HELP a first timer please!

[mom2of2]

I have begun planning our first ever cruise and have gotten price quotes from a few of the most popular TA's. They are all coming up with the same quote. $1697.00 for me, DH, DS13 and DS6.
Crusing 3 days 11/4/04 in a Cat 9. This price does not include trans or ins from any of the TA's. Figured I do that on my own. I would love to do a 4 or even a 7 day but with the new rules for school I can't take my boys out without it being an unexcused absence, hence the 3 day. It's NJ teacher's week and the kids have off Thurs and Friday. We aren't AP holders nor do we belong to AAA, although I might consider getting AAA if the discount outweighed the cost of membership. Do you all think this is a good price? What are the chances of an upgrade? I've used yourmagicaljourneys before and I also got a quote from DU as well as allseas. Which should I go with? My TA from YMJ is taking a break from the business right now so she recommended a coworker who has been very prompt in her responses. Is it also crazy of me to spend close to $3000.00 for 3 days??? considering air, trans and spending?
HELP!

 

[musicgirl]

We've done two 3-night and even though it was expensive (especially since we go in June-our only time that we can). I don't regret the amount that we spent for a minute. And it's not that we have tons of money to spend-we're both teachers. We got hooked and now we carefully budget for the trip. The 2 cruises have been the absolute best vacations we taken.

Have fun

 

[CGBatch]

Yeah we're going on the November 6th because of the NJEA weekend.

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi..first, if they are all coming up with the same amount, check for rebates and stateroom credits!

I understand about not being able to take the kids out of school, same here.

Yes, the $3000 is worth it, IMHO.

Also, try calling and telling an agency about the quotes you recieved to see if they can beat it. I like allseastravel.com.

 

[mom2of2]

Actually DU's quote has a $50 instant rebate so right now they are in the lead as far as pricing goes (just got an updated quote) so that's $1647.00. How is deck 2? Room 2112. I looked on the map and it's right by the elevators. Do you feel more motion the farther down you are?

 

[gonna go cruising]

What grade are your children in? I have gotten prior arranged absences before for things such as this and had no problem. My high schooler will miss one day this time due to our cruise and me, well I will be sick for two days, although my boss is aware ahead of time. Depending on the ages of your kids, a talk with the principal may be a good idea. Many see it as an education in itself being able to travel, etc. I took my high schooler out last year for a trip with the principal approving it so it was excused, and my college student two years ago was able to work her exams around a trip because we consulted her professors...so nothing is impossible. Remember if you dont ask, you dont get!

There is no way we could try to do a fake sick on a cruise for our kids...do you think they would be able to go back to school, all tanned corn-rows, and say "Please excuse my daughters absence on Thursday and Friday, she was sick!" LOL!

 

[figment52]

DO you have a Disney Visa card (thru Bank One) - they offer perks as well that you migth want to check out. It ranges from stateroom credits to up to 6 months to pay. The only catch is that you the card for paying the complete trip (including deposit). You even get the perks if you go through a travel agent.

 

[mom2of2]

Thanks for your responses.
My boys will be in 1st and 8th grade next year at the time of the cruise. The school issued a new policy this year in fact due to parents taking their kids out of school for vacations, so that's why I was trying to do it around a few days off that they have without going in "peak" season. I did take them out last year for what was suppossed to be 1 day out but because of snow make up days wound up being 4 days out. The teacher's were aware and most were really nice about giving me DS12's work prior and allowing test make ups. Under the new policy there aren't any test make ups allowed and no work to be given prior. They will receive a ZERO. Not a big deal for my little guy but my oldest will be in 8th grade and he doesn't need any zero's. Rotten policy I know but what can you do? I just work around it.
As for the Disney Visa...that kills me since I received mine shortly after applying but they only gave me a $500 credit limit. Not much I can do with that. Funny but all my other cards have much higher limits but not the ONE that I wanted.
I'm debating about whether to downgrade my stateroom category since we will be on such a short cruise, how much time are we going to be in a room?. I'm just having a hard time justifying $3000 to DH for 3 days when we've done WDW twice in the past 7 months for a little over that and we did 15 days total.