DCL withdrawals....

[TJHutch]

My dh and I are both expereiencing serious dcl withdrawals. Our next cruise is not until Feb 06 (our first 7 day). We are both trying to think of ways to get a short cruise in for the beginning of next year. Difficult to do when you have children and x-mas is right around the corner too. Geez! Has anyone ever exchanged their timeshare week through RCI on a cruise and how it works? Thanks!

 

[bbowers]

Don't own RCL, so can't help there, but I can certainly commiserate on the withdrawals! DH and I went on our first cruise ever on the 9/9 Wonder (which missed CC, left from PE instead of PC, etc, etc) and after we got home we promptly got reservations for next year.

I had been really worried I wouldn't like cruising, as DH and I are used to commando vacations. However, we both loved it (obviously).

But man, the withdrawals are bad! The first 2 weeks we were home I dreamed about cruising in one way or another every single night (and didn't feel like I had slept well at all). Now yesterday while I was washing my hands (and nothing I had been doing had anything to do with Disney, cruising, etc) suddenly I wanted to be back on the boat so badly it stopped me in my tracks for a second.

Wow - so many vacations planned, so little vacation time...

 

[lovethattink]

Yep, I really miss them! It's so hard to live near WDW and see those cruise buses drive by. We went on the 9/30 Wonder. Dh and DS(10) got sea sick. They do not share my enthusiam of wanted to go on another cruise so soon.

 

[mickeymom923]

Did the Wonder last year and this past August. While on the ship I booked for next 8/05 so I would have something to look forward to. When I found out about the Special Western Caribbean cruise on the Magic for 8/19/06 I transferred my '05 vacation to '06. I always wanted to do DCL for 7 days. Now I don't know how I will be able to handle next year without the cruise unless I do the 3 day Wonder.

I own timeshares with RCI and never exchanged because I always got I better rate on my own then what RCI was charging plus I would give up my week. I usually exchange for a week in Florida and tack on my cruise while I'm already there.

 

[pvangordon]

I own two timeshares and one of the first things I looked into when I bought them was how to do a cruise exchange. Unfortunately general consensus I heard from experienced timeshare owners is that it's not worth it to trade through an exchange company. It just doesn't cover as much as you think it will. You're probably better off renting the timeshare and applying the rental fees to a cruise.

Seems like it wouldn't be hard to find a short 3- or 4-day trip to hold you over. Even though I have several week-plus cruises planned in the next year, a cruising buddy of mine told me there was a 3-day Princess repo cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver in September at a price of $250 pp for a mini-suite. No stops, but it's a great idea for those of us that just like being on the boat and can't wait til the next trip.

(I haven't verified that deal for myself yet, but it's just an example of what you might be able to find).

 

[pvangordon]

Oh and I had a devil of a time trying to even find out what the exchange rates were like through II. They told me I actually had to deposit my week first, pay the fee, wait for confirmation, THEN they could give me a quote on the cruise. If I didn't like it, I could cancel my trade and get my fee back. It was so much more trouble than it was worth.

I did find sample rates in some documents I got from II. For example, a 2 br Orlando timeshare booked for 4/14/05 could trade for a 7-day Carnival Eastern Caribbean inside cabin for 7/17/04 at a price of $485 (down from $810 published cruise price). Given that you can usually get discounted prices through TAs, the difference may be fairly negligible.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Have you checked rates for RCL Sovereign of the Seas? You can usually sail pretty cheap off season. I've sailed for as little as $179 for a inside gty.

Just remember, it's an older ship. Compared to DCL the inside staterooms are closet sized. BUT, for a cheap cruise, it's soooo worth it. It stops at RCLs private island. Not as nice as Castaway Cay, but top notch none the less. The foods good and so is the service.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I don't have info on RCI exchanges, but I just want to say that my countdown clock makes me want to cry!

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

We did a land/sea in May. Everytime I pass by the pic we had taken or see my DVD sitting there I get very sad. As you can see by my countdown clock our next cruise is so far away. Plus we live so far away from DCL or WDW that a "cheap" quick trip in not doable.

Can't even go to DL. It is 19hours by car, two hours by plane. But most of the park is being refurbished for the 50th celebration.

This sucks!!!! I need a Disney fix!!!!

 

[pattiteach]

I've got it even worse. I was spoiled by the "started -out -to -be- a- seven- day cruise- turned- into- a- ten- day- cruise thank- you- to- hurricane- frances- synrome" I can't seem to afford 2006"s price hike and am afraid that RCL will be no comparison. HELP! Oh, and I still search these boards in the hopes that I am cruising soon again......

 

[BALAMAV]

We did the land/sea package in May and loved it alot and we are going again not till May 2006. I don't think I will make it. There are days that I could almost cry. It is the only place where you can totally forget everything else in the world. I love Disney and the Cruises. Brenda

 

[gratefulone]

Glad to know I'm not the only one going through withdrawals. Did our first cruise on May 15 and I was just blown away by the whole expereince. Not planning another until '06. Can't wait.

 

[zeke11]

I'm struggling.

We did the Wonder in September, was supposed to be the 4-day, but was shortened to 3 because of the Hurricane Jeanne.

We missed so much of the experience (no Castaway Cay, no sailaway party, no greeting when first boarding, no Disney Terminal, etc.) not to mention the lost day and a half, that I came off the ship wanting to do another one immediately.

Started researching when I got home and found that prices are MUCH higher other times of the year than September and I just won't book another cruise during that hurricane time again!

The next best price was in early May and so I immediately booked a seven-day cruise on the Magic.

Now I'm struggling with my conscience -- taking my kids out of school again -- the 2 younger ones I'm not too worried about because at that time of year there is not much going on academically.

But the two older ones -- a junior and a senior in high school - are 3 weeks away from finals. They assure me that finals reviews won't start until we return, but still.....

I feel like I'm being a terrible Mom and selfish.

But I WANT to GO!!

Any feelings on this? I can still cancel the cruise and get a full refund. And I haven't told my family that I've actually booked it, just that I was thinking about it.

Kris

 

[jeeper9]

Zeke11 ~ Hi, we did the 26 Sep Wonder also and I can't agree more with you that we need another cruise (longer).

We (5 of us) were in a cat. 4 and just loved it. Now the children want to go on a 7 day cruise and take take their mother and baby brother who will be 2 if we go 2006.

Our biggest problem is $$$$$ since there will be 6 of us will need 2 rooms with 1 adult in each room. Also, I'm not positive I can go from a cat. 4 to cat. 10 even with connecting rooms. I loved being on deck 8! Maybe a porthole with connecting rooms?
Does Disney ever have a special cruise rate for single parents????

I can't understand how anyone can afford to cruise every year, but sure would like to do it!

I'm happy to see you are going again, without the hurricane experiences. Actually, if I think about it, our cruise went from a 4 day to a 2 1/4 day since we didn't arrive on board until 5:30 pm due to flight changes/problems!
What a rip!!!

Jeeper9

 

[zeke11]

I know, Jeeper -- we got less than a 3-day. It was very sad.

Do you think my family should go in May?? Even with the high school issues??

We had connecting Cat 10's and loved them! It was great to have all those bathrooms

We were inside, but didn't mind that either. We weren't in the room much at all.

Kris

 

[TJHutch]

Zeke ~ You are not terrible or selfish. I would go on your vacation and not worry about the finals. If your children are not concerned I wouldn't be either. After all they can always take a few books and study on their way to the cruise and back home if there are concerns. We have 2 children in high school and it seems like the older they get the more time they would rather spend "hanging out w/ friends" than with mom and dad. So enjoy your time together as a family. Not sure what your senior has planned once they graduate but it may be the last family vacation for awhile. Meanwhile, I am still going to see what we can do about a 3 or 4 day cruise for next year.

 

[zeke11]

TJHUTCH -

I love ya'!

Kris

 

[goin'cruisin']

I totally agree about the withdrawals and about taking advantage of valuable vacation time with your kids before they are gone! We went on the September 27th cruise that was impacted by Hurricane Jeanne and then we spent another 8 nights in WDW at BCV. The day after we got back home we went to Disneyland (we live in Anaheim). The kids were excited about going on more rides and we were glad to be back in the "Disney" atmosphere. The only complaint was from my son who wasn't too pleased that his sister wanted to get one more signature from a character. He words were, "We don't HAVE to go to that Pooh thing, do we?" He got over it once he went on some rides.

Our kids are 10, 8 and 8 years old. We realize that there aren't too many vacations left with them. We are definitely going to grab any vacation time we can.

 

[jeeper9]

Kris ~~ I would go for the May cruise. By now, you show know how well your children do in school and during finals. Think of it as a graduation trip for your senior.


If you can afford to go ~ go for it!!! Diana

 

[dap]

zeke11: it sounds like we'll be on the same cruise and, my dh and I are coming without our children as well. My dd - 17 would never think of going on another Disney cruise, she did not have fun on the first one 2 years ago... but the dd -14 would love to.

As parents we too need time away, and feel young again, and what a way to do it!

Have you visited the site for cruise Meets -- May 7th... Tara started the thread... you can also meet other parents like us w/o kids trip..

See you on board.