Tell Us About Your Very First Cruise

DebbieandJerry · August 28, 2013

Great story, Keith. First time I've heard it. And, you can tell me again and again if you wish.

cruisetarp · August 28, 2013

Jan - In the "olden" days of cruising the had the crew walking around with baskets of streamers and confetti to throw at sail away.....just like on the Love Boat.

cruisetarp · August 29, 2013

Jan - I looked through my old cruise folders and I don't see any age requirements but I know I was only 19 and my one girlfriend had just turned 20 the week before we sailed. Our third friend had just turned 19 so apparently age was not an issue in those day.

Jan115 · August 31, 2013

Jan - I looked through my old cruise folders and I don't see any age requirements but I know I was only 19 and my one girlfriend had just turned 20 the week before we sailed. Our third friend had just turned 19 so apparently age was not an issue in those day.

Amazing. You wonder what has changed so much that 18-21 year olds can't cruise without an adult.

ametrinel · September 1, 2013

My first cruise was in 2004 in he Monarch if the Seas. My 3 siblings and I took my parents on their first cruise, too. It was just the 6 in my original family, no spouses or kids allowed! It was the first time the 6 of us had been together in over 20 years! The weather wasn't the greatest, but we had a great time playing Family Feud (we won!) and being silly. A little while later my mom passed away. But she was remembering that cruise in her final days.

Jan115 · September 1, 2013

My first cruise was in 2004 in he Monarch if the Seas. My 3 siblings and I took my parents on their first cruise, too. It was just the 6 in my original family, no spouses or kids allowed! It was the first time the 6 of us had been together in over 20 years! The weather wasn't the greatest, but we had a great time playing Family Feud (we won!) and being silly. A little while later my mom passed away. But she was remembering that cruise in her final days.

How nice that you were all able to be together with your mom before she passed. All of you will have some great memories to turn to when thinking about her. :smile:

crazy4disney · September 3, 2013

I love reading all these stories! Awesome topic, Jan!! :thumbup:

Our first cruise began at Walt Disney World. (Shocker, right?? LOL :rolleyes2: ) It was 2001, and the second trip to WDW for my son (then just-turned-5) and I. We were sitting at the bus stop for our resort, waiting to head back to the airport. One of the Disney Cruise Line buses pulled up, all sleek and shiny, art-deco decorated in red and gold with windows that looked like portholes. We both just stared in silence. We were in love, with only a bus, because it spoke so much about the cruiseline itself. I turned to my son and said, "We're going to be on one of those buses, I promise you."

We got home, I got to researching, then scrimping and saving, and we were set to sail on the Disney Magic out of Port Canaveral the next year.

Disney Cruise Line built their own terminal there, and it is breathtaking... so much glass and light, and to get on the ship you walk through a giant Mickey-head-shaped opening. When you first step off the gangway and into the gorgeous atrium on the ship, they announce your family name and where you're from, and a whole bevy of castmembers and officers there clap and cheer. You feel like the first person to ever board the ship or something.

We had SO much fun that first cruise... I pried him out of the amazing kids' club long enough for us to try out (and make it!) for the game show, "Mickey Mania," we had breakfast with our favorite mousey friends, he had a pajama party with Goofy, and I had more fun in the evenings than I had ever had in my life. And as a bonus, we got to visit some of the most gorgeous beaches and meet some incredible people from all over. It was the most amazing week, and we were hooked. :biggrin:

That was 8 cruises ago. My son is a Senior in high school now, and we have one more cruise next February before he heads to college and our cruising days together come to an end, at least for a while. But neither of us will ever forget that first cruise on that elegant, beautiful ship.

And now I've made myself cry with my own dumb post, lol. *sniff* :blush:

-gina-

Jan115 · September 3, 2013

Gina, I love that story. That's what it's all about - the memories. Just remember, your son will get married in a few years, have his own kids, and you can start a whole new cruise tradition with the grand kids (okay - not TOO soon- LOL), and you can relive those days all over again!

crazy4disney · September 3, 2013

Gina, I love that story. That's what it's all about - the memories. Just remember, your son will get married in a few years, have his own kids, and you can start a whole new cruise tradition with the grand kids (okay - not TOO soon- LOL), and you can relive those days all over again!

Yes, not too soon, please!!!! LOL. Good grief, I may be 46, but in my head I'm 17 myself... I barely feel old enough to have *him* -- much less grandkids!

-gina-