Brand brand brand new to cruising at all - never done any cruising of any kind. We are looking at an Alaskan cruise next summer w/ Disney, out of Vancouver. Done some initial price-checking on their website and on a website that I get some work discounts through.
I feel like there are things I should look out for that I probably don’t know about. I’m not really even sure what to ask. Would love info from people who do this often!
Obviously deciding dates, itineraries, and ship are some of your first decisions.
You’ll want to decide what type of room you want. For Alaska I personally feel a veranda is a must, but that’s a personal decision.
Then you’ll want to use the deck plans to identify a location that works best for you. I enjoy being on a deck that is sandwiched by other decks with cabins. I try to avoid being under high traffic areas like the buffet or night life.
For many it’s also key to determine whether it’s better to be forward, mid-ship or aft, as well as whether to be higher or lower on the ship. Mid ship will feel the least movement if that’s important.
Deciding on which side - port or starboard - of the ship may be important based on your itinerary. In some cases is doesn’t matter much. Asking around can help determine this for you.
Hope this helps!
As always, the Unofficial Guide is very helpful. It answered most of my questions before my first Disney cruise.
If you use Facebook, I highly recommend joining the group for your sailing (once you’ve decided which one). Lots of friendly folks willing to help each other out. If you need help finding your group, let me know and I’ll look it up for you.
Charlene