A smoother first voyage.
Give everyone a map of the goal.
Explain what ends a round and what the players are trying to accomplish. With Island Hoppers, show a completed journey before going into every way a route can be built. The destination makes the details easier to follow.
Try one small voyage together.
Demonstrate an ordinary cast or a short dive using the real pieces. Let the next person repeat the pattern and ask a question. A shared practice move turns an abstract rule into something everyone at the table has seen.
Bring one discovery into the next round.
After playing, ask which choice people would handle differently. A better-timed return or a more flexible island connection gives the second session a story of its own. Pack the pieces in order so the next departure is easy.