barely rocks

Originally Posted by icantbejon

We're heading out of Ft. Lauderdale and stopping in Ocho Rios and Cayman Islands. The boat is the Navigator of the Seas (or something like that). Headed out on Royal Carribean.

Cool; I've heard great things about RCL (Royal Caribbean) and we went on Celebrity most recently (owned by RCL) and loved it. We also stopped in Ochos Rios and Grand Cayman as well as Cozumel and Key West. (I just now noticed that you're probably already crusin' as we speak!)

Ochos Rios was really nice. We chose to do the ZipLine but did want to see the Ochos Rios Falls so we just took a cab to see it from the outside and to the beach and secluded cove below it (where the falls meet the sea). The ZipLine was a lot of fun (it was our first time) and we enjoyed the secluded cove but I was wary of our driver (who really was a really nice old chap...you just have to be careful of who you leave to watch your clothes and cameras...).

Grand Cayman was great, we did the Catamaran trip to StingRay City which was one incredible experience, as a large hammerhead shark circled and left us alone.

Originally Posted by Willygt

In these cruises, do you really feel the movement enough to feel sea sick?

Originally Posted by tobii3

And Willygt -

You only feel the ship move in rough seas....technology has come a LONG way with these cruise ships - you can be in 8 - 12 ft swells and the ship barely rocks

Yep!

Originally Posted by tobii3

there are usually two decks that are open air...the one with the pool, and the one above...hence the starboard side of the decks.

Don't ask me why, but every ship I've been on lists the starboard sides of the decks as the smoking areas.

And Willygt -

You only feel the ship move in rough seas....technology has come a LONG way with these cruise ships - you can be in 8 - 12 ft swells and the ship barely rocks

They have stabilizers on each side of the ship,,,at least the bigger ships do and my wife and I crossed the Atlantic and could barely feel anything.

As far as dinners go,,pick any cruise line that has "any time" dining. I know Princess has it along with others,,,it's perfect as you plan the day as you want it.

I agree with the starboard side of the deck as being the smoking side,,,some ships have a more strict guideline as far as areas you are allowed.

[JohnnyKay5]

Bottom lines.. crusies rock!

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by tobii3

try not to laugh, but most cruises have one thing in common.....

Starboard. Remember starboard.

That's the deck levels you are allowed to smoke on!!!

now I know why you are in the army and not in the navy

when you walk out on deck, you get frowned upon for smoking in the wrong area.

Starboard side is the smoking side.

In other words, if you are looking over the railing, the ship is moving to your left.

If it isn't, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE!!!!!

Public Spaces: Most ships have designated smoking areas, usually on one side or another of the ship. If smoking is permitted on deck on the port side, that's where smokers should go to light up and where non-smokers should avoid sitting. You'd think that's pretty basic, but many a fight has started over cigarette smoke because one side or another is in the "wrong" space.

It's important to note that shipboard personnel cannot change policy. For example, they cannot and will not ask someone to stop smoking on that person's balcony (except on cruise lines where it's prohibited), but they can and will ask someone to move to a smoking area if that person is in one that is clearly non-smoking. Avoid confrontation; let the ship's personnel handle the asking.

taken from www.cruisecritic.com