advice for first timer

[Chris L]

I have booked a cruise on P and O Oceana for myself and my girlfriend, we have never been on a cruise before but decided to go for it as the ship visits destinations we are interested in seeing and we got a very good deal. I am a bit worried about a few things: firstly we are quite young both 24 (but quite mature for our age in the fact that we don't like the typical Ibiza 18-30 hoilday most people our age go on) and are a bit worried we will be out of place. We are also a bit worried about how formal the dress has to be I have a dark suite but do you have to wear a tux? or a bow tie? And advice would be great, we leave in 5 days are really looking forward to it.

[Chris L]

I have booked a cruise on P and O Oceana for myself and my girlfriend, we have never been on a cruise before but decided to go for it as the ship visits destinations we are interested in seeing and we got a very good deal. I am a bit worried about a few things: firstly we are quite young both 24 (but quite mature for our age in the fact that we don't like the typical Ibiza 18-30 hoilday most people our age go on) and are a bit worried we will be out of place. We are also a bit worried about how formal the dress has to be I have a dark suite but do you have to wear a tux? or a bow tie? And advice would be great, we leave in 5 days are really looking forward to it.

[mikey]

Hi Chris;

Well, I have only been on one cruise(Royal) and I learned a lot. Formal night attire: A sports jacket and a nice pair of slacks is fine for a man or you can wear a suit or tux, you'll see it all. For women, a nice pant suit or slacks and shirt, dress(doesn't have to be the Hollywood kind). You'll see a bit of everything.

The ships has something for everyone. Its doesn't matter what your age group is. I am 36 and had a ball. You will not feel out of place or bored.

Where are you going? Have fun!

[Jefferson]

Chris,
Don't worry about not fitting in. You can do your own thing and nobody will coerce you into doing things just like them. We are 40 and 43 and just got back from the Caribbean and we had a ball doing our own things on the islands and playing bingo with people we met at our dinner seating. We are not big bingo players at home but it sounded fun and we enjoyed our new friends company. You can be who you are on the ship. We never sit by the pools or have wild parties like other people. We keep to ourselves and meet people along the way. You will be just fine and have a wonderful time. You will be "hooked on cruising" after this I am sure. We started in 2001 with a 3 day cruise, then in 2002 a 7 day Western Caribbean and then this year a 7 day Eastern Caribbean.

[dtexas]

You can usually save ALOT of money by not taking the ship tours. Do your own thing or book a tour after you get off in each port.