Bob_KY

Now .... cruise early check in means fruity drinks by the pool sooner..  ?

Now .... cruise early check in means fruity drinks by the pool sooner..  ?

My first cruise was a four nighter on Enchantment of the Seas one January. I left the cold of Tennessee to find myself watching the ship anchor at Coco Cay early in the morning while the sun rose. What an amazing experience! Then, spending time on the beach soaking in the warmth of the sun that time of year was fantastic.
The next day was in Nassau and involved a tour which helped me identify what to do and not to do regarding excursions. It wasn't the best experience in itself, but gave me confidence to branch out in a Caribbean port.
The last day was a choppy sea day which ended up with some rolling and the feeling of sea sickness for the first time. Yuck. I figured out that where you are on board has an effect on how you feel, and to stay hydrated and eat green apples. I remember leaving the theater after the last performance thinking that I will be back on another ship asap. It was a little over a year, and the addiction was fully set with a seven night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom. I love cruising on Royal Caribbean, and all the people I have met in this forum and on the one group cruise we were able to go on.

Many years ago, I cruised with a couple of girlfriends and our motto was "What happens on the cruise, stays on the cruise".?
Much older, wiser and married now. 
Taking my first cruise with my husband in February.  ❤  Looking forward to making many happy memories with him❤?

One of the most memorable experiences and thoughts from our first cruise was walking Deck 5 on Serenade after dinner. As my wife and I walked around the biggest ship we had ever been on, we looked out at the moonlight ocean, the end less sea and star-filled sky, and I remarked to my wife about how small I felt. We all get tied up with ourselves and our lives and how big and important everything is.  I felt very small in that moment, with the enormity of everything.  This was actually a good thing. A little perspective on things. There are so many things out there bigger than ourselves, our ship, our planet and even our universe.  It was very humbling and I thought about that every deck walk the rest of the cruise. I still think about it today.

My first cruise was Monarch of the Seas in 1993. I remember thinking she was HUGE!? Some of my fondest memories were in the dining room. Our server was Bulent. During dinner they would dance around the tables with Baked Alaska on their heads on fire! They would also have sparklers. Cherries Jubilee was served table side & they would light it on fire to burn off the alcohol! I can't imagine that much fire on a ship anymore. Looking back I wonder how many close calls they had from it?

Now .... cruise early check in means fruity drinks by the pool sooner..  ?

Now .... cruise early check in means fruity drinks by the pool sooner..  ?

Radiance of the Seas, 2003 in Alaska, roundtrip from Vancouver. Ship was 3 years old and we were blown away with how upscale we thought this ship was. First balcony cabin 7154.  

Our first cruise was in May of 1999 on the Enchantment of the Seas.  I proposed to my wife on the stage of the Orpheum Theater with the assistance of the Cruise Director who tricked her into getting up on stage under the guise that she had lost her SeaPass card.  Pretty lasting memory if you ask me.  ? 

Alaska.  Agree, so many breathtaking sights of mother nature. Similar experience (probably more common) was a whale breaching while we were on the Radiance.

Over a decade ago my wife and I decided to cruise.  Liberty of the Seas best fit our schedule.  We were entirely ignorant.  We picked one excursion.   
Jamaica excursion:  Blue Mtn Coffee-Dunn River Falls-Snorkling with all the rum "kool-aid" U could drink.  We decided that we would not snorkle and enjoy the boat.  Again, first cruise...  we did not remember the excursion details, and dressed for hiking along the "banks of Dunn River."  Well.. My wife was dressed very fashionably with pants and shirt.  
Loved the Blue Mtn Coffee.  Then, we were organized into groups to go hand in hand, not on the banks but IN THE RIVER.  My wife was a trooper and stuck with it - still not realizing the depth (she is less 5 feet tall) by the time we got to the top she was soaked.  We end up buying at the top of the falls, from the vendors, short gym shorts and a tee shirt.  She changed in the restroom and walked out.  The shorts were lime green with florescent yellow piping with JAMAICA (the bright yellow) across the back of the shorts.  We laughed so hard and bought the video.  As most were snorkling, we drank koolaid.  Yes, my wife lead the Conga line dance before we ended the excursion.   
I still have photo at the start as a screen saver.  
What is your first cruise memory?

For each contract, they have the opportunity to request a move to a different ship. Sometimes they are asked to move ships because they are needed elsewhere. Some Genies love the ship they are on and make it a point to stay there. There are a few Genies who have been on their ship for quite a few years now.  Some need a change and ask to leave. It really varies. 

First ever cruise for me was just last these, on Freedom of the Seas for an 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. It was a celebration of many milestones: our 20th anniversary, our older daughter graduating high school, and our middle one graduating middle school.
I think my happiest memory was the four of us getting to swim with the dolphins in St. Kitts. It was a bucket list item for my wife, and it was the happiest I remember seeing her.


Paid a real premium for that full photo disc, but worth every penny for that memory.
Apart from that, my favorite personal experiences were sitting on my balcony and watching that incredible cobalt blue of the deep ocean going by, and going to the helipad at night to see the stars. That in particular was just stunning!
 

Me at 110 days.

Agree.  All planning done and waiting for the on-board entertainment to open for reservations ...  after I have Grease, Headliners, ice show, and comedy shows reserved, then my attitude changes.

Me at 110 days.

I've been there... We are now like what the heck how are we almost a month out... I remember when we were 600 days out...

Have to agree with @Lovetocruise2002, my first memory from my very first cruise was on Oasis of the Seas, I had NEVER seen anything like it before, or been on anything like it before!  I remember looking around and just being absolutely AMAZED at what was going on around me.  We took a short stroll on the Royal Promenade and started looking all over the ship to see the rest of it.  Every floor brought a jaw dropping experience since I had never seen anything like that before! Friends from work tried to inform me and let me know but no words or videos can prepare you for the monstrosity that is the Oasis class until you see  one in person!  I still remember my amazement and still feel that way once my feet get off of the gangway and I am officially on the ship and able to start exploring! 

My first cruise was a TA on the Jewel in 2007.  We paralleled a small hurricane for a couple days.  A third of the crew was sick, the Shops On Board were closed because a lot of the bottles in Duty Free had broken and it smelled like a distillery on that entire deck.  It was hard to walk in open areas because of the pitching and rolling.
So I thought it would be a good idea to see if the little snack bar on the fantail (up a flight of stairs from the putting green) was open.  I was surprised to see the crew and the feeling was mutual.  It may not have been a good idea to climb an outside staircase in a hurricane for a chili dog and onion rings,  but it seemed like an adventure at the time.  Then I went back to the cabin and looked at the weather conditions.   Judging from the quality of the photo, I took a picture with a potato.  It shows the wind at 94 MPH almost directly at the port side of the ship.
Meclizine saved me from hugging the toilet, but anytime I sat down for more than a couple minutes I fell asleep.
I  knew cruising was for me.

Our first cruise was on the Monarch of the Seas.  Everything was wonderful as it was our first international trip together and also our first time in the Caribbean.  One of the funniest things I remember back on that ship was Sumu wrestling in the lounge with the inflatable suits.  It was a very funny event and I have never seen it since (13 cruises since).
D

Now, heres the question...
Were any of them wearing flip flops/sandals with socks?

I can’t remember my first cruise since I wasn’t even 2, however we have lots of home videos on VHS. 
My first Royal cruise was in 2004 and I loved Adventure Ocean. Every time you left the program for the afternoon or evening, or whenever, they gave you a ticket. On the last day I had so many tickets that I redeemed for Adventure Ocean merch. I still have so much lying around the house. Another memory is waiting on long lines at Johnny Rockets for lunch since it was complimentary. Haven’t eaten there ever since because I don’t want to pay for it. 

My first cruise was Voyager in 2004 out of NJ.  Only bad memory was the confusion for dinner Day 1 because the muster was scheduled during the first seating.  Aside from that and "losing" my son in the rest room, we had a good time in Canada and even sighted some whales.  I think I even won $10 in a casino and acquired some elusive coins and stamps.  We didn't book any excursions but found all the touristy ground transportation we needed.  I really learned to appreciate Royal's customer service and to distinguish starboard from port...

Our first cruise was on Radiance of the Seas in 2006 (our 25th wedding anniversary).  We remember two things vividly:
1).  Our first date was at a restaurant in Montreal called Portofino.  We were pleasantly surprised that Royal Caribbean took this into account and named a restaurant on Radiance Portofino as well.  It made us feel immediately "at home".
2).  We loved watching the guests dance all over the ship.  We were both quite envious.  When we returned home, we immediately started dance lessons.  You will see us on a ship someday.  We are not good, but we are not bad.  You will immediately notice who we are ... we will be the ones having the most fun on the dance floor.  Our favourite places on Royal Caribbean ships to dance are:
Any Centrum on any night. The Schooner Bar on Anthem (the floor just beside the piano is a dance floor just made for two). The entrance to the Schooner Bar on Harmony (we know it's not really a dance floor ... hasn't stopped us yet). Every Central Park (at night under the stars with slow music) Every Promenade (crowded or just us) The lounge forward on deck 5 on Voyager and Freedom class ships. Every Elevator that has the Stowaway Piano Player. Curt and Sue from Canada