AdventureLover67 said:
Hello all!Someone just referred me to this site and I was so excited to see people posting for the May 2-9 cruise!
This is the first cruise for my husband, 18 year old daughter and myself and I'm just beside myself with anticipation!! Does anyone have any special advice regarding first time cruisers? Either definite do's or don'ts? Do any of you think there will be many 18-21 year olds on this cruise?
Hello AdventureLover and welcome to our little forum.
First, our philosophy: you came to the right place because there is a wealth of knowledge in these boards. Anything and everything you wanted to know about your upcoming cruise can be found here. Having said that, it is actually possible to 'over-prepare.' Some people have been known to plan every detail down to the last minute but when things don't go exactly as planned they get upset/angry and the trip doesn't turn out as wonderful as they expected. {
there was one cruise where the ship was unable to dock at Castaway Cay, and people were reported to have been screaming and swearing at cast members - in front of children, no less}. So our philosophy here is, as long as the ship isn't sinking we will do our best to enjoy what we can, for it is certainly better than what we left behind at home.
Now, where to find all this golden knowledge. First, I recommend reading the questions and answers on the main forum. Feel free to ask a question here, but you will get a much wider variety of opinions to choose from on the main board.
Next read some of the trip reports. These reports will give you a sense of what to expect. However, sometimes knowing too much eliminates some of the surprise.
If you really have some time on your hands, you could glance over an old navigator - these are the fliers
DCL hands out each day to tell cruisers what is happening.
And finally, having sailed DCL twice previously, my favorite two tips:
1) Purchase a clear-plastic over-the-door shoe holder (for under $10) - countertop space is very limited and these things are perhaps the best things for throwing all the little things we accumulate. I threw ours away after the last cruise. It served its purpose.
and 2) get to the cruise terminal as early as possible. Basically, your cruise starts as soon as you walk in.
There will be fewer 18-20 year olds, than little kids of course. The good news is that with a small number, the teens should bond together better than if there were a large number.
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I am considering booking this cruise for my Husband an I. Can anyone tell me how the availability of Palo dinner and brunch looks right now for this cruise? 
in advance....
