Holiday cruise schedule ?

[flexsmom]

By all accounts the 10-night 2004 cruise over Christmas was very successful. Looking at the calendar, this year DCL is sticking to standard 7-night cruises for the Magic, and then going for another 10-night in 2006. I'm guessing this is based on the days of the week on which Christmas and New Years fall.

So, do you think 2007 will be standard 7-nights again, with a 10-night scheduled in 2008?

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Tom told me they are going to probably do the 10 night every year. He did say a lot of people suggested it be done every year though. He said they will have to evaluate there options.

Matt

 

[flexsmom]

Thanks for the quick reply. I hope they consider a Western variant on the itinerary, too, although I'd be willing to try the more Eastern flavor it seems they had in '04 and planned for '06. Seems like it might be a nice way to have a Christmas away from home without the kids being upset about being away. I'll have plenty of time between now and '08 to figure out how to explain how Santa knows where the Magic is in the middle of the ocean!

For anyone with children on the '04, how did you "do" Christmas morning?

 

[tkd lisa]

We had an 11 and 12 year old on the 10 day trip this year. Our kids are beyond the Santa Claus stage, so the surprise factor wasn't an issue. I'll explain what we did this time, then what we did in the past when travelling on Christmas with little ones.

For this past Christmas, our cruise WAS the family's Christmas present. We had discussed this with the kids in July 03, when we booked the trip. They had a limited Christmas in 03, limited birthdays in 04, and essentially no presents for Christmas 04 but the cruise. I took their stockings, which with suction cupped to the cabinet above the ice box. I packed 2 packages for the kids to open Christmas morning. They included 2 CDs and a book for my DD, and a gameboy game and book for my DS. I just put the wrapped packages in my luggage (unfortunately, TSA did unwrap one so bring tape just incase! Immigration was Christmas morning, so we used the packages as incentive to get the kids out of bed and through immigration! DCL did give a small gift to the kids on Christmas eve, and there were some gifts given by Santa Christmas morning, but we missed those.

In the past, we've travelled on Christmas, and here was our approach. We took one special gift with us from Santa (usually something small, but highly desired). Then the kids were reminded that Santa knows all, so he understands that we're visiting Grandma/Grandpa on Christmas, and he's leaving most of their gifts at home so that Mom and Dad don't have to worry about packing them all back home. We had a neighbor play Santa while we were gone (leaving a key and telling them where things were stashed). Worked for several years!

 

[DCLgodess]

Tom told me they are going to probably do the 10 night every year. He did say a lot of people suggested it be done every year though. He said they will have to evaluate there options.

Matt

Do you mean every year? Or every other year? We were told every other year.

 

[flexsmom]

TKD LISA - thank you so much! I'm usually pretty die hard about staying home for Christmas, but by '08 the kids will be 9 and 5, and I'm thinking the modified approach with an "at home" follow-up will work, especially if we position it early as the cruise itself being a big gift. Just the idea of being free of fixing dinner for 12 or more makes me ready to book NOW!

DH thinks I'm nuts - he just reminded me that Christmas '08 is almost four years from now, and I already have it all planned out!

 

[tkd lisa]

flexsmom, glad to help. Hey, early planning means a Low stress vacation, Right???

And I have to admit this was the easiest Christmas I can EVER remember! No family squabbles, no cooking, no worries about driving in the snow, just relaxation!