Help me justify $3000 for a 3 day cruise

[jodifla]

How about the shoulder seasons? End of May and end of August seem more reasonable, too.

 

[Luv2Travel]

Sammy - $5000 -ouch! But at least it's for 7 nights. Good luck finding a lower rate, hope you have that vacation of a lifetime.

minniemouse1 & ragdoll - I am beginning to believe from other posts that we will need a longer cruise. We may just have to start saving now and make it a 2006 7 night cruise.

professorandmom - thanks for reading my whole post.

Yes, I'm a teacher and am fairly limited on scheduling. I do teach at a private school and our principal actually allows 1 week for families to go on trips during the school year. I have broken him in to my kids missing school for WDW trips, but that is when they were 5, 6, or 7. Now my twins are in 4th grade and I hate for them to miss too much work. Not to mention I'm a math teacher and I hate to get behind in teaching my classes.

I really appreciate all of the words of advice. Thanks again.

 

[BelleNBeastie]

I think you should consider the 7 day cruise. We are going in November which, i understand is off season, but we will not be paying $3000. Of course we are in a lower category!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by jodifla
So, I'm curious: Teachers can never take time off during the school year? Not even once in a lifetime?

In my school district, the answer is NO. As of this school year, you can only take off if you or a family member is sick. If you have more than 2 or 3 absenses, you get a "needs improvement" or "unsatisfactory" on your review. I know a teacher that had a "once in a lifetime" trip planned with her husband due to his job (England, Paris, etc) and she was told if she was gone more than a few days, her review would show it. We even had one TA whose father died and then one of her grandparents (out of state) within a few weeks of each other. Unfortunately, she will end up with a negative mark on her review. They do give you a few lines to explain, but the bad mark remains.

For those of us with older kids, it gets difficult to plan during off season too. Not only do I have to work around my high school daughter's schedule (she is on block scheduling, so each day she misses counts as two days), I have to work around my college daughter's schedule (she is in a year-round college program, so she doesn't get summers off). There are only about two weeks during the entire year they we are all off at the same time. The first is around the Christmas holidays and the second is in early June. Needless to say, our cruise is in early June!

 

[MiaSRN62]

We're very fortunate to be in a school district that allows a week off for families for vacation. It's particularily wonderful for us because we have the opposite problem that most people have. I have a very, very difficult time getting off during the summer/holidays. I'm an RN, and the competition between the 200+ nurses on my unit to get off during the summer is tight. It comes down to maybe a 50/50 chance of getting a summer vacation request granted. I've been turned down for summer weeks more times than I care to mention over the last 12 years with my employer. Working holidays is mandatory for all staff RN's, so I can never go during normal school holiday vacation time.
So, for us, we're lucky to be able to take advantage of the offseason cruise rates and very relieved that our school district supports families in our situation. I'm not saying any of this to debate whether or not to take kids out of school, but rather I feel this is a personal decision and each family knows what is best for them. If it weren't for taking our kids out of school, we'd pretty much never be able to take a vacation.
This year's cruise we have 2 connecting cat 10 SPH rooms. We're a family of 5 and found this to be cheaper than 1 cat 4 cabin and we also get more room/bathrooms. We will miss the verandah though, but we figure we can't have everything .

 

[shmora]

I don't understand that high cost, we are going to be in Disney and on the cruise for 11 days and here is my costs, we are going Sept. 20-30. We are going to Disney World from the 20th to the 26th. We are staying at the Comfort Inn and it is $420 for a suite for 6 people for 6 days. My airline is from PA to Orlando for $120 each =$720. We are renting a car from E-Z Rental for 11 days because the cost of getting to the Port is more expensive than returning the car and using the shuttle system, cost=384.69. I bought my disney tickets ahead, 1200.00 for 6 4 day hoppers, 2 for under 9 years old. Breakfast is free at the motel so we only have to worry about lunch and supper during our stay at WDW. I think we are going to preorder some vouchers that are supposed to save us money. Our cruise is for 4 days from the 26th to the 30th. We booked 2 room in category 11 and our cost for all 6 of us is 2400. Our total cost is $5124. for 6 people for 11 days plus lunch, supper and etc. while at the park. I just think you should research it farther before booking. Look on the cruise site under Deals and you may be able to get something cheaper, that is where I found my deal, $399 a person.

shmora

 

[professorandmom]

Congrats on your great rate, shmora
you are able to travel during the least expensive month.

Trust me, there are no deals in July (well, maybe if you are a florida resident)! Law of supply and demand!

There are awesome deals on DCL - web sites with lists of dates and great rates like yours...if you look carefully, they are not at peak times.
Barbara

 

[bynum66]

My family will be on the 3-Day (Sept. 30 - October 3).

2 Cabins (1 Cat 10 and 1 Cat 11)

3 Adults/2 Kids = $1992

 

[jodifla]

I wouldn't spend that much money on a 3-day cruise. It's just an obscene amount of money.

There are many fine cruise lines out there that will offer you deals during the summer. Particularly for those who have high-school and college age kids, other cruise lines are just as appropriate. I've been on 8 cruises and had a fantastic time on each. Am trying my first DCL cruise in September, when prices are reasonable. If I had to go in summer or break, I wouldn't go DCL.

Maybe if Disney gets more ships, things will loosen up some in the price category.

This makes me glad I didn't go into teaching. It's like they consider the teachers slaves.

I've NEVER heard of a school district not allowing teachers a couple of personal days. Seems line an alarming trend.

Good luck to all the teachers trying to navigate their vacations! It sounds like rough going.

 

[jskelton83]

we are going on a 7 day western - 2 adults, a 14 year old, and a 12 year old and its only $3500 including insurance. try cruisesonly. we are in a cat 11 on the 5th floor.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Have your kids been to Disney before or will this be there first Disney experience... sorry didn't read all post... here is a suggestion for you...AND believe me I love Disney, own annual passes but 3,000 for three nights.... ouch!! (And don't forget tips, sodas, shore excursions, etc)

Here is my idea for fun time:
Carnival Cruise for 7 nights- fare can be as low as $329 pp, as it just was listed for end of April and beginning of May on the Paradise and this includes EVERYTHING. (ports charges/taxes)
Then "Do" Disney for a few days, stay at the All Stars or Days Inn Suites (they are $49.00 a night, has a bedroom, full kitchen and living room with two more beds).
And do more for the same price....

Just my opinion... believe me I would love to do a Disney Cruise soon, but I also would enjoy a longer cruise.

Cruise- $1645.00
Disney Tix and Hotel- $1200.00 or so
(This doesn't include food for the 4 nights at hotel)
So thats 2,845 before food for an 11 night vacation

OR

Do the 7 or 8 night cruise and use the extra 1,300 to have an AWESOME time on board... (excursions, t-shirts, etc etc)

Like I said not dissing Disney, I love them, but you can do ALOT more with $3,000 if your looking to cruise

 

[BelleNBeastie]

You know what? $3000 seems like alot of money, but if this works into your travel plans during the time of year you want to go, you should go for it. I am sure you have made sure you are getting the best deal you can get. I have never cruised on Disney, but I look forward to it. Only you know what is good for you. From what I have heard, you wont be disappointed.