Does anyone have "traditions" they've adopted over their cruising years? For us, it's room service coffee every morning. And for our first breakfast, we go to the dining room - eggs benedict for him, poached eggs for me. Just sets the mood for the rest of the trip.
Just the opposite for us. I prefer straight up poached eggs on toast, although I like to crumble bacon over them. Vanessa is the Eggs Benedict fan. We normally eat breakfast in the dining room anyway, since the buffets have become annoying.
As for traditions, I only have one and it is with Carnival. I always go to the deli for embarkation lunch and get a corned beef on rye, and then get two slices of pepperoni pizza.
For me it starts when I get the Docs. Not the instant e-mailed ones, the real mailed ones. Then the Doc Dance as a tradition.
After stepping on the ship from the gangway I jump on it with gratitude that I made it safely and didn't miss it. It has been said I yell out "I am home", I can't confirm that as being true.
First order of leisure is to meet the lido deck bar manager and bartenders. Then off to the lido restaurant to see if they have any of the awesome roasted turkey left for the early boarders. If not, then it is off to the Deli for a Reuben to meet and say hello to that crew too.
Then I check out my cabin if it is ready and unpack if the luggage is there.
Then a few cocktails while meeting my fellow passengers. Then the dreaded lifeboat drill. After that, I swing by the casino and see if the host/hostess is there to meet them. Then I head to the meet and greet get together with friends I have made online.
We find the nearest open bar and get a rum punch. Then go our cabin and put down our carry-ons, hopefully meet our cabin steward. Then we explore the ship. Head up to the Lido deck after exploring, grab another rum punch and down to the cabin to unpack. Out on the balcony or up on the Lido for sail away. Muster, then casino.
On the morning of debarkation, we always go to the formal dining room for breakfast. This is the only time we go there for breakfast, instead of the buffet. It is a great way to have extra service before I am back to making my own breakfast and doing my own dishes. Lol.
MamaofEnS
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RCI Radiance of the Seas Sep 2009
NCL Sun March 2008
Carnival Destiny June 2006
Carnival Ecstasy June 2002
Carnival Elation August 2000
Celebrity Century June 1998
Carnival Carnivale August 1993
I forgot the post-cruise tradition - - - I wake up the first morning home and ask, "You mean I have to make my own coffee ? ? ?" It's become the byword around my house.
On every cruise I take a photo from a lounge chair at the stern overlooking the wake. This goes in a frame on my desk to meditate on when I need to decompress. Silly, huh?
Nope Rick, taking the same picture is not strange at all. My wife's tradition is to get a picture of our girls in their life vests at the Muster Drill. One, they hate the vests. Two, its good teen age "embarrassment" points to have the pictures in the photo album post cruise.
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================================================== ========== Carnival Cruise Lines:
Fantasy 90, Celebration 95, Victory 05, Conquest 05, Spirit 6/06, Freedom 6/08, Holiday 7/08, Victory 6/09, Valor 9/09, Dream 6/10, Splendor 8/10,Conquest 8/11,Magic 11/11,Triumph 4/12,Spirit 7/12,Freedom 11/12, Triumph 2/13 - The fire cruise
NCL Dream October 2006, RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007
You reminded me of another tradition we have. I always take a picture of the ship on the last night of sailing. Usually, the deck is pretty empty at that time, since people are getting their luggage squared away, etc. I than save the picture as my background on my computer.
MamaofEnS
__________________
RCI Radiance of the Seas Sep 2009
NCL Sun March 2008
Carnival Destiny June 2006
Carnival Ecstasy June 2002
Carnival Elation August 2000
Celebrity Century June 1998
Carnival Carnivale August 1993
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