My First Cruise
My first cruise was in 1967 to the Bahamas and was a graduation gift from my parents. I can't remember the name of the ship. I went with about 100 other seniors in my high school class and 2 chaperons. I don't think cruise ships allow that many kids under 21 to sail now on a ship, but we were well-behaved (for teens) We all especially liked that we could drink alcohol under-age (another rule that's changed).
Details of First Cruise
We rode to Miami on a bus and spent the night in a hotel before boarding the ship. I'll never forget how big the ship seemed. We had 4 girls in an interior cabin on the lowest deck , with 2 bunk beds. Storage was definitely a problem, as was 4 girls sharing a bath. We all quickly determined that we had brought too much stuff.
We loved how fancy the food was presented and how much there was to eat. Having waiters and stewards be so nice to us (and treat us like adults) was new for us all.
We had a horrible storm sailing overnight and many on the ship got very ill. I didn't, but some of my cabin mates did. Ugh.
We loved the Bahamas--they seemed so "foreign" to us (none of us had ever been outside the USA). We spent the 2 days exploring Nassau and going to all the liquor and perfume stores for free samples. I came home hooked on international travel and cruising.
Lessons Learned
- always carry dramamine
- don't overpack
- eat and drink wisely and in moderation
