nitecapt

WOW...that's quite a total. If I have one Manhattan a month it's a lot. I would like to sleep on a deck like you mention. Sounds like fun.

Thank you for your great advice. I have listened and heeded. I will go and of course enjoy as much as I can while I worry about things at home and will do EXACTLY as you say, relaxing and watching the sea go by. They Captains who run these boats are like bus drivers. I know, having been there on a lesser level. It's a job that makes you responsible for many people while at the same time being relatively routine.

I have been to Bermuda and I took a ship to France as a young person (believe it or not, the SS France) and I assume that entertainment had moved ages on, but so have I. If I were 40 or so and in good orthopedic health, I would be doing all that with the kids. Too bad I can't bring the pups as emotional support animals!! Thanks for all your suggestions

Yup...past final payment so all I can do is grin and bear it

It was a surprise because she didn't think I would want to do it and it was going to please her to no end to be with her children and grandchildren. I was happy that we would spend a block of time conversing and watching the kids but it seemed to me to be a tremendous cost which could have been accomplished for far less. We have other expenditures that we can not fulfill at this time. We could have booked 2 or 3 cruises for that price and I find that so sad because now I can't do a fun excursion with her alone or more local excursion (cabin on a lake)? with the whole family. When you are retired you just can't spend willy nilly on vacations. This gives us one good reason for me to return to work 6 years after retirement.

Trust me, this was NOT a gift. There are 6 people going and we are paying 7800. What does that tell you

I have a dog that is sick, with anxiety issues (very bad) a sister who had a heart attack and a stroke and my wife's aunt is 102 and failing. There are lots of reasons I don't want to go. The timing and financial reasons are the least of them. I have been retired 6 years and they have asked me back to work 5 days a week at substantial $. I was on a cruise years ago and did not want to partake in any of the festivities. At 72 I will not be go carting, swimming, going to shows and I am on a strict diet and eat VERY little food. I would only relax in a deck chair and surf the net....maybe even work. I love the grandkids and love interacting with them but they will be off on their own and ai will have little opportunity to interact with them or the step son and daughter which I would gretaly enjoy.

STHRNGARY WELL, now my wife says if I want I can stay home and if there is a savings in doing that let me know and I will go for it

Sthrngary...it was booked by my affluent step son in law. It's my wife's kids and I am close to them. I just felt that the cost was prohibitive and now ai winder if I have my wife go alone whether we can get a reduction in price.

can you direct me to these cabins?

How do I figure out what these cabins are? That would be most helpful! And maybe quite a savings

How do I figure out what these cabins are? That would be most helpful! And maybe quite a savings

Sometimes I think the kids want to make their financial success visible to others, hobnobbing with the well to do at my wife's and my expense and indeed i would get a balcony cabin were wit not for my wife saying she will be separated from the grand kids because she will not have access to their "Haven" facilities. Personally, I can do without cruising. I have been a Captain for 40 years and I see a vessel as a means of transport. I would rather go on a plane and spend 5 days with the people of the island than a measly 8 hours. Plus I have some family illness here at home to worry about so it won't be peaceful.. Maybe I can use her internet allotment daily to stay in touch

Hello! First time cruiser and first time poster. Please be kind to me! LOL My wife surprised me with an upcoming cruise which she planned along with her daughter, SIL and two grandchildren. We are a retired couple and 'the kids' do quite well for themselves. Not being familiar with cruising, she left all the planning up to them. We are booked on The Joy 5-night Bermuda. We will occupy a Haven Courtyard Penthouse w/Large Balcony. After all was said and done, I realized that the kids spared no expense in selecting our cabin category. Our final total was just shy of $8000 - ($800 of that amount was insurance). I can only imagine what kind of cabin they selected for the four of them! I'm a bit upset with the unexpected expense and see that this trip could've been around $3200 had we selected a basic balcony cabin. I'm a simple guy - give me a lounge chair in a quiet spot and I'm fine. The thought of butlers doting and exclusive areas, quite frankly, makes me uncomfortable. Wifey isn't too happy with me because she realizes that if we booked a cheaper room we couldn't fraternize with the rest of the family in The Haven. So it looks like I've lost this battle. Lesson learned: do your own homework and don't leave it up to others to help you spend your money. Also, the stingy amount of allowed internet - 75 minutes! - seems out of line with the price paid. Now, on top of everything else, I have to dip deeper for internet. And yes, for a variety of reasons, I need to touch base with the folks at home. I guess my question is..is The Haven a worthwhile expenditure? Will I be like a fish-out-of-water with the upper echelon? Will I cringe as my party is lead past the passengers in steerage who are patiently waiting in line? I realize the ‘worth’ of something is subjective, but I’m looking for some feedback.