How to "plan" when you have a husband who hates schedules???

[Tzbwilsonfam]

Serious question:
I am a planner. It's just in my blood, and I cannot help it. It drives me nuts to not have a schedule or know what we will be doing.

On the other hand, my husband hates to be nailed down to a schedule...particularly on vacation.

We are going on a 7 night cruse out of Galveston in November.

What is essential for me to plan or schedule in advance and why? And what can I do without scheduling so he doesn't feel so locked into set plans??

HELP! I don't want to fight on vacation, but I also figure there are some things that have to be booked

We will be traveling with a 2.5 yr old.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Serious question:
I am a planner. It's just in my blood, and I cannot help it. It drives me nuts to not have a schedule or know what we will be doing.

On the other hand, my husband hates to be nailed down to a schedule...particularly on vacation.

We are going on a 7 night cruse out of Galveston in November.

What is essential for me to plan or schedule in advance and why? And what can I do without scheduling so he doesn't feel so locked into set plans??

HELP! I don't want to fight on vacation, but I also figure there are some things that have to be booked

We will be traveling with a 2.5 yr old.

Well, do you want to do Palo? That's something that's best to pre-book, if you can. Beyond that, unless you're set on doing an excursion that's typically sold out, you can wait until you get onboard to book excursions as the whim strikes you (or your husband).

Andy tasting/mixology classes aren't booked until you board.

Beyond that, most onboard activities are pretty much spur of the moment choices, no pre-booking required.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Do you want shore excursions? Do you want nursery time for your kid (and maybe some adult restaurant time while the kid is in the nursery?) You'd need to schedule those. Otherwise, there isn't much you need to schedule on a cruise. Other than your dinner time. You'd be scheduled for dinner the same time every night but you can go to the buffet-converted-to-a sit-down if you want to (except the first or last night). There's a lot of stuff that is optional, like spa treatments or booze tastings.

Otherwise, it's just going to be something like looking in the navigator the night before and deciding you're going to see this movie, or you're going to go to this activity, etc.

 

[Jess_S]

Have you cruised with your 2.5 year old before? I love to plan, but I've found that sticking to a schedule is pretty much impossible now that I have a kid. (He's 3 now). With the unpredictability of naps, bad moods, etc., I've just had to accept that we sometimes miss out on things that I was really hoping to do. On the other hand, sometimes my son is really enjoying a particular activity and I don't want to tear him away to move on to the next thing.

Since you enjoy planning like I do, my suggestion would be to plan what you'd like to do in each port ahead of time. If you'd really like to do something that needs to be pre-booked, then you have no excuse but to pre-plan. But if you're thinking of something like a taxi to the beach or walking to something near port, you can leave the day unscheduled and decide once you are there. (I still figure out what my choices are and how I will get to each ahead of time, so there's still planning fun for me even on unscheduled days).

 

[FigmentSpark]

There are things you can plan that don't have to pin your husband to a schedule. For example, how about planning (and preparing) how you want your room door to look and what magnets you'll buy/make? Or what about planning the organizers for keeping your room tidy and your things handy? If you join an FE, you can plan/make/purchase your gifts. If you're going to be doing a Pirate night, plan and get your costume together.

Planning doesn't have to be scheduling. It can be just preparing so you can relax on your cruise.

 

[Tzbwilsonfam]

Have you cruised with your 2.5 year old before? I love to plan, but I've found that sticking to a schedule is pretty much impossible now that I have a kid. (He's 3 now). With the unpredictability of naps, bad moods, etc., I've just had to accept that we sometimes miss out on things that I was really hoping to do. On the other hand, sometimes my son is really enjoying a particular activity and I don't want to tear him away to move on to the next thing.

Since you enjoy planning like I do, my suggestion would be to plan what you'd like to do in each port ahead of time. If you'd really like to do something that needs to be pre-booked, then you have no excuse but to pre-plan. But if you're thinking of something like a taxi to the beach or walking to something near port, you can leave the day unscheduled and decide once you are there. (I still figure out what my choices are and how I will get to each ahead of time, so there's still planning fun for me even on unscheduled days).

I think that the only thing I really need to pre-book is Atlantis. I've heard it sells out. I think he would love the aquariums and sites to see there. Other than that, I don't think there's much for us to do at Key West, and I was hoping to bike around Castaway Cay, but didn't know if it was necessary to book that ahead of time. I'm thinking we probably won't do Palo (sp) because I don't think my hubs would want to. I'm hoping that regular dining has good food?????

 

[Tzbwilsonfam]

There are things you can plan that don't have to pin your husband to a schedule. For example, how about planning (and preparing) how you want your room door to look and what magnets you'll buy/make? Or what about planning the organizers for keeping your room tidy and your things handy? If you join an FE, you can plan/make/purchase your gifts. If you're going to be doing a Pirate night, plan and get your costume together.

Planning doesn't have to be scheduling. It can be just preparing so you can relax on your cruise.

good point!

 

[Jess_S]

I'm thinking we probably won't do Palo (sp) because I don't think my hubs would want to. I'm hoping that regular dining has good food?????

I know that there are some people who disagree, but I personally thought the food in the regular dining rooms was good. A lot of it was very good to excellent. I was happy saving the Palo money for other things. (I confess that those other things were mostly drinks of the day).

 

[wilkeliza]

I think that the only thing I really need to pre-book is Atlantis. I've heard it sells out. I think he would love the aquariums and sites to see there. Other than that, I don't think there's much for us to do at Key West, and I was hoping to bike around Castaway Cay, but didn't know if it was necessary to book that ahead of time. I'm thinking we probably won't do Palo (sp) because I don't think my hubs would want to. I'm hoping that regular dining has good food?????

Booking Atlantis isn't actually necessary. We never book it through Disney and just get one of the water taxis that take you across. I've never seen just the aquariums or grounds pass sell out. Maybe the water park will but just walking around won't. Same for bikes at CC. If you want to bike there will be no problem grabbing a bike.

 

[bethy]

There are things you can plan that don't have to pin your husband to a schedule. For example, how about planning (and preparing) how you want your room door to look and what magnets you'll buy/make? Or what about planning the organizers for keeping your room tidy and your things handy? If you join an FE, you can plan/make/purchase your gifts. If you're going to be doing a Pirate night, plan and get your costume together.

Planning doesn't have to be scheduling. It can be just preparing so you can relax on your cruise.

This is excellent advice.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you aren't doing Palo and have no interest in a cabana, the only thing I would book are any excursions you are interested in. Otherwise, there is really nothing to plan. That's the beauty of a cruise!