Do you ever get apprehensive?

[WDWJonasGirl]

I am this time. I don't want to miss my friends while I'm gone so I decided I'd write my favorite messages that my friends wrote in my yearbook in a journal and I could think of them then too.

 

[Dug720]

Honestly the thing I was most referring to was sinking. :/ I have been having lots of foreboding cruise dreams lately...

Nope!

A) Times have changed a lot since Titanic. Ships are required to have enough space on life boats for EVERYONE!

B) After the Concordia, as I understand it, severe limits have been put on ships going close to shore now.

But even with that, it's definitely important to PAY ATTENTION at muster. No texting, chatting, partying. It's like a fire drill when you were in school - it's where and how you learn where to go. The crew is all trained for their positions and will ensure that in the VERY UNLIKELY EVENT of an emergency, everyone will be taken care of.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When DH's grandmother was 105 -- yes, 105 -- three of her "kids" decided to go on a European cruise. Naturally they were concerned that gma might pass on while the "kids" were cruising, and left us a contact number, but they figured we could have gma put on ice for a week and they'd have the funeral when they returned. They did call us from one of the ports, but everything was fine. They had a grand time, and gma survived another three years.

DH and I have had problems while we've been away -- a pipe leaked under one of the bathroom sinks, causing major damage. But the carpet was old and needed replacing anyway. Fortunately our neighbors, who were watching our dog and bringing in the mail, turned off the water and rented a wet vac. Yes, it's nice to have neighbors like them!

On another cruise we were just sailing out of the harbor and DH still had his cell phone turned on. DD (18-yrs old at the time) called in hysterics because she had been in a very minor car accident and wanted us to come home. DH told her to call his brother. Problems solved; DD learned a little self-reliance. I was ready to throw the cell phone overboard -- who wants to receive a call about a "crisis" when you can't do anything about it. Same cruise, ten days later, DH had a gall bladder attack with acute pancreatitis as we were disembarking. The ship's doctor took good care of him and he spent the night in a local hospital. Fortunately we were stateside.

And there have been other problems, but we've dealt with them. You might have to think outside the box, and delegate, but things have a way of working out. The problems that don't kill you end up making you stronger.

 

[Dug720]

This reminds me of a discussion on a forum for another cruise line. There was a post about a month ago where someone was trying to contact her uncle to let him know his brother (her father) had died. Said uncle had left no information with anyone - not even what ship he was on. She *thought* he was on a ship for this particular line, but wasn't sure.

Now, did the uncle really not want to be contacted? That's what not leaving any information would tell me, but the possibility exists that he simply didn't think it necessary to leave any contact information.

I always leave information with my parents where I'll be and what the contact information is - we always have left that kind of information with each other. BUT we also know there are certain situations - for example, a cruise - where knowing about something isn't going to make a difference (assuming you could get a flight out of the next port, what would the cost be?) other than make the rest of the vacation miserable, we'd just as soon hold off until debarkation day. Something to think about and discuss with whoever you are leaving emergency contact information with.

 

[lakelandgal70]

We took our first cruise couple years ago and it prompted us to go to lawyer and make up a will. Seriously. Wasn't really worried about something happening but it made us think what would happen to our assets if something did indeed happen. I enjoyed the time away being disconnected from family and friends drama. I did worry about our fur kids but knew our sitter could handle any and all situations that would arise.

 

[rentayenta]

Leaving your home for 7 days, disconnected from the world, to cruise on a ship in the open sea...Do you ever get apprehensive? It's a long time to be so far away. Anything could happen.

I'm not trying to be a downer, but the thought is there in my mind as we just hit 99days til our cruise! Our last one was just a 3 day to Nassau, so not so intimidating!

No. Leave the contact cards with those you trust in case of emergency. Have fun!

 

[Minnie321]

I agree with many pp - I absolutely love the week of absolute disconnection!! It is a little easier for me because I travel with my parents and my two children, and for us that is basically our family - so we are all together. I give my neighbors and ex-husband the card with the contact information and tell them to contact me only in an extreme emergency and I make it clear that the house being broken into or burned down does not constitute an extreme emergency because it will be there like that a week later anyway so I will continue to enjoy my vacation if I don't know about it. So to be honest with you I can't think of anything they would need to contact me for.

 

[harrisb1964]

My biggest fear was that we would miss the ship. I pictured us pulling up as the ship sailed away.
I worried so much about that! Flight delays, traffic jams, I had thought of every scenario that would cause us to miss the boat. Well we were first time cruisers and at the airport and our shuttle we had paid for never showed up. (It turned out to be a fraudulent company, recommended by Triple A) I totally panicked, I knew our PTA was at 12:00 and I didn't know what would happen if we missed our PTA. My husband managed to flag down another private shuttle but they wanted to be paid in cash and were about to leave. So I ran through the airport looking everywhere for an ATM. Found one, boarded the shuttle and we were on our way. We actually reached the ship before the PTA! I don't think I actually took a breath until we actually were on board the ship. Once we were boarded and on the ship, I started to relax and actually realized we had not missed the ship after all that worry. The rest of the trip was great, relaxing, amazing. And being disconnected from the real world was the best part!!!! Now that we have been on 1 cruise, and are planning another one, I have no more worries about missing the cruise. I know we will be fine.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I absolutely love the week of disconnection and this is coming from someone who never puts down a phone, iPad or laptop in my daily life! I email my family once a day on the cruise, to see how things are going. My brother is disabled so I like to see how he's going. Aside from that, we don't "reconnect" to the world until we get back and head to WDW.

 

[Dug720]

My biggest fear was that we would miss the ship. I pictured us pulling up as the ship sailed away.
I worried so much about that! Flight delays, traffic jams, I had thought of every scenario that would cause us to miss the boat. Well we were first time cruisers and at the airport and our shuttle we had paid for never showed up. (It turned out to be a fraudulent company, recommended by Triple A) I totally panicked, I knew our PTA was at 12:00 and I didn't know what would happen if we missed our PTA. My husband managed to flag down another private shuttle but they wanted to be paid in cash and were about to leave. So I ran through the airport looking everywhere for an ATM. Found one, boarded the shuttle and we were on our way. We actually reached the ship before the PTA! I don't think I actually took a breath until we actually were on board the ship. Once we were boarded and on the ship, I started to relax and actually realized we had not missed the ship after all that worry. The rest of the trip was great, relaxing, amazing. And being disconnected from the real world was the best part!!!! Now that we have been on 1 cruise, and are planning another one, I have no more worries about missing the cruise. I know we will be fine.

Yet another example of why it's better to arrive at least the day before. Remove THAT worry.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Yet another example of why it's better to arrive at least the day before. Remove THAT worry.

We travel from the other side of the world and we arrive 3 days early "just in case". We worry about problems with a flight, delays and more. We arrive in Orlando 3 days before and spend a day or two at WDW, then go on the cruise and come back to the parks.

 

[phinz]

I was a basket case on our first trip. I have very severe anxiety at times, which manifests itself as heart attack symptoms. Numb fingers. Chest flutters. Heart racing. The whole shebang. I know what it is when it happens, but that doesn't make it any easier. It's oftentimes brought on by unfamiliar situations, and what's more unfamiliar than a cruise in the middle of the ocean for a landlubber?

All of this was going on before, during and after our cruise. I didn't let it ruin our trip, but I was not a lot of fun to be around at times. I survived on a diet of Xanax and whiskey a goodly portion of the time, and I did a lot of walking. I walked 10.5 miles on the Promenade Deck the first full day at sea.

We tamped the issues down quite a bit when my wife found the channel that shows our current and past location, including our pulling into port in the Turks & Caicos in the middle of the night for not one, but *two*, medical emergencies on the trip. It let me know that all would be just fine. I knew it would be, but my brain didn't, and that's why the anxiety was so strong.

So we've scheduled another cruise. I expect I'll be much better on this one, and if not, well, I'll just have to deal with it again. I enjoyed the trip too much to let my brain stop me from having a good time.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Life is full of what-ifs. Go live.

 

[Dug720]

Life is full of what-ifs. Go live.

THIS!!

(My addendum is "the leading cause of death is life")

 

[kiford]

When we did our Med cruise last June (12 days), we were actually away from home for almost three weeks because we were doing some additional travelling. I had 19 year old cat who has kidney disease and I was having a friend looking after her at home rather than taking her to be boarded at the vet because it's stressful for her to be away from home. I kept worrying that I'd come home and find out that she died, or was sicker, or she needed emergency treatment or something. I finally realized that whatever was going to happen to her would happen whether I was there or not. My friend has cats of her own and could handle any emergency. I left a letter authorizing my vet to spend up to a certain amount and authorizing my friend to deal with my vet. She had contact information for us on board ship, both the ship's number and both DH and my cell number. So I let go of it and enjoyed myself (OK, I thought of her frequently but resisted the urge to spend tons of money phoning home).

I came home to find her snuggled in my friend's arms being fussed and petted and totally not worried about me being away. She was fine (is now almost 20 years old) and I enjoyed myself.

If you're really worried, you can get internet minutes and ask someone from home to e-mail you occasionally to let you know that everything is OK and then just check your e-mail. And then you can respond by tormenting them with the wonderful time you're having on your cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

Frankly, when on vacation I don't want to know if my house burnt down or was lost in a flood, if a relative has died, etc. These events have happened - and most likely would have happened if I was home or not.

I will deal with whatever happened when I get back home - it's best not to know while you are on holiday!

I know that sounds a bit calloused, but that's the way I feel about it.

 

[Dug720]

Frankly, when on vacation I don't want to know if my house burnt down or was lost in a flood, if a relative has died, etc. These events have happened - and most likely would have happened if I was home or not.

I will deal with whatever happened when I get back home - it's best not to know while you are on holiday!

I know that sounds a bit calloused, but that's the way I feel about it.

I agree with you 100%. All knowing would do would be ruin my vacation, because (call me selfish if you wish) I'm not going to jump off the ship at the next port and dash to the airport (assuming there even is one at that port) - especially the way they've been cutting back on offering bereavement fees, etc.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Last November I went on an Eastern Carib. Cruise on RCCL. On the way to Ft.Lauderdale I stopped to visit my terminally ill uncle. When I left his house I was sure that was the last time I'd see him. I wasn't wrong. One night during the cruise both DH & I dreamed about him. In my dream he was on the ship with us laughing and enjoying himself. Later I found out it was the night he passed. When we got back to port after the cruise I learned he had gone & the funeral & burial were already done. I wasn't there for any of it but it was okay. He was so excited for us to go when we had seen him. I like to think he came to see me as soon as he could.

Point is, regardless what happens while you are disconnected on vacation it's all just life. If there's something so pressing I must be reached my mom knows how to get me. Otherwise, the disconnect is a blessing. It helps us to live in the moments that are happening even if for just a little while. Whatever is home when we get back we'll handle when we get there. Its not worth worrying over all the what-ifs.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

THIS!! (My addendum is "the leading cause of death is life")

My husband says "When we're born...from the moment we take our first breath...we're all headed in the same direction. Towards whatever death we get. No sense worrying about the inevitable." True....in his own twisted little way of saying it.

Or, per Shawshank Redemption: we can get busy living or get busy dying. I'm all about the living. The rest is details.

 

[n8nally]

Life is full of what-ifs. Go live.

Exactly!! It makes me so sad when I see people close to me being held back by fear. Or even if they actually do whatever it is, their experience is caked with layers of joy-sucking fear.

Originally Posted by jrabbit
Frankly, when on vacation I don't want to know if my house burnt down or was lost in a flood, if a relative has died, etc. These events have happened - and most likely would have happened if I was home or not.

I will deal with whatever happened when I get back home - it's best not to know while you are on holiday!

I know that sounds a bit calloused, but that's the way I feel about it.

Yes! I feel the same way! Unless I can actually DO something to prevent what is happening, then what's the point of knowing? Especially if it's already happened!