canceling cruise

[WDWLVR]

Lori,


Well I'm not about to tell you or you DH how decisions should be made in your house, but in our house we discuss major money matters together.

From the post the other day that you say was your DH I would suggest you let him cool off for a couple of days and then find a time when you can discuss the budget for this trip of a lifetime.

There is a great budget board here on the DIS - maybe you can get some ideas there on ways to save money and ways to make extra money that would make the passports more affordable.

Last, but not least, I suggest you encourage your DH to get his own DIS id and visit the boards. Then we'll know when he's posting and when you are posting. There are a number of couples here on the boards who both post.

 

[wdwstar]

You could always cancel one day at WDW and that would help with paying for the passports. Also keep in mind cruise will not go down in price but keep going up. i have been batting this around for years because we wanted to buy into DVC, well now that we have a good amount of DVC points, i started searching for the best rates on the 7 night DCL and it has gone up $2000 in the past few years for us. i finally just booked our cruise all on cash and i wont tell DH how much i spent, it just makes me But i know it will be worth every penny. And dont forget by the time you pay for your room, tickets, food, rental car for wdw its not that much more then a cruise, except if you own DVC and you stay on points.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

I too was shocked at how much passports are!!! I understand now why "border towns" on both the canada and mexico borders are worried about tourism....alot of US citizens will not pay this amount of $$ just to go across the border for short trips...they will stay in the US instead....I do agree with the need for passports, just as we need drivers licences but we should not have to fork over $100/person for one...there is no way it should be more than $50 MAX! I am all for making the US more secure but all the "security fees" are a big hardship on the average citizen...my hubby works in the oil field and has to have a CDL (truck driver) license, which costs $100 but now he has to pay an addl $100-150 for an FBI security clearance that is now required of all truck drivers before he can renew his license, which he will have to pay every 4 years....that is getting ridiculous, especially when people come across the mexican border untouched by the hundreds of thousands each year....i do not think this new passport law will really make that much of a difference...after all, most of the 9/11 terrorists were here legally, supposedly going to school but weren't. Just stop those programs, do not punish average american citizens for shortfalls in the government.

Sorry i got on a soap box but I have a family of 6 and the $500+ for passports is a big expense. I would work it out and probably not cancel a cruise over it but i think some people on a tight budget will.... I do agree it it easier to prevent fraud with passports but if they are required they should become VERY affordable, just as a normal drivers license is....

 

[tvguy]

I guess a lot of folks are living a LOT closer to the edge than I am.
Given what a Disney cruise costs, the cost of Passports is a minor cost.

 

[chunkster20uk]

I am guessing it can be a bit of a shock to have this suddenely thrust upon you, but as the guys have said I don't think it is worth cancellingthe holiday (vacation).

I have had a passport for years, that is because I live in a small island country called the UK and I need a passport to travel over 20 miles of water to France, let alone travelling all the way to Orlando and then going on a Disney Cruise.

Some people in the UK have had to update their passports to be machine readable (to get access to the US) this costs about £70 ($135) and the still had 4 years to go till the original expired.

 

[my3kids]

With children they are actually nice to have. My oldest used his for ID for SAT's since he was too young for a driver's license. Trips abroad inevitably pop up in high schools and now even most middle schools. If you already have the passports, it is easier to say yes to some of these fantastic learning trips with great teachers. My children even use their passports for photo ID for the airlines. One they were scrutinized both ways, another time not looked at. With teenagers I'd sure hate for an airport security guard to say my child looked too old to be under age and thus must have a photo ID to pass through security.

If both of you can stand meeting at the courthouse or postoffice on a regular basis get the children's in different months. It was all I could do to get my husband there in person once to get our children's. Of course my oldest's expires next September and he will probably go abroad next summer on a school trip. I think now the Passport has to be valid for 6 months beyond the expected date of return or they won't let you leave...yep, he'll not be 16 at the time so it will be another youth 5 year passport before he can get the 10 year one. If they let him go with only a few months remaining on his youth one then we'll not need the interium youth one and the 3rd renewal will be on his own nickel!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Considering how long a passport is valid for, the $97 dollars is not so bad. With 13 months to go before you go, why not try to squeeze out enough for one passport a month, or every other month.
The memories and fun you will get out of a cruise will definitely make it worth the money, and if you are able to travel abroad or even cruise again in the future, at least you will already have the passports.
Maybe you can get your DH to think of the price as part of the price of vacation (like airline tickets, car rental, new clothers, etc)

 

[6griswolds]

I agree about the passport being useful in the future for maybe.....my hubby and I to go somewhere for a short getaway. (haven't had one of those in 16 years) BUT...after what happened to that poor teen in Aruba.....the kids passports would be useless because I would NEVER let them go somewhere with school, ect..But still....Guess I need to butter up my husband. My son is stil talking about the endless .

 

[jeast]

Just as an aside, I don't think the girl in Aruba showed very good judgement in leaving her friends and going off with strange men. Doesn't matter what country she did that in, it's not smart.

As for passports, for someone who has to very strictly save for a year for a category 12 stateroom, the added expense of passports is difficult to manage. Our family of four will spend almost $400.00 more. That is an extra 23% of our cruise fare that we had been expecting to pay! 23% extra is not 'minor' to us.

Of course, we're adjusting our savings plan and are going to do it anyway.

 

[my3kids]

I BUT...after what happened to that poor teen in Aruba.....the kids passports would be useless because I would NEVER let them go somewhere with school, ect..

I almost said school trips as in educational tours to Europe or study abroad trips of historical places....not what seems to be a trend towards senior class chug fests in far away locales.

 

[rbork]

I feel your pain 6griswolds - The cost of 6 alone for a cruise is huge. I am not a fan of the 3-4 day cruises. Just can't imagine that short of time. I don't know if your doing the land sea thing or the 7 day cruise? I don't think I would fork out $500 for passports for 4 days in the carribean. Now the 7 day, yeah I saving now for the extra expense which is hard to do if your not a full double income. Be creative in saving or raising $$. Listen to this - I had yard sales in the past and put that $ into the vacation fund. I have the kid's save their gift $ for vacation stuff etc.. This year, I think a passport is going to be tucked in their stockings in place of some of the gifts!
In the end, you have to do what's right for you. If it's to much of a strain- cancel (at the latest date of course, who knows you could win the Lotto!) and be confident in your decision. Everyone has advice - take it in stride, and then do what's right for you.
Good Luck and truely hope it works out somehow.

 

[TMTIP]

Let me start off by saying that I am a travel agent and would not ever let my family travel to a foreign country without a passport. You never know what may happen, no one can ever tell when an accident or emergency will happen. Would you want to be stuck in a foreign country with no means or proof of US citizenship? A birth certificate is not proof of citizenship. Everyone should be proud to be able to have the oportunity to obtain one. If you can affort to cruise then you should factor in all variables, cruise, transportation, spending money, tips and last but certainly not least a passport.

Tracy

 

[jodifla]

Let me start off by saying that I am a travel agent and would not ever let my family travel to a foreign country without a passport. You never know what may happen, no one can ever tell when an accident or emergency will happen. Would you want to be stuck in a foreign country with no means or proof of US citizenship? A birth certificate is not proof of citizenship. Everyone should be proud to be able to have the oportunity to obtain one. If you can affort to cruise then you should factor in all variables, cruise, transportation, spending money, tips and last but certainly not least a passport.

Tracy

Well, that sounds nice, but the reality for most folks in the working class is they aren't going to want to spend another $500 if they don't plan to go out of the country again. This is also going to really screw up the people with infants. It's going to be a nightmare to try and get your 3-month-old a passport in time to go on the cruise.

This will also KILL family travel across to Canada. If I'm driving into Windsor, a 1 hour drive or so from here in Michigan, I don't feel the need for us all to have passports, particularly my little kids.

 

[TMTIP]

Well, that sounds nice, but the reality for most folks in the working class is they aren't going to want to spend another $500 if they don't plan to go out of the country again. This is also going to really screw up the people with infants. It's going to be a nightmare to try and get your 3-month-old a passport in time to go on the cruise.


How do you know that you won't be leaving the country for the next 10 years? Is this your last vacation for 10 years? If that is the fact, then I guess no, it is not cost effective. Most people don't plan vacations 6-12 months in advance never the less 10 years. I still say passports are the safest way to travel.

The State Department states that passports are not required for travel until Dec 31, 2005, that is plenty of time to get your 3 month old a passport.

Having a passport is about on the same line as purchasing travel insurance--it's best to have it just in case!

 

[goofyforlife]

This is also going to really screw up the people with infants. It's going to be a nightmare to try and get your 3-month-old a passport in time to go on the cruise.

I think what the this op means is that since you can't get a passport until the baby is born.......For those travelling with really young infants...you will be pressed to get a passport in time for your cruise without paying the expedited rate.

 

[Indea88]

Good point about the far away island chug fests this may explain where the chaperone was. To study abroad is a different animal altogether. Being a daughter of a police officer I just cant seem to allow my children to travel this way. Even though these are isolated incidences. About the passports, I make all the travel plans and pay for most of it thats how I secure the vacation. I just let my hubby know when to : take a week off and off we go. I manage to alot the monies some way!! Im glad this thread was started because our cruise is in January and I wasnt aware of the price increase. My last passport was over 20 years ago and the cost was inexpensive. Now it has to be xs 4 which is an eye opener....

 

[ivanova]

This will also KILL family travel across to Canada. If I'm driving into Windsor, a 1 hour drive or so from here in Michigan, I don't feel the need for us all to have passports, particularly my little kids.

they are considering some kind of "frequent traveler" travel card for trips to Canada & Mexico (you have to go through an indepth interview and background search probably). I'm sure that'll cost too, but maybe not as much as a passport.

My retired parents recently got passports, because it made the Canadian border crossings just a touch easier. At $97 per person with even just 3 trips into Canada a year, it can average out to about $10 per trip over 3 years. At the time my mom thought that was reasonable, that's why they did it (and she was tired of carrying their birth certificates everywhere).

I doubt they'll ever go to the Caribbean, but my mom is campaigning (hard) for a trip to Europe

 

[jgalecpa]

FYI:

A substantial portion of the "Security Fee" that people complain about covers the expenses of upgrading (and actually rebuilding) the U.S. embassies around the world.

The simultaneous bombing of the Embassies in Africa by Al-qaeda in 1998 showed that embassy buildings located to close to the street were especially vulnerable to Car/truck bombs.

Also, It actually does cost quite a bit to process the passport application, when you consider the number of people who actually have to "touch" the application, and their various pay levels.

While the fees are not insubstantial, I can assure you the State Dept does not profit from this.

The new realities have been thrust upon us.

Each has to make his or her own decisions.

For some, the fee increase may mean less excursions, for others, it may mean not going at all, and that is unfortunate.

If you decide not to go, there are amazing places from Maine to Hawaii, from Florida to Alaska to see that require no passports and always take American Currency.

Just my two cents.

Jim

PS: I taught Accounting at the State dept. for eight years to an amazing group of people. On Sept 11th, CNN kept reporting all day that a bomb had exploded at the State Dept. My kids heard that report and wondered all day "What if my dad is..."

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I also cancelled my cruise just like the OP. First of all we are canadian and the currency exchange, although not bad at this time really adds up to a price of a cruise.

I actually sat down and tallyed up how much it would actually cost me for a family of 4 living in a cat12 and it just was too much. The plane ticketsX4,the tipsX4,the excursionsX4, the formal wearX4,the hotel arriving the night before, the travel insurance and transfers......Just too much. As much as I loved my couples DCL cruise last dec., I just couldn't afford this one.

My kids are not very fluent in English and would probably not have gone to the clubs. So there goes couples time....

We'll see what happens next year, we may need to put braces in DD13's mouth so I guess me may ahve to prioritize.

To us it's still cheaper to go to WDW, the kids are gonna be with us anyways so might as well go somewhere a little cheaper and have a good time.

 

[ivanova]

I actually sat down and tallyed up how much it would actually cost me for a family of 4 living in a cat12 and it just was too much. The plane ticketsX4,the tipsX4,the excursionsX4, the formal wearX4,the hotel arriving the night before, the travel insurance and transfers......Just too much.

I hear you.

That's why we were thrilled when DCL moved the Magic for this summer to CA. A lot of folks that couldn't afford to fly to FL, pay for hotel the night before, pay for transfer or rental car, etc. can now cruise out of CA. All that can really add up and make a difference.