If you have booked your very first cruise - congratulations! You can look forward to an incredible experience, and one that will be quite unlike anything you have done before. However, it isn't like any other holiday you've had, and for that reason there can be a little anxiety in advance about what you can expect. Here's a quick rundown on what your initial experience is likely to be.

First of all, once you arrive at the port, your luggage will be taken from you by a porter. The porter will then take your luggage on board, and it will be brought directly to your cabin some time later. The key here is in the phrase 'some time later' - don't be fooled into thinking that your luggage will be happily waiting for you as soon as you reach your cabin. It is not likely to be with you until much later on in the day, and in some cases, not until the following day. Be prepared for this, and make sure you have all your essentials with you in your carry-on luggage.

Once you have gone through the x-ray machine and are cleared for security, you'll need to hand in your tickets and proof of identification, along with your passport. You will then be given your key card, which will be the method you will use to pay for goods while on board. Rarely is money used on board a ship, and credit cards are never used. Instead, your personal on-board plastic card will be used for all extra purchases of drinks, or items in the shop, and then at the end of the voyage you'll be presented with your final bill. In some cases this card also acts as the key to your cabin door, and it is therefore extremely important that you keep this very safe.

Once this process has been completed, you'll probably be asked to wait in a lounge area until you're called to board. As you arrive on the ship you'll be greeted, and usually given a map and a few clues about where your cabin has been hidden. In a few cases you may be lucky enough to actually be escorted to your cabin, but this largely depends on how much you have paid for the experience!

Once you arrive at your cabin the first thing that will strike you is likely to be the sheer size of the space you have paid thousands of pounds for. The room will be far smaller than any hotel room you're used to, but the space is usually very well planned, with plenty of storage room, and the cabins are usually very comfortable. Remember, it's highly unlikely that you'll be spending very much time in your cabin - there will be far more interesting things to do.

Once you have settled in, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the ship. So use the map to find the restaurant, and the main areas where you'll find facilities that interest you. Once everyone is on board you will then be called to follow the emergency drill routine, which is obviously important, after which, you can wave a cheery farewell to land, and enjoy the delights of life on the open water.