Only 2 days left!

[z4oslo]

Right now i'm in Miami, enjoying the hot sun, good food and a drink or two. In only two days I'll be on a transatlantic cruise back to fabolous Barcelona.

 

that was the plan before Corna hit.

I was sooo looking forward to visit Cagneys for a better meal, enjoing lazy days on the sundeck, smoke a cigarette (I only smoke 1 or two a year, and only on a cruise ship to blend in with the casino people as my eyes are fixed on one of the blackjack tables)

 

I would enjoy the free bar with gin, vodka and the occasional mudslide for the heck of it

After 8 days at sea I would finally set fot on land again in the Azores, and then to to Spain.

 

*sniff*

Next year perhaps.

 

What did you look most forward to, and what would you miss the most?

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2020 by z4oslo

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

I have a 20 May cruise that still hasn't cancelled.  It probably won't go, but I'm certainly going to miss cruising for however long it is down because of this virus!

 

However, thinking about cruises....the smiles are on my face with the planning phase.....I do love to plan!

Booking the cruise that allows me to get away with my hubby and usually other family members or good friends...ahhhh.

 

Then comes getting airline reservations, hotel for the night prior to embarkation, transportation to and from the cruise ship.  Then I look at the available upscale restaurants and book Cagney's for the last night of the cruise and a couple more sprinkled in during the cruise (if that was a perk).  We are platinum, so have some perks already.

 

Can you tell I'm an obsessive cruise planner???  Yes, I have a spreadsheet of my costs and bookings, with a daily layout of what we are doing /when.  Color coded, so that I know which things require action (like my boarding pass), which are reservations, etc.

 

And when on the cruise.......look out spa, here I come!  And then to the casino, YO, Baby!  I always bring several books.  Hubby gets up and runs early, I may meet him and walk, then head to the Wake Up and Stretch class!  Then back to our room for shower followed by coffee on the balcony! By that time, breakfast is usually being served, so we meet up with our travelling companions and head to eat!  The days are just packed...... eat, massage, eat, play trivia, walk around, eat, nap, eat, casino, show, casino, snack, then to bed, where the gently rock of the ship lulls you to sleep!  Whew!  And did I mention the views......and the people you meet....and the places you see?  And I don't have to cook nor do dishes!  And my clothes are already picked out!

 

I miss cruising!

[Peachypooh]

This might seem silly but what I miss most about cruising is getting away

from annoying family  that I can't escape in everyday life. LOL

Only partly kidding.

[Budget Queen]

For me,   it's what's off the cruise ship-   itinerary-  where it takes me.    I'm fortunate to only have short term plans usually.     But,  really hope there will be cruises in the future.    Glad I did 22 last year.   🙂 🙂  

[EllieinNJ]

We were suppose to leave this Sunday on our 21 day NY to Seattle Panama Canal cruise.  We had over 250 signed up for the meet and greet.  We had all sorts of activities planned...slot pull...cabin crawl..pub and poker run...LRC dice games...several luncheons....etc.  People worked hard planning many private excursions.

 

I was so looking forward to this trip.  When it was cancelled I was upset for a while but then remembered I also had a September Carnival Bermuda cruise.  Now that it has also been cancelled I still have a January Getaway cruise to the ABC islands.  Will that also be cancelled?

[ddpe]

Supposed to be on the plane tonight to Lisbon.  I am consoling myself with the thought of the coach flight.

 

[TSUmom]

13 hours ago, Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin said:

I have a 20 May cruise that still hasn't cancelled.  It probably won't go, but I'm certainly going to miss cruising for however long it is down because of this virus!

 

However, thinking about cruises....the smiles are on my face with the planning phase.....I do love to plan!

Booking the cruise that allows me to get away with my hubby and usually other family members or good friends...ahhhh.

 

Then comes getting airline reservations, hotel for the night prior to embarkation, transportation to and from the cruise ship.  Then I look at the available upscale restaurants and book Cagney's for the last night of the cruise and a couple more sprinkled in during the cruise (if that was a perk).  We are platinum, so have some perks already.

 

Can you tell I'm an obsessive cruise planner???  Yes, I have a spreadsheet of my costs and bookings, with a daily layout of what we are doing /when.  Color coded, so that I know which things require action (like my boarding pass), which are reservations, etc.

 

And when on the cruise.......look out spa, here I come!  And then to the casino, YO, Baby!  I always bring several books.  Hubby gets up and runs early, I may meet him and walk, then head to the Wake Up and Stretch class!  Then back to our room for shower followed by coffee on the balcony! By that time, breakfast is usually being served, so we meet up with our travelling companions and head to eat!  The days are just packed...... eat, massage, eat, play trivia, walk around, eat, nap, eat, casino, show, casino, snack, then to bed, where the gently rock of the ship lulls you to sleep!  Whew!  And did I mention the views......and the people you meet....and the places you see?  And I don't have to cook nor do dishes!  And my clothes are already picked out!

 

I miss cruising!

So happy to know I am not alone with the planning...I too have a spreadsheet and a binder with everyday in a color coded tab.  My next cruise is August in Alaska so since it has not been canceled yet my binder is just sitting here waiting to be added to. 

[david_sobe]

I am not in the planning stage but I do reminisce all the time about my cruise that ended March 1.  When I booked it 17 months in advance, who would have thought I would be on one of the last sailings before this new world. I feel blessed and so fortunate that our family was able to travel so far away and make it back.  It was probably the best cruise ever.  Pretty much everything was perfect which is not usually the case with cruises.  The food (while expensive) was some of the best meals I've had in years.  I had my all time favorite beach day of my life (and I've been to lots of beaches) in Tortola.  I am not trying to rub it in but its what I think about and how lucky I was.

Until there is a vaccine or this is almost snuffed out, I will live through your stories until I cruise again (hopefully).  When this was spreading it was always in the back of our minds but it did not impact our trip at all. I cant believe how lucky and blessed I am.

[Georgia_Peaches]

We disembarked from our cruise yesterday...it was great as there was almost no line at the taxi stand and getting through customs was a breeze! 😞  

 

Sigh...

 

I miss the planning and the anticipation of the cruise.  Nothing makes me happier than to sit with my morning coffee and watch youtube videos of the ship, ports, excursions...and don't get me started on the packing phase...

 

I remain grateful for the memories and optimistic that we will cruise again someday.

[Newfun4me]

I was so looking forward to a couple of days in New York, finally seeing Wicked on Broadway, and time spent with my hubby, son, his girlfriend, and my niece.  We are still currently booked on the NYC to Bermuda on May 31 in two beautiful Haven suites.  It would be the first cruise for both my niece and my son's girlfriend and we were excited to treat them to some serious pampering.  I am bummed to miss the time spent on the balcony with a beverage in hand and the fabulous food.  We'll be going again ASAP.

[Laszlo]

Don't feel bad, my wife and I were headed to Paris for a week leaving tomorrow 

[PATRLR]

I should be on the Encore right now.  I try not to think about it as I am instead at work.  

[Newly Retired Teachers]

1 hour ago, Newfun4me said:

I was so looking forward to a couple of days in New York, finally seeing Wicked on Broadway, and time spent with my hubby, son, his girlfriend, and my niece.  We are still currently booked on the NYC to Bermuda on May 31 in two beautiful Haven suites.  It would be the first cruise for both my niece and my son's girlfriend and we were excited to treat them to some serious pampering.  I am bummed to miss the time spent on the balcony with a beverage in hand and the fabulous food.  We'll be going again ASAP.

We can relate, booked over a year ago, on the Encore to Bermuda for May 17th for my birthday.  We followed the building progress of the Encore from day 1 with excitement.  My sister was coming from Germany, we had tickets for Hamilton and Moulin Rouge (her first visit to NYC).  We also booked a Haven (2-bedroom) for the first time as a splurge!  Don't know why NCL is not in line with the other major cruise lines.  NCL is still showing a start date of May 15.  We went ahead and booked the same cruise on the Joy for next May.  One more year to build anticipation.

[Newfun4me]

40 minutes ago, Newly Retired Teachers said:

We can relate, booked over a year ago, on the Encore to Bermuda for May 17th for my birthday.  We followed the building progress of the Encore from day 1 with excitement.  My sister was coming from Germany, we had tickets for Hamilton and Moulin Rouge (her first visit to NYC).  We also booked a Haven (2-bedroom) for the first time as a splurge!  Don't know why NCL is not in line with the other major cruise lines.  NCL is still showing a start date of May 15.  We went ahead and booked the same cruise on the Joy for next May.  One more year to build anticipation.

Ugh - so bummed.  I'm so sorry!  Like you, we'll be going - it's just when...  Enjoy your cruise next year!!!!

 

[z4oslo]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We disembarked from our cruise yesterday...it was great as there was almost no line at the taxi stand and getting through customs was a breeze! 😞  

 

Sigh...

 

I miss the planning and the anticipation of the cruise.  Nothing makes me happier than to sit with my morning coffee and watch youtube videos of the ship, ports, excursions...and don't get me started on the packing phase...

 

I remain grateful for the memories and optimistic that we will cruise again someday.

 

So i'm not the only one looking at youtube videos of the ship, I watch Vlogs and Cruise walk through tours, I also watch videos from the ports I will be visiting etc etc. I can easily binge watch 🤩

[Budget Queen]

4 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I am not in the planning stage but I do reminisce all the time about my cruise that ended March 1.  When I booked it 17 months in advance, who would have thought I would be on one of the last sailings before this new world. I feel blessed and so fortunate that our family was able to travel so far away and make it back.  It was probably the best cruise ever.  Pretty much everything was perfect which is not usually the case with cruises.  The food (while expensive) was some of the best meals I've had in years.  I had my all time favorite beach day of my life (and I've been to lots of beaches) in Tortola.  I am not trying to rub it in but its what I think about and how lucky I was.

Until there is a vaccine or this is almost snuffed out, I will live through your stories until I cruise again (hopefully).  When this was spreading it was always in the back of our minds but it did not impact our trip at all. I cant believe how lucky and blessed I am.

 

Yes.   this certainly caught me by surprise as well.    I don't book ahead-   but I was so fortunate  to return to the Jewel early Feb  and stay on for 2 cruises.    I am always looking ahead-  so I picked up 2 on the Escape which would have left 4-18.   

 

  However-  I was lamenting that I couldn't be in 2 places at once-   and saw that the Star was a possibility when I got to Los Angles.     So-  my fast decision to book the cruise and jump on a flight that afternoon was perfect.      I got off the ship 3-14 and was so fortunate to get home on 3-16.  

 

These times are of great concern and very sobering.   

[don't-use-real-name]

19 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

For me,   it's what's off the cruise ship-   itinerary-  where it takes me.    I'm fortunate to only have short term plans usually.     But,  really hope there will be cruises in the future.    Glad I did 22 last year.   🙂 🙂  

 

Good Golly you wouldn't be that lady that lives on a ship we hear about now and then ?

Yeah that lady from Pasadena ! LOL !

22 7 day cruises 154 days + 22 more days in transit between cruises - almost a half year.

 

Oh there will be cruises after the pan-virus-debacle - probably the best value will be those

right after the OK to return to cruising with incentive offers to fill the ships with anyone everyone

with a clean bill of health.

As cruising returns - the level of the fares will too - and then the bennies perks will be thrown in

to keep the ships full.

Like the airlines a ship doesn't make any profit (money) sitting idle.

What remains to be seen is how much the airlines will adjust to help keep cruising a pleasant experience.

Timely coordinated connections will be needed to keep this afloat for an enjoyable cruise-cation ! 

[ollienbertsmum]

I had actually booked on a P and O ship - brand new, Iona and got an aft cabin to cruise to the Norwegian Fjords.  It is a bucket list cruise for me and that Aft cabinnnn.  My very first Aft.    I was also booked in to a nice hotel in Windsor and was meeting up with my youngest and visiting the castle (another place on my bucket list) on the way back.    For me this was perfection.   I even booked to coincide with the longest days.  More sunlight for my money.  

 

I paid about 10 days before everything jumped from a crisis in one country to a pandemic.    I also bought insurance the week before everything kicked off.  That is another waste of money.  The cruise has not yet been cancelled by the cruiseline but we are not going.  Even if the cruise were to go ahead, I would just accept losing my money.  

 

When I think about it I want to weep.  Then I remember that it is just a vacation and I tell myself off for Not getting my priorities right.  Although on the other hand my lost cruise is the livelihood of so many people.   It is so complicated isn’t it.  

 

Somedays I wake up and think that maybe it was just all a bad dream. 

[Fun4Us2013]

We were scheduled to leave May 1 on the 15 day trip to the Med.  Places we had never been before.  Everything had fallen into place, an extra day in Rome, day trips at every stop,  and we would have been in Normandy 30 days before the 75th anniversary of D Day.  All gone. And that itinerary isn't offered any more. The trip of a lifetime canceled . But wait...there's hope ahead. We rescheduled for a November trip to the southern Caribbean. Not our best choice but a chance to cruise again.  Hope the hurricanes will not be as devastating as this virus has been.

[ollienbertsmum]

Fun4Us - gutted for you.    Normandy beaches on my bucket list - and just before the 75th Anniversary would have been cool.    Glad you are seeing the rainbow though.  

 

[yearsofcruising]

we cancelled my birthday , her birthday , our anniversary , my retirement . Although we cruise every summer plus our march/april , this was going to be a little bit more.

Already re-booked down the line  , but not going to be for any celebration , except we made it through this pandemic.

Hopefully all will be well with everyone here as well...

[mugtech]

23 hours ago, Fun4Us2013 said:

We were scheduled to leave May 1 on the 15 day trip to the Med.  Places we had never been before.  Everything had fallen into place, an extra day in Rome, day trips at every stop,  and we would have been in Normandy 30 days before the 75th anniversary of D Day.  All gone. And that itinerary isn't offered any more. The trip of a lifetime canceled . But wait...there's hope ahead. We rescheduled for a November trip to the southern Caribbean. Not our best choice but a chance to cruise again.  Hope the hurricanes will not be as devastating as this virus has been.

D-Day was 1944, what you are missing is the 75th anniversary of VE day in May, 1945.

[Daytonasailor]

On 4/17/2020 at 11:03 AM, Laszlo said:

Don't feel bad, my wife and I were headed to Paris for a week leaving tomorrow 

Yup, we had a 2 May to England, Liverpool, Cavern Club (Beatles Fan). Oh well, maybe next year.

[texasgirl29]

 
So i'm not the only one looking at youtube videos of the ship, I watch Vlogs and Cruise walk through tours, I also watch videos from the ports I will be visiting etc etc. I can easily binge watch 🤩

Our first NCL Cruise is supposed to be the November TA on the Epic. I’ve watched so many YouTube walk throughs I think I can navigate the ship with my eyes closed. I wish you April Epic TA folks we’re on it as I’m not sure how/when the Epic is going to get to Barcelona. We wait and wonder.


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[texasgirl29]

Yup, we had a 2 May to England, Liverpool, Cavern Club (Beatles Fan). Oh well, maybe next year.

Liverpool was my favorite. We did the Magical Mystery Tour, I will never forget riding in the bus down Penny Lane, seeing the sites from the song, while the music played.


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