Caribbean Cruise Holidays
Embarkation
This Caribbean Cruise Holidays page is part two of a four part series about the best Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman. The western Caribbean Cruises that include the Cayman Islands, will all have a very similar embarkation day. If you have taken eastern Caribbean cruises, you will only see very small differences in the first day on board. This is the list of all of the topics in this series:
- Caribbean Vacation Travel Cruise: Planning
- Embarkation (See below)
- Cruise to the Caribbean: Days at Sea
- Caribbean Cruise Travel: Days in Port
Caribbean Cruise Holidays
Cayman Island Cruises: Embarkation
Caribbean cruise holidays start by selecting the right cruise for you and your family and choosing the best days to travel based on the Cayman Islands weather. What should you expect on your first day?
Cayman Island cruise ships vary in size and this could affect the experience you have on board ship. On a very large ship you may experience some delays getting on board or receiving your checked in luggage. I remember my embarkation day as a day of waiting in lines. I waited pass through security, waited to get my picture taken, waited to get to my cabin, waited, waited, waited. However, this is not a day to get cranky. Just try to take in your surroundings or strike up a conversation with whoever is standing in line next to you.
Many cruises to the Caribbean follow a similar routine. You will start by passing through security and checking in your luggage. If you arrive early, you should pass through security pretty quickly, but that doesn't mean that you can get on the ship. Boarding is not allowed until the ship is ready, and so you may be waiting around for sometime.
Once you start boarding at some point you will get your picture taken. You later will have a chance to purchase these pictures. When you are on board, you can go to your cabin and drop off your carry on luggage. Your checked luggage will arrive shortly.
In your cabin, find your life jacket to prepare for the lifeboat drill. I thought this was actually pretty interesting because I was on my first Caribbean cruise. It was comforting to know what to do in case of an emergency.
Caribbean Cruise Holidays
American Passport
After the drill, you will probably have a welcome aboard buffet. During this meal, look through the ship's schedule. A typical Caribbean cruise will have tons and tons of activities. Go and sign up for the ship activities you are interested in. Note that popular activities like the health spa fill up quickly. Also, go and sign up for your Caribbean cruise excursions. This is where you sign up for port of call activities like Stingray City or Rum Point. Finally, I recommend that you also go and check your seating assignment. Make sure that your dinner requests have been arranged properly.
The first dinner on board is probably the highlight of the day. You're dressed up along with your fellow passengers. The dining room is beautifully decorated, and you will probably have a very good wait staff. Order whatever food you like. If it's not to your liking send to back or order something else. Note that the drinks (except for tea, coffee, and water) are not complimentary.
After dinner you will notice that the ship has come to life -- everything is now open (casino, shops, lounges, etc.). My sister and I walked around the ship and just enjoyed the sea air. To me the most amazing thing about being on a ship that size is it doesn't feel as if you are moving. It's literally a floating city.
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