Booked the cruise with our local travel agent and initiated Cruise Critic Forum about 11 months in advance of our sailing to get a head start on our Meet & Mingle and prevent multiple forums for the same sailing.

This forum was the most active and enjoyable thread I have ever created as a direct result of a group of extraordinarily helpful and kind people. We had well over 100 active participants on our forum and it really added to the overall vacation in a positive way.

Anticipation is often the highlight of many things we look forward to (especially a Cruise) and starting a Cruise Critic forum thread is an excellent way to build anticipation with fellow cruisers and learn much about cruising along the way. Example: Did you know that using a "chip clip" used for closing snack chip bags can also be used to prevent the shower curtain in your cabin bathroom from hugging and groping you while you shower?!?!?!? (Start a thread before your cruise and you too can learn as I did from veteran cruisers. CC is a great place for first time cruisers to get answers to all your questions from people who are thrilled to help you on your first cruise adventure. Read more