The First Moments Aboard A Cruiseship

When it comes to taking a cruise, the last thing you need worry about is which side of the ship is port and which side is starboard. That"s because cruise lines offer several ways for landlubbers to get quickly oriented on board so that their relaxing holiday at sea can begin right away.

Cruise companies sell luxury, comfort and relaxation aboard their floating hotel resorts so you can enjoy your visit from the moment you board your ship.

For example, most cruiselines will escort passengers to their cabins, so don"t worry about finding your quarters. On your walk to your cabin, begin to get yourself situated by noticing the landmarks that will help you find your cabin easily on your own.

Inside your cabin, you"ll find deck plans, programs, and cards verifying details such as your dining arrangements. Take a quick scan at these papers, which should be prominently displayed in your cabin.

On the deck plan, for example, you"ll be able to note where to find the nearest elevator, bar, eatery, or — in the case of seasickness or other medical conditions — infirmary station. The deck plan will tell you where the common areas are, including the outdoor facilities and casinos.

On the events program — which changes daily — you"ll see what events are taking place on board so you can plan your days and evenings. During the day, you"ll be able to attend, for instance, lectures on nature or the upcoming shore excursion, arts and crafts workshops, and fitness and dance classes. At night you can be entertained by Las Vegas- and Broadway-style revues or an array of music from classical to rock and roll. There are also first-run movies, games, and karaoke. The events program will also tell you how to book services such as massage and hair appointments.

Your dining verification will tell you when and where you"ll be eating your major meals. There are usually a couple of seatings, so should there be a problem in the scheduling, for example, contact the Maitre-D" as soon as possible to make the appropriate changes.

Bolstering the information available in your cabin is a "getting-acquainted-with-the-ship" video. While you"re unpacking, tune into the video that should play non-stop on the ship"s close-circuit television system during the day of embarkation. The program will also review where facilities are, what events are upcoming, what the safety protocols are and where the lifeboat stations are.

Safety is a high priority for cruiselines and, like airlines, there are procedures in place to get people off the vessel. Therefore, prior to leaving port passengers will go through a mandatory lifeboat drill. This will ensure you are familiar with the cruiseship"s safety features in the event of an emergency.

The configurations of cruiseships vary widely, but there are a couple of facilities that are common on most modern boats. For example, the Lido Deck — made famous by The Love Boat series — is generally a place on board where there is casual dining and a swimming pool. The center point of the ship — sometimes called The Atrium — is a large common area that houses such spaces as the purser"s office, show lounges, movie theaters, and other facilities.

So after you"ve set up your cabin, started sipping a tall, cool drink at a comfortable refreshment bar and planned your evening"s entertainment, you may still need to improve your nautical language skills by knowing which side is port and which side is starboard. Here"s a clue: The easy way to remember that port is left is that both terms have the same number of letters.

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