Yay...Finalized our 2003 Cruises!

[inkkognito]

Yep, we took the plunge and booked a Western for 1/4/03 :) :)
I also had to make a change to our 2003 cruise itinerary, but now it's all finalized. We'll be taking Disney cruises #28 through 35 next year on the following dates:
1/4 Magic Western
2/6 Wonder
3/13 Wonder
4/18 Wonder
7/4 Wonder
8/28 Wonder
10/16 Wonder
11/27 Wonder
I'm sure we'll be going through withdrawal in May/June and September!!!
And yes, we do other things besides Disney. We will also be going to Universal/IOA, spending Memorial Day weekend at a dude ranch, and leaving for a two-week African safari at the end of December (my dream trip).
Anybody joining us on any of those dates?
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[prymsu]

Barb, we are also cruising 1/4/03, although it will be Carnival. It sure would be neat to get to meet you though if we were staying anywhere close to you!!!

[cruisnfamily]

I'm just curious and I know it's none of my business but why didn't you wait to book on board to get the $200 credit?

[inkkognito]

We booked to take advantage of the Dreams special...with that and our Disney Club credit, I think it will come out to the same. But we will be doublechecking when we sail in July, and if worse comes to worse, I can cancel and rebook on the Wonder. We couldn't get a secret porthole room, so I don't have to worry about losing it if I have to rebook.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[Cassi]

Were you able to get a Disney Club credit for next year already? I'm booked for January, and I can't get any information on Disney Club rates for the hotel or cruise yet. They said the rates aren't available yet. I was told to keep trying back, and it's getting frustrating!

Your schedule sounds like a dream! I'm jealous!

Cassi

[inkkognito]

I don't think we actually have the Disney Club credit yet...we're going on the hope that it will be continued.
And even if it isn't, hubby insists that our dues are worth it just to get the Disney Magazine. :D
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[llachance]

Are you looking for someone to adopt. ?! Your schedule sounds wonderful!

[sbasowski]

Hey Barb!

Think I could tag along...just let me know what time you're departing for Midway, and I'll be at your doorstep, packed in a crate with luggage tags attached!

Ahhh, if only I could cruise that much!!!

Looking forward to my 4 day Wonder on 11/17!!

:bounce: Stephanie:Pinkbounc

[RellingTwin]

Barb, Have you ever looked at joining DVC? It seems with as many
trips you take it would be well worth it!

[doulasue]

Barb, WOW! Enjoy all of your trips, I hope they all go smoothly for you, and I hope that each one provides it's own unique and very special highlights. I just thanked my DH yesterday for agreeing with me that vacations should be a priority in our lives. They are good for our mental health, our physical health, and they strengthen our marriage as well. I would much rather travel than have all new furniture, designer clothes, or zero balance credit cards ;). Many of our friends don't understand how we can afford to take 2 nice vacations per year, you must get alot of that as well!! I love to hear about others that enjoy life to the fullest!
-Sue

[gary in florida]

Barb, we will be leaving the ship on 2/6 on the four day cruise. Would have loved to sail with you in order to thank you for all the wonderful tips you've given us over the past year.
I don't think we'd have enjoyed the last trip as much if we didn't check out your site. Your info has been great, and your reports have helped us decide what to do on the ship.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

[inkkognito]

doulasue, you said it so well!
Many of our friends live in big, fancy homes and drive expensive, loaded SUVs. We live in a condo and drive cheaper model cars, as the bulk of our income goes for vacations. I know some people who prefer the fancy homes and wheels...it's all a matter of priorities (of course, I sure wouldn't mind winning the lottery so I could afford it all :) ).
I think that Jack London said it best:
"I would rather be ashes than dust.
I would rather my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than that it should be stifled by dry rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy & permanent planet.
Man's chief purpose is to live, not exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[Dave_from_Marietta]

You're a <i><b>nut</b></i>, Barb! But I mean that in the best possible way!

[floridaminnie]

Hey Barb, I can fit into one of your suitcases! :jester: It must be nice to take all those cruises in one year! I bet you know some disney cast embers on a first name basis! Hope you enjoy!

[tltjet]

Barb,

I love reading about all of your cruises and have been very grateful for all of the information that you have given. As much as I love to hear about your Disney Cruises I would also love to hear about your African adventure. Have fun with all of your upcoming vacations!!!!!!!!!!

[disneyholic family]

well we're sailing with you in july Barb (as in next week....YIKES!!!)...
i sure hope i survive my motion sickness problem on this trial first cruise of ours.....if i pass with flying colors then i'll be more than happy to join you again in 2003....
as for the african safari.....have a great time...
i have lots and lots of friends who've been on a safari in Kenya and they've all raved about it....
i'm partial to the far east myself.....so in september we're heading east......to the land of the rising sun......and of course, while we're there we'll visit tokyo disneyland and disneysea....what's a vacation without disney after all?????

[Lisa F]

Wow, I can't believe we are going to be on the disney boat with the world famous (at least in the world of cruising with the mouse) Barb and Tony! What an extra treat!

Hey, you guys said that you checked into the secret porthole rooms and only a connector was available... I wonder, were both connectors available? If so, I might be pursuaded to book one with guaranteed quiet neighbors!

Lisa

[inkkognito]

Only one of the connectors was available, and even that surprised me! We ended up booking a cat. 11 but hubby is lobbying for a verandah so who knows where we'll end up. We just wanted to lock in our date...can't wait to do the Western again!
Also, I think I posted the wrong date for April 2003. It's Easter weekend, so it's Thursday the 17th (I have the 18th written on my master list...just noticed it, as I'm getting the paperwork ready for our 7/4 trip. I can't believe it's next week already!).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[Cheryl N. WI]

We'll be sailing with you on the Western on Jan. 4! And we are one of the lucky ones to have one of the secret porthole rooms! We will be in cabin 5520! We were in cabin 5524 the other time we cruised when we did the Eastern in Nov. 2000 and we loved having the secret porthole. I booked the Jan.4 cruise in Feb. of this year and at that time it was the only Cat.10 room on Deck 5 available so I immediately snatched it up! I guess if one of the connectors is available now someone must have had to cancel since then. Not that we want to rush time or anything but we are anxiously counting the days until the New Year. It would be nice to actually meet you and tell you thank you in person for all the great info you and Tony keep supplying all of us with! Have a great cruise next week!

Cheryl:sunny:

[Lisa F]

Wow, Cheryl, this cruise is filling up! We tried to change to the secret porthole room in January but all they had left was the connector and the ONE thing that could ruin a cruise for me would be to have noisy neighbors so I didn't want to chance it. We do have a cat 10 up on deck 7 (across the hall from where we had a cat 8 last january) and I loved the location so I'm not too disappointed!

Lisa

[taswira]

Originally posted by inkkognito
. . and leaving for a two-week African safari at the end of December (my dream trip).
African safari? You'll LOVE it! That's part of <a href="http://www.africansafari.org/">what I do for a living</A>! October will be my third Wonder cruise this year and I only WISH I could cruise as often as you!

[Jillpie]

I am fairly new to these boards...please tell me, how can you afford to take all this time off from work? And, a monthly cruise, did you hit the lottery or something?? Please tell us your secret, I've never heard of anyone ever taking a monthly trip!!!

[Fawn]

Originally posted by doulasue
I just thanked my DH yesterday for agreeing with me that vacations should be a priority in our lives. They are good for our mental health, our physical health, and they strengthen our marriage as well. I would much rather travel than have all new furniture, designer clothes, or zero balance credit cards ;). Many of our friends don't understand how we can afford to take 2 nice vacations per year, you must get alot of that as well!! I love to hear about others that enjoy life to the fullest!
-Sue

Sue, you are SO right! My late husband and I traveled extensively with the children. The trips were a way to strengthen family bonds, relax and give our children a larger outlook on life!

Now that he is gone, those memories are some of the sweetest my children have. I am so grateful we did not always wait for the "perfect" time!

[disneyholic family]

we're just like that Fawn....
lots of family vacations (all vacations are family vacations)....