Q and A with My Mom, a 1st Time Cruiser
September 28, 2011 
7 Comments
Palm trees and beaches await this blogger's mother
In a little over a month, my mother will be joining me on her very first cruise. It seems like just yesterday since I took my first, on NCL’s Pride of Aloha. That was 2005. I have learned so much about the industry that I thought it would be fun to take a look at cruising through a newcomer’s eyes once again.
My mother is an avid reader and has done her share of travel through the continental United States, but doesn’t know much about cruising. As those of us in the business know, until you’ve been on a cruise, it’s sort of a universe you don’t really think about.
So, I did what any PR person might do when taking a trip with their mother…I conducted a Q and A with her! Up until a few days ago, I had hardly told her anything about the cruise, except that it will be on Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam in November, and that we’ll be stopping in Puerto Rico. It was only a couple days ago that I even sent her a link to the ship and the itinerary. So she is just now starting to learn about what to expect!
Here’s a look at our brief email Q and A.
Q. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to cruising?
A. Having time away, relaxing and sight-seeing.
Q. What is the one thing you are most curious about when it comes to cruising?
A. What it’s like to be on a giant floating cruise ship.
Q. How many pairs of shoes do you think you’ll pack?
A. Can I get by with 3 pair?
Q. What are the things you are most excited to do on this trip?
A. Eating fabulous meals, seeing the islands and people watching.
Q. Do you have any pre-conceived notions about the types of people who go on cruises?
A. That they may have more money then the average person.
Q. Of the four stops on our itinerary (see below), which are you most excited about?
a. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
b. San Juan, Puerto Rico
c. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
d. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
A. I need to read up on them before commenting.
Q. Are you worried about getting seasick?
A. Oops, I need to buy Dramamine!
Yoga is one of many activities to choose from on a cruise
Q. Do you plan to do any activities aboard the ship? If so, do you know what they’ll be?
A. I would love to take a yoga class, walk, read…not sure what is offered.
Q. How excited are you about this upcoming trip?
A. I have been getting more excited since you sent the information to me and as time draws closer, and as I read more about the cruise.
I’ll try to revisit these questions in a few weeks after she’s had a chance to learn a bit more about our upcoming voyage, to see if any of her answers have changed. I’ll also write a Part Two to this posting to address some of her questions, since some of you might be wondering the same things.
Written by: Maggie Blehert, head of PR and communications for Cruise Holidays, North America’s oldest cruise-specialty franchise network.
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Nice post – will be interesting to see if your Mom will cruise again after this experience! So true, that until you do it, most people just have no idea.
If your Mom is the social type, she should check into her Eurodam roll call on MeetOnCruise and meet others on her cruise:) Look forward to your post after the cruise. Cheers
Thanks for reading! Great suggestion for meeting others, too!
That is so cool you get to take her with you. Do you have room for one more??? I love all of the great food they serve.
I’m very excited to introduce her to the world of cruising, as well as spend some extra time with her, although I will be working so I won’t have too much down time! I am interested to experience Holland America Line’s cuisine — I have heard it is exceptional.
Anxiously awaiting Part II of your report!
Cate,
Part 2 of the interview with a 1st time cruise has just been published: http://cruisesource.us/2011/12/impressions-from-a-1st-time-cruiser/
Thanks
Rich Tucker
CruiseSource Editor