Are most of you 'once a year' Disney Cruisers???

[westjones]

You know, ever since our first cruise in 2000, I have been hooked. I was SO depressed after that first cruise (thinking it was our ONLY Disney cruise), that DH and I decided to take the kids back again the next year. Then we were all depressed again (thinking it was our last Disney cruise). So we decided that we needed to just make it an annual trip for us (that way we had something to look forward too).

What is hard is that LONG wait after you are done with that year's cruise. Now it is really something that we are able to manage to do this once a year (we live 18 hours away if we drive). So I am just glad I have that 1 cruise a year to look forward to.

But I was wondering, do most of you cruise more than once a year? Or do you also go for the 'once a year dream trip' on the Disney Cruise Line? Or do you even go less than once a year?

I was just curious how the rest of you handle the waiting. For me, I plan and plan and plan for the whole year!
DJ

 

[JLSE50]

We cruised DCL three times in four years more by a fluke than by planning.

But now it will be less often and so we reminisce by wearing Cruise line pins daily, having photos and advertisements of the MAGIC posted on the kitchen cabinets, leis from the Caribbean dinner hanging on the bathroom mirror, making and looking at our scrapbooks, watching the videos, sharing photos at every opportunity and otherwise doing commercials for DCL. As time permits I surf the DIS Board and see what others are doing and if I can answer any questions there. Dave-from-Marietta told me how to add the MAGIC's horn to my e-mail program so whenever we get e-mail that is the sound we hear.

Anticipation is a big part of the fun for me, so even though we are not booked on a future cruise, I know DH wants to go as badly as I, and when he knows the budget can handle it, we will book it. I know from experience that taking a trip when the money is tight is much less fun as he spends the trip worrying about the bills, so I do not badger him about it.

Jan

 

[jlawall]

We've been going once a year for the last two years and again next summer. Our third cruise this summer was the best yet. I wasn't too depressed having rebooked on ship this year.

 

[BethC1952]

This will be our third DLC Cruise in 2 1/2 years. We had decided that we would make it an annual thing, a four-night cruise the second week of December each year. However, we've decided that maybe that's not quite enough.

We're thinking about trying a three-night in the spring, and then again in October (both tied to quick getaways to WDW, gotta use those AP's once we buy them) and then our regular December 4-night. We're seriously considering a 7-night western in early 2005.

Beth

 

[plutojudy]

We are once a year cruisers. We have cruised in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and are booked for 2004. We are grateful to be able to cruise once a year. We do a lot of homework to help us fill the time between cruises. We keep updated by reading the disboards. We read travel books about the islands we will visit. We decide what we would like to do while ashore. We talk about the changes that we will see on the Magic. And we visit WDW several times between cruises.

 

[AnnMorin]

The first year we went for easter week and then back again in December for my bday. Now we just go for my bday each year. I WISH I could afford to go more!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

We cruised for the first time (well for me anyway) this year and we've booked a week for our honeymoon and I think we'll probably book whilst we're on board then for the following year. My DH2B is still kicking himself he didn't have the foresight to do this at the time and then we would have received shipboard credit.

I'm pretty sure it'll be just once a year for the both of us I may get to sneak in another with friends but that's me counting my chickens before they hatch

 

[@GoofyNut]

Since our first Cruise in 1999 we got hooked and now that we have such an extended DIS family we can't wait for that once a year time to come around.

The in-between cruise time has been fun lately since we have started to do get away DIS meets.

NOT TO MENTION STAYING CONNECTED THRU THE BOARDS!

 

[dclwdwlover]

($$$$ !!!!)
Sometimes a little more than 2 years - sometimes a little less.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi DJ.

But I was wondering, do most of you cruise more than once a year? Or do you also go for the 'once a year dream trip' on the Disney Cruise Line? Or do you even go less than once a year?

Our first cruise was August of 2002. Second was August of 2003. Our third is booked for August of 2004. I hope we will be able to book cruise number four next year for August of 2005 - the Andy and Rae 50th Birthday Party Bash. I'd say there appears to be a pattern in all this...

 

[lsmac]

We started slowly with a four day Wonder cruise in 2001 then moved up to the 7 day in 2002, then I kept reading these boards, thinking about the fun we had, and lo and behold, the 7 day in 2003 emerged (finally)! Everytime I think we are going to try another cruise line (gasp), I come back to Disney, and we always have a blast!
As for the waiting...it is very difficult, but like you, I plan, plan, plan. My dh claims I am borderline obsessive compulsive...I say there ain't no "borderline" about it!

Lisa

 

[cjsmith]

We seem to be averaging about every 6 months. It helps that we live about 4 hours from The Magic and The Wonder and that we're Florida residents. We started with a 4 day in July 2002, another 4 day in January 2003, the 7 day in June 2003 and I have both a 4 day and a 7 day booked for January 2004. Now I just have to see which we take in january, keep your fingers crossed that I can swing the 7!

 

[Surfergirl]

We would love to cruise every year but finances won't allow. Cruised Oct. 1999, Oct. 2001 and next Oct. 2004.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
Hi DJ.



Our first cruise was August of 2002. Second was August of 2003. Our third is booked for August of 2004. I hope we will be able to book cruise number four next year for August of 2005 - the Andy and Rae 50th Birthday Party Bash. I'd say there appears to be a pattern in all this...

We took our first DCL cruise this past August, we booked for the same week, while on board, for August 2004, and during the August 2004 cruise, we will be booking the same week for August 2005. Seems our trend is following in the footsteps of BD. Once DD 13 is out of school (graduates), we hope to be able to cruise during the spring or early fall, OR BOTH!!!

Like so many others, we became addicted to cruising just after our first cruise!!!

 

[rae519]

Our first year to "try it out" was a 3 night Wonder cruise - after that year, we have been on 7 nighters and have averaged 3 cruises a year.

That will change next year since we are going to Europe.

Rae

 

[rundogrun]

Before last year, we were about every two years on Celebrity.

Last year was two DCL cruises on the Wonder...with a $99 voucher for a three day, it was hard not to go back for the second.

This year was a DCL (Magic) and a Celebrity cruise.

Next year is twice on the NCL Dawn out of NY plus another on RCI, also out of NY. With a couple of anniversaries to celebrate, we're being cruise pigs!

2005 we'll probably go back to one cruise a year, probably Celebrity, unless the NCL out of NY wows us (still not sure about sailing out of NY in winter!).

We'll be back on DCL if the price drops in line with other cruiselines. Hopefully if they launch another ship, the extra capacity will result in lower fares.

 

[mowanda]

Hi, We went on our first cruise ever with Disney back in March for our 25th wedding anniversary, and we loved it. But, we camp alot and have a large RV and truck to pull it, so we will only be able to cruise every other year. But I am hooked and my husband enjoyed hisself also. I can't imagine going on any other curise line!! We hope to book the August 2005 Verandah Man and Rae Birthday Cruise. I wish we could go more, like every year, but $$ won't allow us at this time. Oh Rae, it is good to see you are back. Missed you and your words of wisdom and encouragement, hope to meet you someday, maybe in 2005.

Mowanda

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
I hope we will be able to book cruise number four next year for August of 2005 - the Andy and Rae 50th Birthday Party Bash.

1st one coming in Feb............plan on doing a "seven day" every year if we like it.

 

[WDWLVR]

First one was a 3 day in Oct. of 1999, then a 7 day in May 2001, 4 day in May 2002, 4 day (DVC Member Cruise) in Feb. 2003 and a 7 day in May 2003. We're booked on the 10 day holiday cruise in Dec. of 2004. May not sail on Disney in 2005 as we are looking at cruising in Hawaii then.

Really hoping that Disney has a ship based in California by 2006 so we can cruise that to Alaska!

 

[disneygal58]

We began with a 3 night during the inaugural year (when there was only one Disney ship), followed up the next year with another 3 night. Missed the following fall and have made up for it since with 2 -4 nights, 1 - 7 night and another 7 night planned for February. Since becoming Florida residents, we plan to sail one 4 night in the Spring or Fall and one 7 night in the winter.

Dawn Hope