I Didn't Know Vacations Were So Stressful

[GPaLarry]

The two of us are grandparents who are going on DCL cruises 6&7 this Sept. Most have been with family & grandkids...the ones coming up are not. However, we approach each cruise from both ends. I usually check all the details, double check again and sometimes a third time to take advantage of short time we have with the mouse. My wife just wants to be surprised, let the pixie dust fall where it may, agree on the excursions and let it happen. I have learned to direct more of my focus toward door decorations and let our daily Navigators be our guide. We have traveled to Africa, South America and China. Some of our best memories are the experiences not on the agenda. As a famous snow queen recently said, "let it go!"

 

[rantnnravin]

The two of us are grandparents who are going on DCL cruises 6&7 this Sept. Most have been with family & grandkids...the ones coming up are not. However, we approach each cruise from both ends. I usually check all the details, double check again and sometimes a third time to take advantage of short time we have with the mouse. My wife just wants to be surprised, let the pixie dust fall where it may, agree on the excursions and let it happen. I have learned to direct more of my focus toward door decorations and let our daily Navigators be our guide. We have traveled to Africa, South America and China. Some of our best memories are the experiences not on the agenda. As a famous snow queen recently said, "let it go!"

That is a wonderful sentiment -- for those who operate that way. There are myriad reasons that others do not enjoy or appreciate spontaneity or surprises. As my DD16 says: "you do you, fam."

 

[Hundredacre]

I think that there have been so many postings that in order to have a perfect vacation that you must get the AHOD and Mickey Bars from room service, you must get a Cabana on CC, you just have to get stateroom XXXX aft (because of the oversized balcony), you must drop off pillowcases at guest services to get signed by the characters, etc.. that some people believe that MUST do or get these things to have a perfect vacation. They then stress if something gets discontinued or they are unable to book something. In the past year DCL discontinued the pillowcase thing. They also dropped the AHOD for a short period of time. There were numerous message threads about how DCL ruined their families vacations. People still ask about the pillowcases and a lot of them seem to be quite upset that they cannot get this done now.

Its Ok to plan a vacation. I do it too, I also realize that I may not be able to do, see, or get everything that I want. Or stuff may happen and I need to be flexible.

I am one of those still mad about the da#@ pillowcases. But mostly that I didn't know about it and then forgot to do it. Ok. I'm over it (maybe). But what I am actually still mad about is how they are not replacing shampoo etc as they should. But that has nothing to do with planning.

 

[Hundredacre]

That is a wonderful sentiment -- for those who operate that way. There are myriad reasons that others do not enjoy or appreciate spontaneity or surprises. As my DD16 says: "you do you, fam."

Okay I am clueless. What does that mean? And I have teens so I shouldn't be! If I hear savaged one more time I will throw up.

 

[rantnnravin]

Okay I am clueless. What does that mean? And I have teens so I shouldn't be! If I hear savaged one more time I will throw up.

LOL- it's like "to each his own" - "you do your thing"
"fam" = short for family, but used for friend

I could stand to hear "throwin' shade" a bit less myself

 

[GPaLarry]

That is a wonderful sentiment -- for those who operate that way. There are myriad reasons that others do not enjoy or appreciate spontaneity or surprises. As my DD16 says: "you do you, fam."

I agree, it is not for everyone.

 

[Hundredacre]

LOL- it's like "to each his own" - "you do your thing"
"fam" = short for family, but used for friend

I could stand to hear "throwin' shade" a bit less myself

That's funny. I actually like that. We don't have "throwin' shade" down here yet. I think teen trends start in the north east and california and make it down south like a year later. We hear a lot of "he wasn't ready" and "shots fired, shots fired" when someone makes a sarcastic comment.

 

[tinkerone]

That's funny. I actually like that. We don't have "throwin' shade" down here yet. I think teen trends start in the north east and california and make it down south like a year later. We hear a lot of "he wasn't ready" and "shots fired, shots fired" when someone makes a sarcastic comment.

LOL- it's like "to each his own" - "you do your thing"
"fam" = short for family, but used for friend

I could stand to hear "throwin' shade" a bit less myself

So I had to go to Urban Dictionary to find out what 'throwin shade' means, lol. Who knew! Learn something knew every day. I may surprise my granddaughter and use it.

 

[tlprice]

Some people said on here that these boards stress people out with, you have to do this, you have to get that, etc. For me personally, I disagree. I appreciate reading them to see what is available, what options there are, etc. because many of the things discussed on here are not general knowledge. But, one common thread I've seen throughout these boards is that you can't do it all, so just enjoy what you can do. I definitely took this advice on my first cruise and plan to use it again on my next cruise. There really is no way you can do everything, but you can completely enjoy the things that you do.