Now a Cat 10, meaning 30 extra sq feet in the room with the split bath. And Mexico, Cozumel really. The lure of ancient ruins was another deciding factor for the western. We're really going!
Of all the excursions I've seen, for all 4 ports, going to the Tulum ruins would be worth it at most any price, at least to me. It's the third most popular tourist spot in Mexico, the type of place you can't help but learn about. Showing a couple of impressionable teens another culture and country is worth the $97 dollars a head they charge to boat you over to the mainland, and bus you down to the walled-in collection of buildings. If we can keep the spending down to just T-shirt(s) at the first two ports, I can justify the increased debt as a once in a lifetime type deal. Besides, having another credit card is a good thing, right?
Would you risk driving 300 miles the day the ship leaves? The mini-van is 6 years old w/ 79K miles; good enough to run back and forth to Orlando, but it only takes 2 flat tires to eliminate any safety margin and miss the ship. So you stay in Cocoa Beach the night before, wake up refreshed, and get to the port early. Fine, but it costs a hundred bucks. They recently raised the parking rate where you leave the van to $ 15 a day (from $ 12), bang, another hundred. Lunch and gasoline costs for both ways, another hundred. Where to put the puppies (they will be 1 yr and 6 mos)? See the pattern? At least the income taxes that I will owe as a result of this fine gift will not be due for another year. I definitely didn't plan for this, but at least it doesn't stink. I can take aspirin for this kind of headache, thank you. It didn't hepl any to have to raid the cash stash at the end of Jan. There is a silver lining up ahead though, the government wants to help me pay for the cruise by sending summer rebates to all taxpayers. That's ME!! They say between 1K and twelve hundred for families to come in May 08. That should be about the time the April cruise bills come due. Anything would sound good at this point.
I can totally relate. 
I've been lucky to have seen the "World" two times and the "wonder 3night" once. All were not from my pocket, only the extra stuff you are talking about.
Both times when we went to the "World" we had the food and fun package too. This was a huge help. The first trip to the "World" we only had a $100 (long story but it was before ATM cards were used as Debits).
We were there for 4 nights too with two young DDs. The next time was a little better with the finances but we did spend more on the "Magic" before we went, but the Circ Sole was closed so we got a little over a $100 each person in Dis Credit, this was so sweet. 
I know this one hurts as I have to actually pay my own way.
But I have been a very good girl and saving up for this for a long time and my tax returned did the rest.
Alice's Restaurant
After the draft board deems him unfit for killing people.
Sorry folks, I just had to answer this one.
"with blood, n guts, n veins in ma teeth.."
The spreadsheet came to be when the estimated costs rocketed past $2K. I mean, I knew that I could squeeze a penny until old Abe cried uncle, but could my rock bottom guesses be THAT far off? Oh yeah, BIG TIME!! 
Stuff like tuxes and a dress for formal night, ship's pictures, booze, and internet access are all adding substantial amounts. Haircuts, water shoes, waterproof disposable cameras and T-shirts sure do pile it on. At what point do you pull the plug? How many times can you trot out the "once in a life" rationale?
The whole friggin thing is a once in a lifetime experience. I sure as heck don't want to do this again unless it gets a whole lot free'er. Some good news is that my in-laws sent a hundred bucks to help with the costs of the passports, and DW's mom said she will send hundreds of dollars too. We've always been very thankful for the financial help she has provided over the years. Another plus I can count on is not paying to feed bottomless pit #1 and # 2, or in board speak DS 14 & DS 12, for a whole week. The grocery store is one of the few places I enjoy spending money; probably because I'm there so often getting another truck load of consumables. So taking a week off and staying out of the store that receives a large percentage of our income will be a welcome reprieve. I'm sure all you parents of teenagers are nodding your heads in a "been there, done that" gesture.
We got our tax statements at the end of Jan., and I just got done running the numbers. We should be getting back close to 80% of the nearly 5 grand that was withheld this past year! Last year we got back less than half of that, and I had been hoping for a similar refund this year. However, DW changed jobs during the last year, now working full time for 2006's part time employer. In her first few checks she had way too much federal tax taken out, and it wasn't until her third or fouth check that it got down to a more realistic number. Now it's time to get that money back and I'm sure we will be in a hurry to fill out the paperwork and claim it.
Wow, was I ever surprised how quickly they processed them. It's also good to know our names are not on any type of "investigate these clowns" list. 
And we didn't even pay the extra fee to speed the process. That's one big hurdle cleared, right dearest?
And the gas money you spend going down to the Port and back is probably about the same as what you'd spend in a week driving them around as well as back and forth to work! So you're even there! This trip is starting to take on a whole new light now that I know I will have a few bucks in my pocket. Mom's check for 500 smackaroos arrived. Between that and my slowly growing cash stash (now back over $300), I can start breathing again. Even if the tax refund gets delayed or all my deductions get disallowed, we should still be able to enjoy the trip without asking "excuse me, how much does that cost" everytime, or deciding to just let the kids do whatever, while DW and I stand around taking pictures and movies. No creative financing will be needed, although some of the ideas were not too bad. One was to trade in the van and replace it with whatever had the largest cash rebate. Another poorer one was to get another credit card for the Tulum charges. The idea of paying more that 1% a month on the balance would bite, but all kind of silly ideas run through my mind (OK, short sprint) to take full advantage of this week in paradise. Gosh, what a relief to at least have a handle on the expenses, no matter how far out of hand they seem to be getting. Hey Honey, do we really need...
