embarrasing weight question!

[RetireeWannabee]

I think you would never regret barrowing for this trip, but you would always regret not taking it.

 

Hope you have a GREAT time whatever you do!:)

 

DITTO.

 

I would also get some guidebooks, find out what you can see in the ports that is reasonable to get to with Dad (will you need to get a wheelchair?), find out about teh skylines so that maybe you can point out different buildings from the deck.

 

NC, I'm sorry about the loss of your father. OP, I'm sorry for the health of yours. I wish you safe travels.

[cusyl]

There are no HC cabins that accomodate four. and so even if there were room for a roll away or whatever, they still could not book the cabin.

Not sure what cruise line you are looking at, but I just had a HC cabin on the RCL Grandeur that had 4 berths.

[FEMH]

I'm so glad all four of you are going on the cruise together. Whoever suggested that you stay home and just send your folks doesn't have a clue how important it is for you to have these memories in the future. My parents died when I was very young, and I regret not having had these opportunities. I hope you have a wonderful time and report back to us on your adventures.

[catharina]

Thanks for all your kind words!

I love CC for all the tips and tricks but also advice and support.

 

Thanks for the tip on checking out the skylines. Dad will love it if I can tell him stuff about the buildings we see. He is so much looking forward to it, I think it gives him another reason to live strong again.

 

My parents never had a lot of money so all they did was take trips to Spain every year to the campground. I practically grew up there every summer in a quaint village. Last summer, when we knew he was terminally ill, I was able to get him there one last time. I paid for the TGV tickets (they were very expensive, I am glad we found cheap ones this time) and we all were together with my kids also in our favourite appartment near the sea. it was the BEST time we ever had in that town!

 

we also did lots of fun stuff last summer. My dad adopted the motto: If you can't add more days to your life, add more life to your days!

so we did. We spent days on end visiting amusement parks, zoos, beaches, we went to Spain, to a bungalow park and to Eurodisney. I am an only child and my 2 sons (ages 2 and 4) are his only grandchildren. We enjoyed it so very much to spend time together the 6 of us.

 

But this trip will be a dream come true for both of us. And this time, we will not take the children, just to get in a week of luxury, sleeping in, time to go on shore and to shows without taking into account naps and diapers :-)

 

Dad will take his collapsable wheelchair with him. He might need it for long port days.

[Amy from Delaware]

I'm glad you're able to get this trip together! Sounds like you'll be having a wonderful time. I love your father's motto!! "If you can't add more days to your life, add more life to your days!"

 

I would like to recommend you take binoculars with you, especially if your dad is interested in seeing what's on the skyline. If you don't have (or can't borrow) a pair of binoculars, you can use the zoom feature of your camera to see distant things more clearly.

 

Also, don't hesitate to ask people to use your camera to take pics of all 4 of you together.

[simplelife]

 

Should anyone have more tips to save money or make this the best cruise experience ever, let us know!

 

quote]

Cat. Check out the Saving Money On Your Cruise board here on CC. MANY good ideas.

[jocap]

Catharina- one very minor tip which comes up a lot on the UK boards about MSC......the waiters do try to sell you bottled water at dinner. Apparently, if you hold out against them, and ask for "ship's water", they'll eventually turn up with a jug of water.

Which ports are you visiting? Lots of people on here will have been before, and may help you with what to do, other than ship's tours.

Jo.:)

[newbiecruiser09]

Cat: I am so glad you were able to work the trip out and I pray you and your family have a wonderful. memorable trip.

 

Some money saving tips: Use a jug/container to throw all change into every day. Hubby and I do this and we have about $30-$40 every 6 weeks or so. Don't know if any banks by you have savings clubs but try to put away a small amount each week (I try at least $5) into a special account (or even a shoe box). You won't miss the small amount and it really can add up. I also try to pay off the cruise in small batches so I am not hit with the big final payment.

 

Again, congrats on doing this wonderful thing for your mom & dad. :)

[happy cruzer]

Do a little research about what sea sickness meds will work for each of you and be prepared just in case.

 

Then really have a great vacation!!! Cheers.

[catharina]

oh my, seasickness, did not think of that! Normally, we all are good on boats. Never been on a cruiseship though.

 

 

WE BOOKED! Today I finally booked 2 inside cabins on the Splendida, cabin 10035 and 10047, almost next to each other.

Our itinerary will be Marseille, Barcelona, Tunis, Malta, Messina-Sicily, Citavecchia, Genua, Marseille.

 

I am looking forward SO much to this.

It all worked out to be 2350 euros for the 4 of us (tips not yet included) so it is not too bad. I also secured train tickets to Marseille first class for 85 euros per person, also a good price.

Not that I can shell this all out easily: we will need to borrow a bit for it. We will get e good tax refund in june, but june is too late for my dad to take such a trip (it is tricky as it is now)

So better take it now and pay it back later. I am sure we will not have regrets :-)

 

Thansk for the water tip, that will save some $$. Also thansk for the binocular tips. Will put it on packing list

[ovccruiser]

I have been following this thread with interest, and I am glad to see you have booked the cruise. You will see some superb sites, when you get to Barcelona, the best way to see the city is on the open top tour buses where you can get on and off as many times as you like. There are three routes, one route which takes about three hours and two smaller routes which cover about half of the large tour. I seem to recall they are independant of each other though.

 

With regards the sea sickness, unless the sea is rough you may not even know you are on a ship, they are now remarkably stable.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Amy from Delaware]

WE BOOKED! Today

 

YIPPIE!

 

I looked back at your original post and see that this is for your dad's 65th birthday. Maybe if friends and family members want to give your dad a birthday gift, they can make contributions toward the cruise? Just a thought.

[catharina]

Good thinking, Three rings!

I was thinking to ask them for a holiday contribution, That way mum and dad can have some spending money too for the drinks, casino, shore ex etc etc.

 

OVCcruiser I know about the buses in Barcelona, and I was planning on that. But unfortunately, we only have a half day there, from 7 till 14. Maybe a bit short for the busses. But it is walkable there!

[QueensChick]

Catharina,

 

I hope you and your dear husband parents have a wonderful cruise together. It will be an experience you'll treasure forever. You're a lovely daughter to do this for your parents. :)

[jocap]

Catharina, Malta is so easy too- tho' you've possibly been there- there's a ho/ho and a town bus into Valetta, which is a steep walk up the cliff if you're fit, but not for dad.

Have you been to Tunisia? Just ignore the hasseling- they're really lovely people.

Make sure Dad's on deck for the sail-in to Malta- one of the best in Europe.

If you just want to stroll in Civi., there's some open air restaurants if you keep walking round the harbour from the (free) port shuttle bus.

And don't forget an umbrella!!!!

Jo.

[xxoocruiser]

There are no HC cabins that accomodate four. and so even if there were room for a roll away or whatever, they still could not book the cabin.

 

Actually that's not a correct statement. Following is just a few examples of HC cabins that RCCL states can accommodate 4 people

Jewel Cabin 4517

Brillance Cabin 4517

Enchantment Cabins 2119, 2123, 3119, 3123

Granduer Cabins 2103, 2107

Legend Cabins 2083, 3554

[Tiggertastic]

Hi Cat

 

we're treating my mother and father in law, he's 70 this year and she's 65 and also my father and stepmother as it's her 65th while we are away and dad is 72.

 

We have between them, a quadruple heart bypass, asthma and diabetes, one walks with a stick and the other can't do more than a mile. We've decided to treat them and will prbably need a holiday ourselves when we get back. But they are paying for their own health insurance.

 

I'd recommend, 2 inside cabins with joining doors if you can. We've booked them seperate cabins but on the same floor and as all rooms have a phone to direct dial, we can set up a 2 rings and I come running system. We even can take walkie talkies for them and ....... DH parents have never met my dad and step mum - although we've been together 4 years - due to the distance of where they live so this will be interesting.

 

Have a good cruise and we hope they too have a fantastic time

 

yours - completely broke!! Jan

[catharina]

hehe Jan!

 

I am completely broke too, after booking this cruise with 2 insides. Unfortunately they did not have adjoining rooms, but we are 2 cabins apart so that's good.

 

But I guess it is worth being broke for and working every day the next 9 weeks to get some spending money. For us, these will be memories which you can not buy for a million bucks!

 

Hope all goes well with your inlaws meeting; this could be interesting ;-)

 

by the way, we are leaving our kids at home. That already will give us a holiday feeling (not to be nasty... but the are a handful at 4 and 2 yrs old)

[lubyshell]

Cat,

 

I wish you wonderful vacation with your parents, may everyday be filled with awesome memories

[Gingee]

I don't know what Euros are in American money but if the price is good for you, great. When do you go?

[netizen2]

Hello Catharina! I am so happy you are doing this for your family! Can you email me at kathypdoe at yahoo.com ?? I have a question for you...

Kathy

[BroncosFan2010]

Thanks guys, for all of your answers

 

You are right, 4 people is not going to work. Me and my mum and night-toilet gers en dad needs to get up at 3 am for his medicines.

 

So now I am looking at 2 cabins next to each other.

 

Thing is, we are very limited in choice. dad can not fly anymore due to leaking heart valves (if that is the english terms) so we HAVE to take a destination that is:

 

A) easily reachable by train or car (marseille is only 5 hours bij rapid train)

B) somehwere end of march/very beginning april (due to his ilness, the sooner we do this the better)

 

For the mediterreanean cruise , Marseille is the only easily accesible port for us. Barcelona and Genua are too long a trip (13-15 hours by car)

We also loved to cruise from amsterdam or rotterdam, but those are not going untill june.

 

 

Also, sending them alone is not going to work. They get quit lost doing trainstations etc, and need some help and guidance. Plus, the whole idea was to spend some time with mum and dad while we still can.

 

Well THANK YOU! I am looking to see if I can get 2 cabins scraped together...

 

Keep your fingers crossed

 

Keep in mind that prices are dropping all the time! Check daily for price drops... every little bit helps. Good luck and I hope you are able to go and enjoy your cruise with your parents.

[sunlovermtl]

hehe Jan!

 

I am completely broke too, after booking this cruise with 2 insides. Unfortunately they did not have adjoining rooms, but we are 2 cabins apart so that's good.

 

But I guess it is worth being broke for and working every day the next 9 weeks to get some spending money. For us, these will be memories which you can not buy for a million bucks!

 

Hope all goes well with your inlaws meeting; this could be interesting ;-)

 

by the way, we are leaving our kids at home. That already will give us a holiday feeling (not to be nasty... but the are a handful at 4 and 2 yrs old)

 

In an earlier post you mentioned a bar bill. Check out the MSC forums to see what the wine allowance at boarding is. Also if you purchase rum runners you can get hard alcohol on at great prices. Since you have a great itinerary I think you will not have rough seas. Good luck and it is a wonderful thing you are doing.

 

take care

Claudette

[rrraydon]

I would think that for the price of 2 staterooms you could book a large balacony room or small suite. That way there's a little more room for a roll away. Shop around by dates and ships and such for more inexpensive rates. There are balcony rooms for 4 and with the ability to step out on the balcony at any given time it will lessen the crowdedness (is that a word? lol) of the room. Mostly, you're only going to sleep in there. I think it's a great plan and realize since you're dad is very ill you must all go.

 

As for the bathroom/shower issue you and your husband could just use the spa showers while mom and dad use the cabin showers when getting ready for dinner. Or take turns. 2 out on the balcony having a few drinks and checking out the beautiful scenery, 2 getting ready and then switch.

 

It can all be worked out with a little compromising and planning.

 

My DH and I booked a last minute cruise and shared a balcony room with my DD and her boyfriend. It all worked out and we had a great time.

[lineage84]

You will never regret borrowing the money or taking the trip. My father was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in April 2007 and he had always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains and to see a Boston Red Sox game, now I know this is not a cruise but he wanted to see those things. Lou Gehrig's disease is a terminal illness with no known cures or really any helpful medicines. The average life span from diagnosis is 18-24 months. We took my parents that July to see those places and by the grace of God there was a game where Boston was playing in Houston later that same year. Since they lived in Louisiana that was an easy trip to make. We were blessed to allow him to see those things and its something I would do again not matter the cost. We lost him 16 months after his diagnosis and I still love looking at those photo's and his smile at seeing all those wonderful things and I know that I gave that to him, it was small in comparison at what he had given to me all my life. Please take lots of photos and enjoy each and every memory you make, its all worth it.