This is part three, continued from: First Time Cruiser? At the Port
Next you will be directed to get on board! Finally!
Again, as you board, you will need your card/key. This will identify you (that picture they took will show up on their screen) and mark that you have boarded. Once on board, you will be able to do whatever is available on the ship.
You can grab some lunch or a snack, hit the pool, slides, visit customer service to make any additional reservations, visit the spa, explore the ship, etc.
Typically the main dining room and the buffet, as well a counter service option are available for lunch. If you want to go to a specialty restaurant (know this has an added expense) you can do that, too.
Most ships have a newsletter with the daily activities so you can decide what you want to do.
Unless you get on later in the afternoon, you will most likely not be able to get into your stateroom. This is why checked baggage is so important. You don’t want to have to lug all that luggage around until you can get to your staterooms. Typically, you will be able to go to your stateroom sometime between 1 and 2 pm.
Everyone will be required to go to the muster drill before the ship sets sail. You can find out where you are to report either in your stateroom on the door, or on your card/key. The time varies on each ship/sailing, but you will be told the time and there will be a couple announcements about it. Be sure to bring your shipboard identification (card/key). Don’t be late, everyone has to wait until you arrive. Plus, if there are seats, you may not have one by the time you get there.
Many ships will have a sail away party, usually on one of the top decks as the ship leaves port. Go ahead and go if you want. We like to go to our state room and watch as we leave on our balcony. We’ve been able to watch the pilot leave the ship, dolphins swimming alongside the ship, and other things, because we decided to watch from a different area where nothing else was going on.
To be continued…