Is it too early?

[mommadeb]

Hi, everyone. I'm new around here (obvious, huh?). My name is Deb, and I am planning to take my DDs (Ella 7 & Alexia 9) on Disney Dream for a 4-day Bahamian cruise in July 2014. It feels like a really really long way out to start planning. But is it really? This will be our first cruise and our first vacation more than 1 state away from home, so I'm overthinking everything. I normally overthink, but it's been especially bad since I decided it was finally time to do this thing.

Sorry! I've been lurking in the background for awhile and I think I just needed to ramble a little.

 

[violetmonarch]

IMHO, it's never too soon to make plans, because before you know it the time will be upon you. Mine snook up on me faster than I thought! That's my 2cents

 

[bahacca]

I started researching as soon as I knew we were sailing. I found it useful because over time, I've been able to better prioritize what to do. THings I thought we'd want to do have now gone by the wayside after reading reviews or cons, etc. Other things have moved to the top after seeing consistent rave reviews. I've come to realize 4 nights isn't enough time to doeverything, so I'm trying to plan to hit the few things on my "MUST Do list. That list took several months to compile

 

[robhawk]

Planning is half the fun! Gets you excited to go. Even a year away!!!

 

[Four Swampers]

Welcome! July, 2014, huh? Well, after 17 month of reading the disboards, you will need that cruise vacation!!

Four night Bahamas on the Dream will be a blast.

 

[NWmom]

The best part of the journey is the anticipation and the planning.
Actually saw a study that the health benefits of the journey is also gotten from the planning!

For me, planning and learning about where I am going is half the fun.

May I suggest you join a disgroup? If there is not one for your cruise- start one. We met some great people from the dis on our cruise meet that I am proud to call friends.

 

[mommadeb]

Whew! Thanks for the reassurance. I have known that I wanted to take this trip for years, but things just kept getting in the way.

I LOVE planning. So much so, that sometimes I forget to finish things. But this is one project that I will absolutely follow through to the end!

 

[mommadeb]

Welcome! July, 2014, huh? Well, after 17 month of reading the disboards, you will need that cruise vacation!!

Four night Bahamas on the Dream will be a blast.

I know! Right??

We're taking a smaller vacation this summer to a water park in Kansas City. Nowhere near the experience, but I hope it will help a tiny bit with the vacation bug.

 

[mommadeb]

The best part of the journey is the anticipation and the planning.
Actually saw a study that the health benefits of the journey is also gotten from the planning!

For me, planning and learning about where I am going is half the fun.

May I suggest you join a disgroup? If there is not one for your cruise- start one. We met some great people from the dis on our cruise meet that I am proud to call friends.

Great suggestion. Thank you! I haven't seen our date, so I guess I'll be the first one. We love meeting new people, and being a single parent, I consider adult contact somewhat of a luxury.

 

[Fadog]

We have been planning for well over a year. There are a lot of details to consider and the DISboard is a great place to get answers. We are only 47 days away and still coming up with questions and planning issues. So no it is not too early. Enjoy the journey!

 

[rentayenta]

The best part of the journey is the anticipation and the planning.
Actually saw a study that the health benefits of the journey is also gotten from the planning!

For me, planning and learning about where I am going is half the fun.

May I suggest you join a disgroup? If there is not one for your cruise- start one. We met some great people from the dis on our cruise meet that I am proud to call friends.

I totally agree with enjoying the planning part of the journey!

It's never too early OP.

 

[ariel68]

We are in the process of planning our 4 night cruise on the Dream for the end of August 2014. Just need to nail down some final details before we book in the next couple of weeks. The benefit of booking so early is that we have 14 months til our PIF date. Taking my GD, who will be 5 at the time of sailing, just before she starts kinder.

 

[darkwing818]

OP in my opinion it's never to early to book & plan a cruise. We booked our upcoming June Western cruise on the Fantasy back October 2011. We booked May Eastern 2014 cruise (Fantasy also) this past December. As one of the PPs noted planning & anticipation is half fun; at least it is for us.

 

[JustUs275]

We booked each of our last 2 cruises right at a year ahead - love the planning and researching! Another thing we do as soon as we book is start a "cruise fund" jar - all loose change goes into the jar, which we decorate just as added inspiration We did this for our first 2 cruises and were surprised at how it adds up...this cruise our 6 yr old granddaughter will be cruising with us and one of the first things she did was decorate her very own cruise fund jar! She has well over $100, and has learned some important lessons in savings as well. Happy planning!

 

[violetmonarch]

Great suggestion. Thank you! I haven't seen our date, so I guess I'll be the first one. We love meeting new people, and being a single parent, I consider adult contact somewhat of a luxury.

I hear ya! Being a single parent as well, I can relate.

 

[sunryzez]

When I went on my first cruise there was 17 of us so we were so excited and we booked a year and a half in advance! It is never too early to cruise because before you know it, it will be here and you will be thinking of your next one =)

 

[darwinsrule]

Reality of the situation is that kids grow up quick. My DDs are about to turn 9 & 5 and I am still trying to figure out where the time has gone.

 

[mommadeb]

Reality of the situation is that kids grow up quick. My DDs are about to turn 9 & 5 and I am still trying to figure out where the time has gone.

I hear you there! I have an old dream board that says "cruise with Mickey. June 2010." Kinda missed the mark, but the point is we're going now.

I've paid the deposit for the July 20 4-day on Dream next summer. Yay!!! I wasn't going to tell the girls until Christmas, but I can't keep a secret this exciting!!