Cruising for a Bruising - 7 nights with nine members (well close enough) of the same family **COMPLETE** About This Page:

[Lemap760]

Anyone willing to travel with that much family is very brave in my book.

[POOH]

Great start Terri. I'm doing the Western next November. Can't wait to read all about it. Hi Chris

[belle0517]

Great start and great plans!

[momtolexi]

Great start Terri! I'm sure you will have a blast as you seem to have a great relationship with your family! Have fun!

[DrDolphin]

Planning, Paying and Packing details

Ok – planning details. Amazingly enough – I didn’t do much planning for this trip. I talked to DH2b and said “what kind of excursions do you want to do?” – his answer “I don’t know…. Whatever you want…”, while I love him to tears, at times I want to bop him upside the head (this time being one of them….)

SO we talked more and more and I finally got him to give me some parameters. We agreed that he wanted to try ziplining after seeing my photos from the Panama Canal trip as well as snorkeling – since we just bought him a new mask with lenses glued in it to match his prescription….

In addition – after my birthday trip to WDW in September when Chris had his first ever spa treatment and massage – he is all about visiting the spa onboard. I have booked two spa treatments for the two of us, as well as our romance package includes a cruise-length pass to the rainforest… more spa time!

Paying – this has been interesting, not a challenge amazingly enough – but interesting to do the he, me and we costs. I had paid the deposit for two people in the room when I was on the Panama Canal cruise, and then we just had Chris pay for half of that amount toward my cost, instead of him paying me, and then me paying. We both paid for each half of our cabin. We’ve been saving for lots of excursions, photos, spa treatments etc. Neither of us are drinkers – so our bar bill = spa bill. Our cost estimates at the moment -
$200.00 for photographs;
$200.00 for shopping;
$600 for spa (which makes sense since I spent $300 by myself on the PC cruise);
$158 for parasailing;
$18.00 for bike riding on CC;
$58.00 for the GPS walking tour in Key West;
$150.00 for ziplining and snorkeling in Cozumel; and
$98.00 for stingray snorkeling in Grand Cayman.
$168.00 for tips.

Our total out of pocket in addition to the cruises costs is $1,708.00. Not too bad. I am hoping to come in below the budgeted cost estimate.

We have lots of money sources coming in on this –
I have a reward card from Disney for $80.00 and may end up with a little more on the rewards front before the trip;
$125.00 in rolled coins that we’ve saved and I am hoping that will increase in the next three weeks;
$200.00 on-board credit
$650.00 dollars in “left over work travel money” that I have received back from all my travels.
We plan to take all the “cash” and put it in our checking account and use our check card when we get to the port, in addition to the onboard credit and the Disney rewards card.

And now for the last challenge – THE PACKING!!
I have laid out a stack of my clothes in our second bedroom – so that I didn’t confuse myself since I have to pack for my two-week trip to Alaska starting tomorrow when I return from Atlanta. I am about 85% packed (at least stuff out of the 2nd bedroom) and only need to add toiletries, and my travel extras like camera stuff, laptop stuff, needed goodies for the kiddos, the room, etc. We are planning on taking a case of water down with us since I am NOT paying $35.00 for a case of water on the ship when I can pay $7.00 for a case of water at Costco. Chris has not started to pack at all!! I hope that he will do some packing while I am in Alaska cause he has to work nights the entire week after I return from Alaska. I do not want to be up packing after midnight on the night before we leave.

Well – those are the plans at this point – I have my two-week trip to Alaska that starts on Sunday the 5th and ends on the 19th. We sail from Canaveral on the 25th. I am doubtful that we will do much in the way of live reporting since internet access on the ship is pricey – but we shall see.

[lauren-roxy]

Sounds like you have everything planned out and it looks like fun, especially the spa!!

[oldmom]

spas are so wonderful. you are incredily organized.

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by DrDolphin

...the he, me and we costs. I had paid the deposit for two people in the room when I was on the Panama Canal cruise, and then we just had Chris pay for half of that amount toward my cost, instead of him paying me, and then me paying. We both paid ...

I'm confused!

I think you have a good plan!

[HeatherD]

Sounds like you've got a great trip planned. Have a nice time in Alaska, don't let any iceburgs hit ya!

[Lemap760]

Sounds like excitement and relaxation all in one. I would have given anything for lenses in my snorkel mask when I went snorkeling in Hawaii

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans!!

[statelady01]

Great update!

[LouigiAnne]

Have a lot of Fun , and Don't forget the Sun Screen LouigiAnne

[chezp]

Nice plans.

[44mickey]

"We are planning on taking a case of water down with us since I am NOT paying $35.00 for a case of water on the ship when I can pay $7.00 for a case of water at Costco. "


If space becomes limited or you don't want to pack a whole case of water, your stop in Key West would allow you to buy a case for much less than on the ship. Just an idea. You and your family are going to love this cruise.