I Luv Crusin

Thank you all for your perspectives! My DH and I are in our mid-50's. We are terribly in debt and are now on a budget. We gained much of our debt by just not paying attention to where the money was going. We do not have new cars, live in a middle of the road home. I get so disgusted at myself because had we paid attention and didn't fritter away our income in the last 30 years we'd be luxury cruising now!

Over the years we didn't save for college for the kids, so besides their personal college loans-which we will not pay, we cash flowed (read put on credit card) the rest. We have cruised a lot. I'm Platinum on Carnival and DH is close. I took my DD on a European cruise in 2006 with 4 days in London and 2 in Rome after. DH and I went on an Alaska cruise last year. We own timeshare which we use for short getaways and I rent some to defer maintenance fees.

We have a cheap cruise booked for next March and then we will not cruise again until we get out of debt, hopefully by 2016. That will be just in time to save and plan for a Northern European cruise/vacation ins 2017 for our 35th anniversary. We will probably continue to use our timeshare during this time for those "needed" vacations.

We are FINALLY in the process of refinancing our home after being underwater since 2008. This will give us almost 600 a month to throw onto the debt. But unfortunately we also need to consider some home maintenance issues since we've been here 10 years. For the "fun" of it I got a quote for new counters in my kitchen. Not laminate, not the most expensive but still near 3K!:eek: We won't be doing them any time soon unless I find a much better deal.

I look at our retirement funds and wonder if it will be enough. We will also start bumping up on contributions in the next few years. I just started working FT 2 years ago and have an account at work. This I'm hoping will be our cruise/travel fund. Should I retire in 9 years I will earn ~700.00 a month from it.

So we have enjoyed travel and spendthrift ways and need to pay the price to be able to travel in the future. I work at a college and we are closed over the Christmas holiday and that is a built in vacation! I can only pray for continued good health!

Thanks again!

Questions for those cruisers who are "living the now" and not saving very much: How much do your financial planners advise you to save? What forecast are you given for your future needs, when you can no longer work? Do you future plans include living at the same level you are living now, with the same amount of travel, or are you going to reduce your traveling and lifestyle as you get older?

 

We wonder: what happens if suddenly one of us should have a severe and incapacitating illness, like a stroke, that lasts for years and years? How on earth are we going to pay for medical care, if we don't economize now?

 

For those people who spend, spend, spend today--how do they intend to take care of themselves in their old age? Who will pay for their nursing home or rehabilitation stay? Will they curtail their cruising once they hit retirement age and their finances dwindle?

Have you looked into Long Term Care Insurance? We will soon.

I've been buying my shares piece meal but recently just made 100!!! I'm looking forward to my OBC for my March cruise!

That would be mushy peas;which are actually pretty tasty.

I don't do peas. But they are traditional with fish and chips!

I love the Northern Europe Itineraries and the size of the ship but I can't believe they are already sold out for the less expensive cabins! Maybe we can plan for 2016 or 2017!?!

Lesley

First of all congrats on making a wonderful life changing decision and good luck with your upcoming surgery.

As many other posters have stated at 5 months out your will know what agrees with you and what doesn't.

I am 11 years post op and tend to be cautious when I'm vacation just to be safe. Nothing like having an dumping episode in the middle of an activity to ruin your day...lol

 

 

 

Any bariatric surgery is serious but very common and most people in the food. service industry are aware of these types of procedures.

When I had my surgery 11 years ago it was not common and I was embarrassed to tell people I had it done..I only wish I was able to reach out to other people to discuss concerns that occur in everyday life.

I love to share my knowledge I have gained over the past 11 years to newbies or people considering surgery

It's not a decision that is lightly and not the easy way out by any means !

The OP was asking for advice not criticism for their decision.

thank you!

With the Kindle App can you read the books that you purchased for you Kindle?

Yes, I rarely use my Kindle anymore and send books directly to my iPhone.

It's really funny watching me read a "real" book. I keep tapping or swiping the pages to get them to turn but it doesn't work. :o

Where did you purchase the dinner plate cover? DH loves to bring a snack back to our cabin after the evening show. :-)

I found this:

http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Collapsible-Microwave-Cover-Red/dp/B000SOS7WG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1376337779&sr=8-6&keywords=Plate+Cover

My favorite "secret" that many newer Princess travelers aren't aware of is lunch in the main dining room on embarkation day. It is a wonderful menu including a lovely salmon and a sliced beef tenderloin entree. It is offered in only one of the dining rooms, usually the one located at the back of the ship (that is hard to find!) and only goes until 1:30.

 

Most people tend to run up to the buffet for lunch, but lunch in the dining room is one of our favorite experiences and a lovely civilized way to kick off our cruise!

Is this open to all?

Thank you so much for your review. My DD and I cruised the Liberty out of Rome in 2006 for 12 days. It's a very tiring itinerary with only 2 sea days but fortunately or unfortunately we got an extra sea day because we couldn't dock in Florence. We missed Pisa but used the day to pack because we were off the ship the next morning at 6am to get to the Vatican to see the Pope.

I'm sorry you couldn't spend at least one day in Barcelona. It was a pretty interesting port but something you can do the next time!

My burning question is.....What sailing are you on 2014 on the Liberty? My DH and I are sailing 3/1. We are celebrating 31 years of wedded bliss in September.

I have the Breeze on my radar too. :D

 

I'm not even sure who I would write about the experience at CC. I have thought about it, but wonder if it ever does any good or has a positive outcome. I was definitely biting my tongue a lot on this cruise with them. Trust me, I'm pretty sure they knew I was upset by the looks on my face. I also made references whenever we dropped her off and picked her up....I said them to Sakari and not to them, but when they were standing next to me and loud enough for them to hear me of course. Each time they never acknowledged me about it and walked away when I know they heard. :rolleyes:

Thanks for your interview, I've spent way too much time in the last couple of days reading it!

I do think you should write Carnival about Camp Carnival. At the very least they will have record of your experiences and the best they may make a change!!! It may have helped if you had gone to a supervisor or guest services right off instead of it getting worse as the week went on.

We are flying into FLL for a cruise out of POM Feb. 28 next year. We are staying at a timeshare condo for the night at 909 Breakers Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. I know that a Publix is close but do you know if it's walking distance? If it not walking distance is there a smaller food store near by?

I really don't want to rent a car and was thinking of arranging transportation from the airport to the condo to POM the next morning. Would a taxi from the airport to the condo be less than $30. The transportation services seem to charge around $15.

We went on the Westerdam last Sept 8th to Alaska. We flew non-stop from IAD to SEA a day early, cruised, then spent a day in Seattle, then flew back two days later.

I started to get sick right after the cruise with an URI and between Sept and Dec. went to the Dr. 4 separate times. I was regularly running temps of 100-102+, felt tired and got out of breath easily. (like walking across a room!) In December my Dr. gave me Singulair but after not feeling better by January I went back. After a bunch of blood work, a chest x-ray, a 4th antibiotic my Dr. put me on two inhalers and a short term steroid and sent me to a pulmonologist (sp?). I knew something was up when the nurse walked in with an oxygen tank! :eek: Oxygen levels should be 100 but mind was in the 80's. No wonder I was so tired!

After talking to me the pulmonologist thought I had possibly picked up an virus on my travels that settled in my lungs giving me episodic asthma. He agreed with the meds that my Dr. had given me and also put me on Prilosec and sent me for a PFT. I'm seeing him in two weeks and hope I can stop my pharmacy of meds. I hate taking medicine.

I often get sick traveling but this was the worse I've every experienced. The price I pay for traveling! :(

Very nice review! It makes me want to go back to Alaska again!

My first cruise was a Princess ship out of San Juan sometime in 1983 or 84. I don't remember her name.

Trying to plan my 3rd Holland America cruise for next June to NE/Canada but I NEED a schedule!

Are there any churches within walking distance to the dock? We've been to Nassau many times and since we will be there Sunday thought we'd try something new. Non-denominational Christian, Lutheran, or Anglican would be fine.

TIA

Every once in a while we get a world cruise brochure and I sit and dream. Unfortunately, we are no where close to having the time or funds to seriously consider it and I can't see that ever happening. I would like to do something longer than what we've have been doing.

Our next big trip will be to Northern Europe and I've seen some 14+ cruises that look interesting. Maybe in 5 years or so............

Well, I've booked Duke for our trip in OCTOBER! :eek: I like to plan ahead!

It's been 23 years since we were there, so it will be like a first time visit.

Any suggestions as to what to do?

We were on the NCL Epic in August. Two people died on our sailing (so sad!). The first person died on embarkation day. We had to turn around and go back to Miami. The second person died in Nassau. We were late leaving that port. We still made all of our ports on time, but was sad to think of that happening on vacation.

I hope I pass away doing something I love!

Congratulations on getting your degree! I have always wanted to go to college but never was able to. Now that the kids are getting older that may be something I look at closer.

 

We found out the trick about moving the bed on our 2007 Triumph cruise. We had an oceanview cabin on that cruise. After a couple of days we decided we wanted to wake up and see the sky when we woke up. I am so glad we did it first thing and especially glad I had it there when I fell out of the porthole. :rolleyes: Just make sure to be curteous and put it back on the last night for your steward.

 

Good luck on getting your degree and I hope I didnt keep you away from your homework for too long. :p

LOL!!! I'm addicted. GOT TO GET TO HOMEWORK!!! I have 2 papers due this week, an exam in American History, and a distance class for Western Civ. I need to get cracking on! I got distracted by CruiseCritic and the thought of the Spirit to Hawaii in 2 year!!! :eek: OK, I'm really going to get off CC and get to work! BTW, thanks! I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing my Assoc. degree but I got a job at the local community college and they pay for 6 credits per semester. I was thinking of going for a bachelor's degree but they don't cover that unless I have a full-time position-which isn't likely due to budget cuts!

I plan on taking more classes but "fun" ones for a while! (Spanish, Drawing, PE-pilates, yoga, weight training, etc...)

Thank you for your review! DH and I are also on this cruise in Sept. I like the way you set up your bed. We were on another Fantasy class ship and the steward put the beds together so one long edge was against the wall. We ended up putting them back the way they were originally because one of us had to climb over the other if we wanted to get out, now I know we can do it differently!

I've spent most of the day reading your review when I should be doing homework! I'm finally working on my college degree after being out of high school for over 30 years!

We sailed the Veendam a few years ago. We really enjoyed it. There was a good mix of ages, the shows were good, and as Allen said the atmosphere was quieter. There was a disco and also ballroom type dancing.

We enjoyed it and will cruse HAL again....when we have a bit more disposable income! (when all the kids graduate from college)

I'm in inside cabin # V12 on the Paradise next Dec. I'm worried about noise from Gym(weights). Has anyone been in this or room across the hall(V10)? I chose that deck because of noise problems in the past on other decks.

We stayed in V10 on the Inspiration and the weights were being used very late at night. 1am or so. We complained and it got better but I agree, the staff knows what cabins are below the gym and they should have some courtesy.

Greetings fellow readers!!

 

We're baaaackkk!!! As soon as we can, we will post reports! Had a great trip to the Taj Mahal, and the ride from Delhi to Agra was enlightening, to say the least!

 

As for the stealing reports, we do not have the details, so sorry. Will investigate further if we can.

 

Thanks for all the wonderful comments!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

You're back already!?! I'm going to miss "cruising" with you! thanks for all the reports!

Oh, dear! I had dreams for a world cruise last night! I'd better start saving!

Question, is there anything included in a world cruise that's not is a regular week cruise? ie. drinks, shore excursions, laundry, etc.....

Thanks!