My husband thinks I'm planning obsessed. And he's right. :)

[Cruzin2paradise09]

Okay, I can't be the only person who does this, so give me a shout out if you're a compulsive, crazy, obsessive planner. Our cruise is in April, and I'm on these boards daily, think about the cruise all the time, and am constantly planning and making lists. I just can't stop. It drives my laid-back husband NUTS!

 

Who else is nuts with me? :)

 

I will stand PROUDLY next you ma'am!!! I have ten weeks and two days till I sail and I'm getting neurotic about it!!!! :D

[jamona2311]

Ha funny how this thread go sooo big so fast!!! :D

 

I am the crazy one planning our first cruise in September. I dont think Ive hardly missed a day since my husband finally said "go" to a cruise back in october. LOL

 

Ive learned sooo much that I read the forums and can practically answer a lot of the questions myself. teehehe

 

DH is starting to appreciate that I can answer his questions and the fact that he doesnt have to worry about a thing. He's a busy farmer and a vacations like this are hard to come by. He just wants to relax and let it happen and I am doing that for him.

[jaxncat]

The good thing about those of us with OCD is that we are not caught in some ridiculous situation (like the lady who put her passport in her luggage....hello.....) and then was delayed horribly because of it when going through customs coming back into the US or the lady who was bringing fresh coconuts (yes, I did say fresh...still on the branch) and expected to go through customs and get to keep them....duh. Her dreams of fresh coconut cake went straight down the tubes. At least us OCD folks know what we need to have in our hand and in our carry-on and in our checked luggage and are prepared for most anything that we come across. Next time, however, I will plan my shopping in Cozumel according to what I research and find out and not stick strickly to Puerta Maya shopping. Go downtown folks...don't stay in Puerta Maya only. I made the mistake of listening to the gal on the ship doing the seminar on shopping...never even crossed my mind that Carnival owns Puerta Maya and, of course, they want you to shop there. Downtown is "where it's at" in Cozumel. Now you know the rest of the story. Have fun planning and then carrying out your plans!

[teetee6263]

Whew, it's good to know that I'm not the only one. I too have a binder, divided into sections with everything from the entire Carnival brochure, then details of my ship, a few reviews(good & bad) highlighting "must see or eat" items, a port section with town details, all possible excursions (carnival & private, for comparison), Insurance details, cruise contract & self made FAQs. After my last cruise I realized the big binder was a bit bulky & took up valuable space, so now in addition to the big book I have a lightweight 24 page folio for reservation confirmations & boarding passes that will fit comfortably in carry on.

 

That covers the hard copies, then there's the 2 apps for my phone & ipad. Tripit is great, you email all your confirmations & it builds your complete itinerary which can be accessed from any computer or mobile device. Evernote has to be the absolute best, while researching online you can clip any full page, article or picture & save to your virtual notebook.

[jgr8fulbear]

fist bump, Im a planner too, but good thing cuz if left to DH we would sit in our cabin the entire cruise and order from room service....;)

[KrystalWaters]

Okay, I can't be the only person who does this, so give me a shout out if you're a compulsive, crazy, obsessive planner. Our cruise is in April, and I'm on these boards daily, think about the cruise all the time, and am constantly planning and making lists. I just can't stop. It drives my laid-back husband NUTS!

 

Who else is nuts with me? :)

Count me in on this too. We booked our cruise in June. I've been obsessed ever since. At least i'm in my cruise year.:p

[RNTOCRUISN]

OMG! You guys have made my day! I actually was feeling a little bad--now I can tell my hubby that there are other people who feel the same way as I do about planning our cruises!!!

[Soonerbaby]

Don't forget the custom cover (to slide into the clear view pocket) with a pic of the ship, cruise date, and map of the itinerary, lol. Seriously, I spend time on things like this. :)

 

Hadn't even thought about the cover! :D Now you know what I will be doing tonight. I spent last night finishing my laminated luggage tags for 8 people. :p

[geneology]

OMG -- I am so glad I am not alone. Everyone thinks I am addicted (which I am) and makes fun of me. BUT when we got to the ship for check in - who had the folder with all the necessary documents. Who knew that a dining room was open for lunch and we did not have to squish in at the BBQ for burgers. Who knew which shows to hit and which to miss. And the list goes on and on. FIrst time cruising on Carnival. I love the binder idea esp with the front cover.

 

I just booked a trip for February and now I am nervous - I usually have a cruise season like someone else wrote about - Now I am doing this in a shorter time. But I am not complaining. Cruised in Aug 09 then July 11 and now Feb 12 and a cruise to nowhere in Sept 12. Now working on DH for a Christmas cruise. I am on this site every night. I am so glad there are sooo many other people as excited and obsessed as me - and I am new to this!! LOL

[ahoys]

I have OPD too (Obsessive Planning Disorder). My husband tolerates my issue with a sympathetic smile and a slight shake of the head. However, he is grateful on boarding day when I know to stand in front of the excursions desk before it opens to get us a spot for the Behind the Fun tour, and is happy that I know what the dinner menus will likely be so that we can book the steakhouse for the right evening. He also uses me as his walking "Fun Times" throughout the cruise. He may laugh now, but he will appreciate my OPD then!

[momof4boys]

I also have this "issue." I LOVE every minute of the planning, dreaming, and thinking about my cruise. The closer it gets to my cruise, the more I am on these boards.

 

I honestly feel like I know some of these people on here. It is great to have so many acquaintances who share my love of cruising! :D

[fer]

I am a planning fool. My hubs loves it. He just shows up and has a great time. I plan, plan, plan before hand so I don't have to worry about a thing.

 

I will second the recommendation for tripit.com it is pretty awesome. I have all my info, reservations, and scanned documents (like passports) right at my fingertips. I have the app on my iPhone and iPad. Love it.

[rhcpchika1]

Me!!

 

I have a binder with everything printed and every detail possible planned. ;) Everyone makes fun of my obsessiveness, but I LOVE planning!

[mara93]

My DH is horrible with planning. Today he texts me to ask I text back what days we'll be gone so he can request them off. SEE WHY I HAVE TO DO ALL THE PLANNING?

[melissa89n]

So today I distributed to the 5 young adults (aged 16-23) I am traveling with (I'm the mom of some of them) my 2 page guide to packing, including everything they could possibly need to know about what & how to pack & tailored specifically to their ages and interests and our itinerary. This is for our cruise in 3 weeks. I included average temp info, how to pack wrinkle free, airline carry on requirements, etc.

 

I think I could rival a Boy Scout in preparedness! :p

 

So yes, I do believe I belong in this group with the rest of you!

 

PS, my guide was met with dumbfounded silence. Hmph! :rolleyes:

[carhopsrock]

I am guilty of all of the previously mentioned behavior! I have a packing spreadsheet and know exactly what I am going to wear each day, mix and match and what can be worn more then once. I also made a list for my son since I was packing his things. He went along with my craziness since he is used to it. Each day he just asked me to give him what he was allowed to wear!

[soozenw]

So today I distributed to the 5 young adults (aged 16-23) I am traveling with (I'm the mom of some of them) my 2 page guide to packing, including everything they could possibly need to know about what & how to pack & tailored specifically to their ages and interests and our itinerary. This is for our cruise in 3 weeks. I included average temp info, how to pack wrinkle free, airline carry on requirements, etc.

 

I think I could rival a Boy Scout in preparedness! :p

 

So yes, I do believe I belong in this group with the rest of you!

 

PS, my guide was met with dumbfounded silence. Hmph! :rolleyes:

 

Can you make me a guide too?! Or, maybe just the part about packing. ;)

[kirasmom]

Yeah I'm a planner, its just my nature

[msgisfree]

I plan for a living (I teach). I plan the trips so well people want a vacation from me!

[angel24_ga]

Yes, I'm on CC every day, reading, reading & reading. But I also take notes and add it to my running cruise info paper. It is very long and detailed. It starts with a to do list 2 weeks out, (call Bon Voyage) then a packing list and then goes into things about the ship, cabin, casino and ports. I start a new paper for each different ship. I print out copies for whoever I'm cruising with, so they can read all the interesting tips I picked up from fellow CC reviewers. Yes, I'm definetly obsessed...:p

 

I am obsessed to! My next cruise is not until Jan 2013 and I can't stop thinkning about it!

Could you please share one of your lists? I love that idea!... I am forever printing and posting stuff for my group of friends.

[19snapshot]

I use a presentation folder, the kind that has sheet protector pages. It has a clear cover for the customized insert. None of my precious documents have to get hole punched, an OCD thing for sure. My husband and kids call it my list, but it is more. It is sooo much more. My husband alternates between finding my obesssive research funny and annoying. When the time to travel draws near, he will ask, "Is this on your list?" As we pack, he will ask, "Where's your list?" As we leave the house for the trip he will ask, "Did you remember your list?" Sometime during the trip while we are enjoying some special nearly unknown tresure I discovered with my research, he can be heard saying, "Thank goodness for your list."

[travelingtriumphess]

Dh used to make fun of me, but now he asks, "Where's the cruise binder?" He also brags about all of the info I have to friends and family. He doesn't want to look for it himself, but he's super glad I have it. :D

How do you organize this.

I usually keep our travel information, tickets, maps, hotel reservations in a small accordian binder. Do you use this binder that way. Or is it somewhere that you collect all your information from past vacations?

Cool! :cool:

T. Umph

[teetee6263]

How do you organize this.

I usually keep our travel information, tickets, maps, hotel reservations in a small accordian binder. Do you use this binder that way. Or is it somewhere that you collect all your information from past vacations?

Cool! :cool:

T. Umph

 

My binder contains general details about the ship, ports, excursions, calendar with due dates & checklist. For my important travel docs such as boarding passes, reservation confirmations I use a presentation folder as a previous poster described; its less bulky & easy to carry around.

[DpTxQt31]

Ok I have a confession....I AM A OCD CRUISER!!!!

 

We always book our cruises almost a year before so we can have time to pay for it. Here is the time line that I start to do things:

 

1. January - August (we cruise in Sept.) I will make a list of things we need for the cruise and a list of things to pack. I will put these lists in the "Cruise Folder". When I think of something I will add it to the appropriate list.

 

2. March - August. I will begin the packing (yes I know it is far in advance; however, I am a women I need to have everything and not forget something. If I am out and about at a store I will pick up a few items here and there that I know I will need and when I get home it goes into my suit case. (i.e. Advil, Shampoo, conditioner..etc.) If I see a cute top, dress, shorts I will get it and through into the suit case.

 

3. June - I will make another list of things I have already packed and beginning going through my clothes and make a list of outfits.

 

4. August - I will take out everything that I have packed and repack.

 

5. Sept. to a week before Cruise Day - will have packed and upacked several times. Checked my "need to have" list and make sure everything is in the suitcases. Layout my outfits with matching shoes and accessaries according to sea days and nights.

 

6. Night before we cruise we do a last minute double check of every list, outfit and every possible scenerio that can happen and make sure we are covered. Then we load the vehicle.

 

My parents and husband laugh at me but I don't care because I am guaranteed not to forget something. :D

[DpTxQt31]

My DH is horrible with planning. Today he texts me to ask I text back what days we'll be gone so he can request them off. SEE WHY I HAVE TO DO ALL THE PLANNING?

 

LMAO mine just did this to me last week.

 

I too do all the planning and have agreed that he can wait till 3 weeks before we leave to start packing and even then his way of packing is to go through his closets and through everything that he likes on the bed and for me to go through and make outfits and tell him what he needs. :rolleyes:

 

Think this year I will just take it upon myself to pack his bags without saying anything and let him be surprised when everything has been packed.