Hi everyone,

In case you haven't seen it, we recently published a story on the blog called The Ultimate Planner for First-Time Cruisers. You can check it out here:http://www.fodors.com/news/cruise-pl...ips-6062.html/

What advice would you give to first time cruisers?

Research, research, research. Visit www.cruisecritic.com.

I second BarBAnn's reply and add: Bring a highlighter so you can notate which day & eve activities you wish to attend. If a Meet & Greet is offered attend that to find folks who wish to go ashore independent of the $$-offered ships tours.

I just got back from a Danube River cruise to Budapest. All the research in the world did not prepare me for the shoddy tours, which were very short in length. However if you wish to pay $$$$ more, then.... Not mentioned in Amawaterways literature about the extra charges.

Worst trip I've ever been on, but part of it has to do with going with my 86 year old mother.

Still, Amalegro had great service everywhere, excellent cuisine, etc.... The only thing that was lacking were their tours and tour options.

What a waste of money.

I am getting on my soap box again. Why do users here felt compel to plug cruise critic? Is it an inferority complex?
Maybe if all the answer you want is there, why even bother to be here?

Rhea58, I'm using a highlighter on each cruise, cannot tell how many people told me with envy, why didn't they think of it

Other than highlightrers, post-it notes works well to scribble reminders for yourself or left messages for someone else.