Pre-trip report - Our First Cruise!! Updated 11/25 About This Page:

[Cheriemek]

Cruise: Magic Western Dec 2nd- 9th
Reason: 25th Anniversary!
Cast of Characters: Me (unknown age) - Cheryl
DH (49) - Donald
DD (17) - Tricia
DD (13) - Mariah
DNiece (14) – Mary Lynn

2005 was not a good year. I work for a government that was going through a major financial meltdown. 2005 started with the threat (later made good) of thousands of layoffs. I received a layoff notice myself, but it was recalled. In March, our office of 56 people was downsized to 23. To see people who had worked for decades lose their jobs and enter the already severely depressed Buffalo job market was heartbreaking. I felt guilty that I had survived. Amongst the 23 left, additional duties were taken on, creating even more stress, but at least we were employed.

In May my DMom passed away. She had been sick for some time, but wouldn’t see a doctor. My 5 sisters and I all live in the Buffalo area and our families all went to my parents every Sunday for dinner. We are a very close family, and the loss of my mom was a big change. My sisters and I were so touched at all of the people that attended the wake. Always trying to one-up each other, 2 of my sisters and I had a competition to see who had the most friends from work attend. I won! My mom had always been a nut about making us go to wakes. The comfort we got from so many friends attending was her karma.

In June, two weeks after my mom passed away, the sister closest in age to me, Susan, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Stage 4. Nothing they could do. Two weeks after we bury my mother, we learn we will be burying my sister in 6 months. It was unbelievable.

My sister never married until she was 40 years old. She had married a man whose first wife had died of breast cancer. When Susan first started dating this man, he had a daughter just out of college, a daughter in college, and an 8 year old daughter, Mary-Lynn. At that time, my youngest DD was 7, and another DSister had a 9 year old daughter. The 3 girls became the best of friends. The three girls would take turns over the next several years spending weekends at each other’s homes. It was like she had always been part of our family. When my family went to DW in 2004, it was with 2 other sisters and their families, and Mary-Lynn. It was her first trip to DW. We all had a great time.

My sisters and I tried to think of what to do with the time we had. We had always wanted to have a family portrait taken. We got the 27 of us together (including Susan’s step children) and had a picture done in November. Susan’s DH had already bought a grave site next to his first wife. Susan was worried about where she might be buried. The 5 of us girls decided to buy a family plot had have us all (and the 4 husbands) be buried together. We even bought a grave stone.

Susan’s 46th birthday was in December. We threw a surprise birthday party for her. We had all kinds of old friends – even people that used to work with her when she was in HS. It was such a sad party. Christmas came – the first without my mom, and the last with my sister.

I was so sad. I had to do something to take my mind off of things. My 25th anniversary was in 2006, so I decided to start looking into what we might do to celebrate. 2 of my DD’s are in college, but I still have 2 DD’s at home to boss around. I wanted to take them with us on our vacation. Should we go to DW, or should we go on a cruise? How about a Disney cruise? And how about if we take Mary-Lynn? All of my daughters had grown to love her, and she had spent so much time at our house over the years that they treated her like a sister. I went after work one evening to visit Susan and her husband. It was one of the last times that she was unmedicated enough to have a conversation. I asked if they would mind if I took Mary-Lynn out of school for a week to go on vacation with us and they said yes.

This sounds so somber, but I am really a fun person. The rest of this, and my Trip Report, will be upbeat!!

Part 2 – How, When and Where?

[DrDolphin]

WOW -- what a beginning. So sad, but at the same time, its filled with the hope of your sister knowing how much she is loved and her step-daughter is loved. I can't wait to read more!

[katspjs]

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WOW -- what a beginning. So sad, but at the same time, its filled with the hope of your sister knowing how much she is loved and her step-daughter is loved. I can't wait to read more!

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[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

What a start Cheryl! I'm so sorry for all the losses you've suffered over the past year [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

I can't wait to hear more about your plans for the cruise [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Greaqt start! Sounds like you really could use this trip!!

[JaimeandChad]

WOW!! That qualifies as a eventful year! I hope you have a wonderful memory making time. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] for your trip and [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/angel.gif[/img] for your family.

[mouseclub4]

Wow that was heavy. I think it is great you are taking her with you. I know how hard Cancer is as we have lost family to it. I will keep your sister in my thoughts.

[Cheriemek]

So, of course I want a Disney Cruise. Trish (the 17 year old) thought Disney was going to be too babyish. In March, she and I go to AAA to talk to a TA. The TA doesn't know much about Disney - I give her some sample dates, she calls Disney and gets put on hold alot. We want to go around Christmas or around Thanksgiving, as I really don't want to pull the kids out of school. But so expensive!!! The TA is only in her early 20s and she and Trish strike up a friendship, and the 2 of them start planning what kind of cruise they would like to go on. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] After 20 minutes of this, Trish is ready for a party cruise!!! As any parent of a teenager knows, there is nothing more painful than spending a vacation with an out-of-sorts teen. I was beginning to think that maybe it would be better to save money and just go on any old cruise. DH says to Trish "It's your mother's 25th anniversary - not yours! I say we go on the Disney cruise!" - this in spite of the cost. Trish starts her sulking.

I tried a TA from the Internet. I emailed times I would be interested in. She suggests the first week of December. Close to our anniversary (Nov 27th) and cheaper than the holiday weeks. She also suggested the Navigator Verandas (I had not yet purchased my Passporter so I didn't know about them). Anyway, this trip would be about $2,000 less than the numbers I got from the AAA TA. I check with my DB-in-law about taking Mary Lynn out of HS for a week, and he says ok. I booked the trip! I told Trish about how she and her sister and cousin would have a room of their own with a veranda. She comes around - no more sulking!

NEXT - I have to read my Passporter!!

[lauriep]

You're going to have such a great time! Can't wait to read your reports and find out how the teens like it.

Read every word of the Passporter. So much helpful information. And if you haven't got the Passporter e-book of cruise tips I highly recommend it!

Laurie P.

[DrDolphin]

Oooohhhh - You booked!!! I can't wait to read more!

[Colexis Mom]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Cheriemek]

Less than a week left! I am taking off from work on Friday to take care of last minute things (and get my hair cut - and perhaps a manicure?). I will go to my DBIL's house on Thursday night to pick up my niece's suitcase. I will pick her up from school on Friday. I got two cheap rooms at the Best Western Cocoa Beach for that night. I gave DH ONE job to do - get a car for Fri/Sat and then for the Sat when we get back. I give very specific directions for him. He calls me back and tells me "The AAA TA says you don't need a car, that Disney takes you there on a bus". HELLO! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] What does the AAA TA know about what arrangements I have made? I didn't go through AAA. I had to argue with DH that I knew what I was doing. Anyway, in a few days, we are off!!!!

[MAria R]

I hope that you have a great vacation, can't wait to hear about it!

[Colexis Mom]

Have a great time (and good luck with the cars [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] )!

[EeyoreNeedsLoveToo]

Can't wait to read about the trip! Have fun!