Back to the Med Greece/Turkey in 2013! Complete!

[debsters41]

Just thought I would chime in to say that I am very happy how things are coming together for you! Reading your post has filled me with positive energy to last me the day

 

[mindelmouse]

So it ends up that all our excursions are booked! I was able to get dad on the same excursions: I was in and out of booking in under 2 minutes! WOOT!

I spent part of this last week confirming reservations. In doing so, I was able to drop a day from the pre-cruise apartment, lock in early check-in, and save myself $100E! Yeah! The other thing that I notice was in response to an inquiry to join us on our post cruise excursion. I was looking at Barcelona Day Tours website to refresh my memory on what kind of vehicle we may have, and I realized that they dropped their rates from $99E/person to $89E/person. So....I have sent an email asking if we could add to our party and requesting that they match that rate. Glad I looked..... I sent it this morning so I don't anticipate a response until Monday, but I will update to know what kind of response I get.

Meanwhile.....I made a semi-formal dress! LOVE it! It's a purple shade and a "charmeuse" fabric. Never worked with it before, and while it hangs beautifully, it was a bit of a slippery pain to work with. However...now I need proper undergarments . I had to go out today to shop for some work clothes (got a different position at the same place I'm at...YAY!!!) and attempted to acquire such garments, but ended up swearing never to enter Kohl's ever again. I simply have no tolerance trying to dig thru their overpacked racks just to find out that what I need isn't there. Or find an employee that may help. But I digress....

Remember about a year ago my computer was giving me heart burn? It did it again tonight, so while I was doing some backups and whatnot, I started prepping yet another embarkation day shirt. 3 to go.....

So an addendum to what Kim posted above. She did hear back from the tour operator and they said that in order to keep the tour private it was 99 Euro's per person (so for 89 Euro's it's not private, I think I'm missing something) but if we add the two people they will lower the price to 89 Euro's. Something just doesn't add up here....

 

[mindelmouse]

So I used to chime in a lot and lately, not so much

I figured I'd rectify that a bit. So while Kim sews, I am supposed to be losing the extra weight I put on this year, so that my cruise clothes actually fit. Notice how I say supposed to. I get through 6 out of 7 days and screw up on the 7th day. DH is no help because he's the one that leads me down the path. I don't have much time because I refuse to buy new and I have a whole closet full of clothes I could take.

It's been an "interesting" 2013 for us thus far. We started the year with DH being in ICU for a bleeding ulcer, 3 weeks later he was let go from his job ( and still hasn't had an interview for another, although I'm told there's lots of stuff in the works), we've had various expensive car repairs and untold other little lifetime stuff. We actually considered cancelling the cruise (the insurance we had bought the week before he got laid off, would have covered the plane tickets that we couldn't get refunded). We had a few weeks before final payment was due, but alas, I may regret this later, we are going. Most of our friends encouraged us not to change it and just to bite the bullet and go.

Since I'm such a nervous nelly about money, this is a tough one for me, but I've decided to go, have a great time with great friends and a crazy group of people that we've met on our DIS board thread and our FB page and just forget about all the other stuff. For those who know me, you know how tough that is but I'm trying

Another thing I don't see Kim mentioned is the great, lively group of people we've met thus far via DIS and FB that are joining us on this fabulous adventure. I can't tell you how much laughter has been generated by the antics of a few, but if this crowd is as lively in person, this looks to be a great cruise

 

[jedijill]

So I used to chime in a lot and lately, not so much

I figured I'd rectify that a bit. So while Kim sews, I am supposed to be losing the extra weight I put on this year, so that my cruise clothes actually fit. Notice how I say supposed to. I get through 6 out of 7 days and screw up on the 7th day. DH is no help because he's the one that leads me down the path. I don't have much time because I refuse to buy new and I have a whole closet full of clothes I could take.

It's been an "interesting" 2013 for us thus far. We started the year with DH being in ICU for a bleeding ulcer, 3 weeks later he was let go from his job ( and still hasn't had an interview for another, although I'm told there's lots of stuff in the works), we've had various expensive car repairs and untold other little lifetime stuff. We actually considered cancelling the cruise (the insurance we had bought the week before he got laid off, would have covered the plane tickets that we couldn't get refunded). We had a few weeks before final payment was due, but alas, I may regret this later, we are going. Most of our friends encouraged us not to change it and just to bite the bullet and go.

Since I'm such a nervous nelly about money, this is a tough one for me, but I've decided to go, have a great time with great friends and a crazy group of people that we've met on our DIS board thread and our FB page and just forget about all the other stuff. For those who know me, you know how tough that is but I'm trying

Another thing I don't see Kim mentioned is the great, lively group of people we've met thus far via DIS and FB that are joining us on this fabulous adventure. I can't tell you how much laughter has been generated by the antics of a few, but if this crowd is as lively in person, this looks to be a great cruise

to everything you've had to go through this year. I hope things get better and you really enjoy your cruise!

Jill in CO

 

[Kirbo]

So I used to chime in a lot and lately, not so much

I figured I'd rectify that a bit. So while Kim sews, I am supposed to be losing the extra weight I put on this year, so that my cruise clothes actually fit. Notice how I say supposed to. I get through 6 out of 7 days and screw up on the 7th day. DH is no help because he's the one that leads me down the path. I don't have much time because I refuse to buy new and I have a whole closet full of clothes I could take.

It's been an "interesting" 2013 for us thus far. We started the year with DH being in ICU for a bleeding ulcer, 3 weeks later he was let go from his job ( and still hasn't had an interview for another, although I'm told there's lots of stuff in the works), we've had various expensive car repairs and untold other little lifetime stuff. We actually considered cancelling the cruise (the insurance we had bought the week before he got laid off, would have covered the plane tickets that we couldn't get refunded). We had a few weeks before final payment was due, but alas, I may regret this later, we are going. Most of our friends encouraged us not to change it and just to bite the bullet and go.

Since I'm such a nervous nelly about money, this is a tough one for me, but I've decided to go, have a great time with great friends and a crazy group of people that we've met on our DIS board thread and our FB page and just forget about all the other stuff. For those who know me, you know how tough that is but I'm trying

Another thing I don't see Kim mentioned is the great, lively group of people we've met thus far via DIS and FB that are joining us on this fabulous adventure. I can't tell you how much laughter has been generated by the antics of a few, but if this crowd is as lively in person, this looks to be a great cruise

I am truly sorry to hear about the job

Our situation is not at all the same, but we considered canceling our cruise as well. We're going on the EBTA and the first Med. We paid for the trip last year and then ended up buying a house. We thought we'd be buying a house in a few years, not just yet. But we found the perfect place for us and went ahead and bought it. But guess what? It needs some work. And all that money that we'd paid for the cruises could do a lot of great work in the house. And it's money we don't otherwise have. But after a lot of thought we decided to just take the trip. We really won't be able to do quite such a large trip again, this is our chance. The stuff we want to do on the house will still be here when we manage to save up for it, but our girls are just getting older and might not want to spend three weeks on a boat with us in the future.

Also, my aunt, uncle, father and mother will be meeting us in Barcelona for the Med portion of the cruise. My mom was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, long after we'd already planned this trip. So it's also taken on a new meaning because of that and I'm so thankful we hadn't canceled the trip.

That's my long way of saying that from an outsider's point of view, I think you'd doing the right thing by taking the trip. Who knows when you'll be able to do it again? You'll be with great friends making wonderful memories. I hope you're able to really relax and enjoy this trip

 

[mindelmouse]

to everything you've had to go through this year. I hope things get better and you really enjoy your cruise!

Jill in CO

Thank you that's really sweet..It will be fun...although I just printed Kim's allocation of the excursion costs and I think it's better to look at them individually not totally cost

 

[mindelmouse]

I am truly sorry to hear about the job

Our situation is not at all the same, but we considered canceling our cruise as well. We're going on the EBTA and the first Med. We paid for the trip last year and then ended up buying a house. We thought we'd be buying a house in a few years, not just yet. But we found the perfect place for us and went ahead and bought it. But guess what? It needs some work. And all that money that we'd paid for the cruises could do a lot of great work in the house. And it's money we don't otherwise have. But after a lot of thought we decided to just take the trip. We really won't be able to do quite such a large trip again, this is our chance. The stuff we want to do on the house will still be here when we manage to save up for it, but our girls are just getting older and might not want to spend three weeks on a boat with us in the future.

Also, my aunt, uncle, father and mother will be meeting us in Barcelona for the Med portion of the cruise. My mom was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, long after we'd already planned this trip. So it's also taken on a new meaning because of that and I'm so thankful we hadn't canceled the trip.

That's my long way of saying that from an outsider's point of view, I think you'd doing the right thing by taking the trip. Who knows when you'll be able to do it again? You'll be with great friends making wonderful memories. I hope you're able to really relax and enjoy this trip

Hey congrats on the house...Sorry to hear about Mom...Just know you are making memories with her that you will have forever. My mom also had lung cancer and had a part of her lung removed. She's been cancer free for ( I actually don't know how long) at least 5 years...so I get what you're going through. Sorry we won't get to meet on the 8/23 cruise, but I'm sure our paths will cross somewhere along the line.

 

[Kirbo]

Hey congrats on the house...Sorry to hear about Mom...Just know you are making memories with her that you will have forever. My mom also had lung cancer and had a part of her lung removed. She's been cancer free for ( I actually don't know how long) at least 5 years...so I get what you're going through. Sorry we won't get to meet on the 8/23 cruise, but I'm sure our paths will cross somewhere along the line.

It's wonderful to hear that your mom is doing so well after so long! My mom can't have surgery (the cancer is growing into her brachial tubes), but her treatment is going well. The doctors have also said that she may well be in the best shape when on the Med. She has one chemo left (tomorrow) and seven radiation treatments (M-F and then M,T of the following week), then she'll have six weeks to recover before flying to Barcelona. She will likely have the cancer at bay for the trip (they do not feel they can "cure" her, just shrink it to prolong her life). She doens't plan on leaving the boat, just relaxing while we're all in port. And we'll have our meals together and shows

I know you all will have a great time on the Fantasy cruise next year. We are hoping to do the Alaskan June of next year (no flights to buy will be nice!) but might have to cancel that one . I am determined to not cancel any other cruises But it might be our last one for a few years

Anyway, good luck on the job front and enjoy your trip!

 

[MinnieDiva]

So I used to chime in a lot and lately, not so much

I figured I'd rectify that a bit. So while Kim sews, I am supposed to be losing the extra weight I put on this year, so that my cruise clothes actually fit. Notice how I say supposed to. I get through 6 out of 7 days and screw up on the 7th day. DH is no help because he's the one that leads me down the path. I don't have much time because I refuse to buy new and I have a whole closet full of clothes I could take.

Most of our friends encouraged us not to change it and just to bite the bullet and go.

Since I'm such a nervous nelly about money, this is a tough one for me, but I've decided to go, have a great time with great friends and a crazy group of people that we've met on our DIS board thread and our FB page and just forget about all the other stuff. For those who know me, you know how tough that is but I'm trying

Another thing I don't see Kim mentioned is the great, lively group of people we've met thus far via DIS and FB that are joining us on this fabulous adventure. I can't tell you how much laughter has been generated by the antics of a few, but if this crowd is as lively in person, this looks to be a great cruise

I think you're nuts, personally. I'm glad you're gonna be there, but I would have cancelled immediately.

And Mindy is right....the FB group is INSANE!!! It's going to be so much fun to meet all these people!

 

[MinnieDiva]

So an addendum to what Kim posted above. She did hear back from the tour operator and they said that in order to keep the tour private it was 99 Euro's per person (so for 89 Euro's it's not private, I think I'm missing something) but if we add the two people they will lower the price to 89 Euro's. Something just doesn't add up here....

My thought is that what they do is pack as many people as they can in the van, whether they know each other or not. Cost containment, I'm sure. But I really don't remember ever saying I wanted a "private" tour. I need to go thru my stuff and look at how I went about that. I save all the emails, so I guess I need to follow that trail....but as long as those other 2 people join us I guess we're set with the less expensive price.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Just thought I would chime in to say that I am very happy how things are coming together for you! Reading your post has filled me with positive energy to last me the day

Thanks

 

[MinnieDiva]

to everything you've had to go through this year. I hope things get better and you really enjoy your cruise!

Jill in CO

Jill, by any chance did you do the Princess 1/2?

 

[MinnieDiva]

Thank you that's really sweet..It will be fun...although I just printed Kim's allocation of the excursion costs and I think it's better to look at them individually not totally cost

Isn't that the truth? Much less mind-bending to see the costs broken down. Still need to calculate tips and tickets that still need purchasing, but at least it's more manageable to look at..

 

[MinnieDiva]

It's wonderful to hear that your mom is doing so well after so long! My mom can't have surgery (the cancer is growing into her brachial tubes), but her treatment is going well. The doctors have also said that she may well be in the best shape when on the Med. She has one chemo left (tomorrow) and seven radiation treatments (M-F and then M,T of the following week), then she'll have six weeks to recover before flying to Barcelona. She will likely have the cancer at bay for the trip (they do not feel they can "cure" her, just shrink it to prolong her life). She doens't plan on leaving the boat, just relaxing while we're all in port. And we'll have our meals together and shows

I know you all will have a great time on the Fantasy cruise next year. We are hoping to do the Alaskan June of next year (no flights to buy will be nice!) but might have to cancel that one . I am determined to not cancel any other cruises But it might be our last one for a few years

Anyway, good luck on the job front and enjoy your trip!

Wow....enjoy your trip! Sounds like it's going to be a welcome respite after all that.....

 

[mindelmouse]

I think you're nuts, personally. I'm glad you're gonna be there, but I would have cancelled immediately.

And Mindy is right....the FB group is INSANE!!! It's going to be so much fun to meet all these people!

Too late now

 

[jedijill]

Jill, by any chance did you do the Princess 1/2?

I did not. I am so not a runner!

Jill in CO

 

[MinnieDiva]

Too late now

LOL

I did not. I am so not a runner!

Jill in CO

Just checking....met a Jill from the Ft. Collins area while I was there....We actually lived in CO Spgs/Falcon for 8 years before moving here...

 

[jedijill]

LOL



Just checking....met a Jill from the Ft. Collins area while I was there....We actually lived in CO Spgs/Falcon for 8 years before moving here...

Cool! I was stationed at Army Space Command in Colorado Springs in 96-98 before transferring to Germany. It just took me until 2008 to move back to Colorado permanently!

Jill in CO

 

[ame]

I think you're nuts, personally. I'm glad you're gonna be there, but I would have cancelled immediately.

And Mindy is right....the FB group is INSANE!!! It's going to be so much fun to meet all these people!

I think we're awesome Sea days are going to be even more awesome than usual.

So I used to chime in a lot and lately, not so much

I figured I'd rectify that a bit. So while Kim sews, I am supposed to be losing the extra weight I put on this year, so that my cruise clothes actually fit. Notice how I say supposed to. I get through 6 out of 7 days and screw up on the 7th day. DH is no help because he's the one that leads me down the path. I don't have much time because I refuse to buy new and I have a whole closet full of clothes I could take.

It's been an "interesting" 2013 for us thus far. We started the year with DH being in ICU for a bleeding ulcer, 3 weeks later he was let go from his job ( and still hasn't had an interview for another, although I'm told there's lots of stuff in the works), we've had various expensive car repairs and untold other little lifetime stuff. We actually considered cancelling the cruise (the insurance we had bought the week before he got laid off, would have covered the plane tickets that we couldn't get refunded). We had a few weeks before final payment was due, but alas, I may regret this later, we are going. Most of our friends encouraged us not to change it and just to bite the bullet and go.

Since I'm such a nervous nelly about money, this is a tough one for me, but I've decided to go, have a great time with great friends and a crazy group of people that we've met on our DIS board thread and our FB page and just forget about all the other stuff. For those who know me, you know how tough that is but I'm trying

Another thing I don't see Kim mentioned is the great, lively group of people we've met thus far via DIS and FB that are joining us on this fabulous adventure. I can't tell you how much laughter has been generated by the antics of a few, but if this crowd is as lively in person, this looks to be a great cruise

ya know 6 days good and one blow out day is better than 7 good days as it shakes your metabolism up a bit. As long as those cruise clothes fit Good luck.

We've never regretted travel. Even the trip we were all tag teaming being sick for 3 weeks, it was still amazing!! It's probably just what you need, to get away from reality and just have some fun as a family. You'll come home possibly broke, but revitalised to do it all again. The only travel regret we have is that we didn't do it more when the kids were younger.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I think we're awesome Sea days are going to be even more awesome than usual.

ya know 6 days good and one blow out day is better than 7 good days as it shakes your metabolism up a bit. As long as those cruise clothes fit Good luck.

We've never regretted travel. Even the trip we were all tag teaming being sick for 3 weeks, it was still amazing!! It's probably just what you need, to get away from reality and just have some fun as a family. You'll come home possibly broke, but revitalised to do it all again. The only travel regret we have is that we didn't do it more when the kids were younger.

Sea days are gonna be awesome!!! Min and I were talking earlier today about how there is so little planned for them....