10/17 Wonder -- Are you sailing with us?!?

[TinkerKat]

Mickey Magic, this is my two cents. In September we chose NOT to go to Atlantis.

It was the best decision I made. My Three Day wonder was way more relaxing than the 7 day wonder. No TIME TAbles! Other than dinner.

It poured on Atlantis day and I gotta tell ya, DH & I were quite happy to be on the ship as we watched the billowing clouds work they way throughtout the island. Instead, we snatched up a newly vacated Hot Tub, grabbed some drinks.. and RELAXED!

This time I'm going with DS (5) and well I rather check him into Club and treat myself to Spa! One night's cost in Atlantis is two Spa treatments for me.
I guess if like Sue, I had someone to split cost of room. But I am looking forward to the SPA!
Kathy

 

[prymsu]

We do have a room booked at Atlantis. I am really having second thoughts about this too. I am not paying for the room. My friend Pat wanted to go there in the worst way, so she insisted, and this is her treat. I keep trying to give her subtle hints that it probably won't be worth the money, but she doesn't care. Since she has never been on a cruise before, I feel like if she really wants to do this, I am going to say OK, let's go for it, especially since she is insisting it is her treat.

There is a possibility now that I may not even be able to go on the cruise. My mother has just been diagnosed with cancer, and she is not doing well. I am really torn between going and not going.

I thought i would wait and see if closer to time she is feeling better. If not, I may have to cancel the trip altogether. Aren't i awful for not just going ahead and canceling right now...I feel like i may need this trip to prepare for the long haul. I have been working and going to school full time, so i really need the break, but now i am not so sure what to do...

 

[Ashley24]

That's funny about reconsidering your Atlantis day because I am doing the same with my dolphin swim! I know it will be fun but it's expensive and then I won't have that full day on the ship either! The three days go by just too fast!
Ann

 

[Ashley24]

Sue,
I am sorry about your mom! I respect your decision about waiting to see how she is doing. You are right about needing the time on the cruise for the long haul ahead. Do you live by your mom?
Ann

 

[pal2pluto]

Sue.....{{{{{hugs}}}}} and prayers for you and your family. This is a difficult decision. What would your mom want you to do? What feels "right" in your gut? When you make your decision, don't doubt it or regret it...........again....{{{hugs}}} and prayers.................

 

[MickeyMagic]

Sue, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I am sure you are having a hard time coping and then also trying to decide what to do about the cruise. I don't think you're terrible for waiting to cancel the cruise. Depending upon your mother's treatment course, you may want to spend the few days on the cruise. How does your mother feel about you going?

Just before last Christmas, my brother was diagnosed with colon cancer and it was a horrible shock. The initial surgery was fairly radical and the assessment was not good. He had 6 months of chemotherapy - one treatment each month. Each month he had one week where he felt absolutely terrible, another where he wasn't up to par, and two good weeks. It got to the point where he could plan things around his good weeks. He has just returned to work and we hope all is well.

I can empathize with the devastation that comes with the diagnosis of cancer in a family member. I would wait and see what your mother wants you to do and what her treatment plan will be. And, I agree with you, you may want to take this time for yourself.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sue

 

[MickeyMagic]

Ashley24

I know it's really expensive to do the dolphin swim and I'm sure the price has increased since we did it back in 2000. But it is an opportunity to do one of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' thrills.

We have always treasured our memories (and video and photo album) of our dolphin swim. I have never regretted the $$ spent. But, we did the swim while on a 4-day cruise, so we still had our day at sea.

Good luck with your decision - I'm still wavering on mine! I realized I have never done a DCL cruise without a day at sea. When we were on our 3 day cruise in August 1999, we ran into a hurricane and missed our day at Nassau and spent it at sea. The next day the hurricane prevented us from going to Castaway Cay, but we were able to go to Nassau. We did a 4 day in March 2000 with a day at sea, and then the 7-day last January.

I'm starting to lean towards staying on the ship and giving up the day at Atlantis. But I don't know what DD10 will say -- I'd have to get her approval first. That Mary Kate & Ashley video set at the Atlantis might do me in though!

 

[pal2pluto]

We plan to stay on the ship for the day in Nassau. We visited there before, and I didn't lose anything there, so there's no reason for us to leave the ship. DD (11) seems to be interested in the activities the lab has planned for that day. The trip is going to feel so short, and we want to use the ship as much as possible.

 

[prymsu]

thanx to all for the kind words. I guess I will just wait a little longer to make a final decision. I know my Mom has told me several times since last week that she wants me to go, but I just want to be sure that she is feeling better. I live about forty miles from her house, and she is about ten miles from where I work, so i will be able to get over there on a daily basis and my work is being really flexible about the situation. I sure hope that I am able to go, and to meet you all in October.

 

[scduckman]

MickeyMagic, we could take your DD with us to Atlantis if you wanted to stay on the ship. Just a thought because we have room for one more at the Comfort Suites.

 

[SC Minnie]

prymsu- I have been away from the boards for a couple of days and are just getting caught up. I am so sorry to hear about your mother. You both are in our prayers.


MickyMagic- as Tom said Alysha is welcome to come with us to Atlantis and let you have some 'grown up' time. I am sure Catherine would love to have a buddy to do the fun things with. We have space for one more in our 'room' so it would not be a big deal. Just a thought -- let us know.

 

[MickeyMagic]

SC Minnie/scduckman - Thanks so much for the offer to take Alysha to Atlantis. Surprisingly, she is all for staying on the ship. She's talking about going to a movie and maybe doing some things at the kid's club, and maybe getting her hair braided since there will be little time for such things on this short cruise. We might go into Nassau for a hour or so for some shopping.

Also, seeing that DVC has added the Atlantis as a members getaway option, we are thinking that we might possibly trade for a week at the Atlantis sometime in the future.

We are still wavering, but at this point we are leaning towards staying on the ship. We're give it a few more days to actually decide to cancel our ressie in case we decide to stick with our original plan.

 

[SC Minnie]

MickeyMagic-
The invitation still stands if Alysha decides she wants to do Atlantis. We were thinking of staying there until midafternoon then coming back to the ship. Maybe going into Nassua a little bit later in the day just to say we were there

BTW- have you decided what you are going to pack for Tritons???

 

[albiats]

Bumping to the first page, and I also wanted to see a new countdown close to the top.

 

[TinkerKat]

Good Lord! 20 days! At this point, it's just not soon enough!

Kathy

 

[pal2pluto]

20 days!!! I gotta start packing!!!!!

 

[SC Minnie]

Its hard to beleive it is less than 3 weeks away!

 

[MickeyMagic]

Whoa! This happens every time. First, I'm counting the days when it's months away and I'm thinking it will never get here. And then all of a sudden it gets down to days away and I'm not ready.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I need time to slow down a bit. We leave in 2 weeks (going to WDW first) and I have way too much to do between now and then.

 

[prymsu]

after many discussions with Mom and her doctor and visiting nurse, I have decided that if she keeps feeling better, then I am at this point not going to cancel the trip. I am relieved that she is feeling better, so now i can start to get excited again.

see you all soon!

 

[SC Minnie]

prymsu

I am glad to hear you mother is feeling well enough for you to reconsider cancelling your trip. If she is like most mothers she would probably feel bad knowing you cancelled a trip because of her. I look forward to seeing you in 2 1/2 weeks!