Cancelled Cruise Doldrums

[Husker Mike]

Three weeks ago, we were forced to cancel our fifth attempt at our first Disney cruise for this week due to some unforeseen issues. (Fortunately, the medical issue that forced us to cancel is being taken care of very well, and we're hoping to be able to try a sixth attempt at that first cruise either around the holidays or in the first half of 2023.)

The previous attempts at cruising were COVID victims (starting with the very first Dream cruise that was cancelled). That first one was different because the world was shutting down. The others were cancelled a couple of months before we cruised, and we knew they were unlikely to go. This one, we were all in on...and having to cancel is a huge disappointment. I probably should have backed out of my cruise's Facebook page, because all of the happy photos as people were going on board yesterday hit me hard. Today for lunch, I had a "Lean Cuisine" frozen entree instead of Palo Brunch (had reservations). Walking into work, it was grey and cloudy and all I could think of was sunshine and ocean water.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to get the sads over a cancelled cruise. How do others handle this, other than not think about cruising? There was no question about our ability to cruise; it was impossible to do after our world turned topsy-turvey.. But all week long, I'm like... "(bleep), we were supposed to be somewhere else". Even a massage wouldn't help... I had a cabana massage scheduled at Castaway Cay on Thursday.

 

[mmouse37]

It is so hard. We had two cruises cancelled during the pandemic. Its harder now for you because cruising has started and you can see others enjoying what you should have been enjoying. Just try to stay positive and keep reading boards to gain even more knowledge about DCL before your cruise. Think how lucky you are that the medical issue keeping you from cruising is going well....we all know medical things that can be devastating.

Keep busy by making a cruise playlist or door decorations knowing that one day YOU WILL BE ON THE SHIP!!! Have a cruise party with blow up palm trees and tropical drinks. Dress like pirates, fill a glass bowl with gold wrapped chocolate pieces. I'll post my pirate theme pre cruise menu and some pics to give you some ideas. Warm weather will be here soon.

Good luck with everything and I am sure you will be cruising when the planets all align in your favor!!



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MJ

 

[auntlynne]

(Read this as tongue-in-cheek, not snarky!)

Just hang in there and keep on living.

Not to rub (sea)salt into your wounds, I look at pictures of my previous cruises and am reminded of the fun times. And get on a boat as soon as possible.

Then I reread that this is your first cruise ever. Postponed and postponed. The day will come. And you will say to yourself, it’s been three years already? Some people think waiting makes things better. I, however, took 3 other cruises since restart to make up for it.

Finally, we are about to get on our replacement cruise for August 2020 (booked in April 2019), so I know the feeling been-punted several times to the future.

There are a lot of us who are not-on-the-same boat with you.

Hope this makes you laugh. And that the waiting makes it all the sweeter for you.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Geomom]

I am so sorry. Life has thrown everyone so many curve balls in the last 2 years, and having health issues that prevent you from finally getting on a long awaited vacation make it even harder. Yes, you should have quit that Facebook cruise group the moment you cancelled the cruise. It's okay to be sad. Hopefully you'll be able to book something again soon to have something to look forward to--planning trips is half the fun for me. In the meantime, try to find the little joys in life, take a local day trip. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise/sunset. Treat yourself to something you normally wouldn't. Even though I haven't been on a cruise since 2018 (my multiple rescheduled 2020 one is hopefully coming up in June), I enjoy watching the show "Dream Cruises" on AWE...it's been kind of bittersweet, but I find the background music relaxing...and the only Disney ships are occasionally in the background of a port.

 

[CamColt]

Awww! I'm sorry to hear you are feeling down. It will get better though!

I can somewhat commiserate with you. We had a bucket list, trip of a life time booked for July 2020 (our 25th anniversary). This would have been our first and probably only time to Hawaii, something I had wanted since our honeymoon, but never happened. With everything canceled, we rebooked for last summer....and again, everything was canceled and we rebooked for this summer. While I often think of that perfect trip I had planned, and how much is going to be different now (if it works out this year) I try to tell myself it could be over by now and just a distant memory. At least I still have an amazing experience to look forward to. And so do you! Counting down to a trip is better than thinking X number of weeks ago we were doing....

Good luck with the health issues and I'm sure the next 9 months or so will go fast.

 

[princesscinderella]

I’m sorry you are feeling down. I hope you get to sail as soon, I miss cruising so much and would be very sad too to have to cancel last minute.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I know that feeling. 2 cancellations by DCL to Italy/Greece. We cancelled this year as I can't handle the stress of testing and restrictions that may or may not be there. So much money to invest. I dropped by cruise FB group the minute I cancelled. It's hard hearing about others getting back to cruising and you know that you are NOT going. My husband says we will get there, we will get to go. I just wonder when-3 years later. We missed this trip for both kids college graduations-was supposed to be the most awesome family trip. Now it will not be. And I realize there will be other awesome family moments to come, I have to resign myself to the fact that this one will never happen. I think it is ok to be sad. Just not our time just yet. When the moment comes, we will be grateful. It may not look like what I dreamed about, but will be special, I hope, in a way I just can't seem to picture right now.

 

[auntlynne]

Awww! I'm sorry to hear you are feeling down. It will get better though!

I can somewhat commiserate with you. We had a bucket list, trip of a life time booked for July 2020 (our 25th anniversary). This would have been our first and probably only time to Hawaii, something I had wanted since our honeymoon, but never happened. With everything canceled, we rebooked for last summer....and again, everything was canceled and we rebooked for this summer. While I often think of that perfect trip I had planned, and how much is going to be different now (if it works out this year) I try to tell myself it could be over by now and just a distant memory. At least I still have an amazing experience to look forward to. And so do you! Counting down to a trip is better than thinking X number of weeks ago we were doing....

Good luck with the health issues and I'm sure the next 9 months or so will go fast.

Congratulations on the 25+ years! In my book, that beats a cruise.

 

[CamColt]

Congratulations on the 25+ years! In my book, that beats a cruise.

Awww, thank you! We actually did (and do) have a cruise booked as a portion of this Hawaii trip, not DCL though.
Its funny you say 25+ as we had shirt decals made 2 years ago for the Aulani portion of the trip and they said 25 Magical Years. I'm trying to see if there is a way we can adjust that to make it "25 +2". You gotta laugh at this mess we lived through.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Awww, thank you! We actually did (and do) have a cruise booked as a portion of this Hawaii trip, not DCL though.
Its funny you say 25+ as we had shirt decals made 2 years ago for the Aulani portion of the trip and they said 25 Magical Years. I'm trying to see if there is a way we can adjust that to make it "25 +2". You gotta laugh at this mess we lived through.

Anyone with a Cricut or Silhouette should be able to make an iron on decal that says +2

 

[Lillebelle]

There's no way around it, having to cancel your cruise sucks. I'm sorry it's proven so hard to make it on a ship (glad to hear that the medical issue is at least under control). We had a few cancelled by DCL and then had to cancel one a couple days before sailing because of a COVID positive test. We were very fortunate we ended up being able to book another one just a few weeks later...sounds like that may not be an option for you, but I do think trying to get the next one planned (even if it has to be further off) helps with some of the sadness since at least you can start looking forward to the next one.

 

[Cheburashka]

Have dinner at a nice restaurant, instead of eating frozen meals. And yes, don't follow that cruise group on social media. If possible, maybe squeeze in a cheap 3-night cruise this year?