KC's Western PRE trip report

[King Charming]

No coolers?, ya got to be kidding! I could understand not having the baggage handlers carrying around full coolers (and ice), and thought a rolling cooler was a great compromise. Then I heard only soft-sided coolers were allowed. That's OK, we have one as part of our camping gear (we got at least one of ALL the camping gear). Now I'm hearing that they are enforcing the EXISTING rule - only if medically necessary. And they are suddenly enforcing what liquids may be brought aboard in your checked luggage verses your carry-on bags. Not good at all. Thankfully there are still 4 weeks to go, so maybe this will all shake out before it impacts us. I guess that the "powers that be" have a pretty good idea how much these rulings could cost me. I'm told other cruise lines prohibit all carry-on booze because they make so much money selling the stuff. It looks like the sink full of ice trick will be used to chill the first day's champagne if I can't find a collapsible cooler to stash in our bags. Those cheap Styrofoam coolers you can buy in Key West are real good at carrying stuff (more beer) back on the ship and might become an official souvenir if need be. BTW, having someplace to buy everything you forgot/couldn't/didn't want to bring, at decent prices, the second day in, makes the stores at the Key West stop invaluable. Good, DCL is now saying small soft-sided rolling coolers are allowed, but booze may only be brought aboard in your carry-on bags. That's a decent enough compromise, as only the fittest will be strong enough to bring enough alcohol to get super tipsy. Let's see, since there are four of us, one can carry the backpack with the laptop in it, one can have a suitcase with immediate needs stuff, and two can carry our "drinks". That should last us until the Key West stop (I hope).

 

[Hypermommy]

Man, talk about a puffy lip. <snip> She had her ace well hidden, and played it now. We will use Mom's money for it!

And you guys should see my puffy lip. It's pretty good! But, of course, over the years KC has developed an immunity towards it so I've learned to have an ace somewhere. Now.... I wonder how many more things I can claim are being paid for by funds other than our own.

Let's see, since there are four of us, one can carry the backpack with the laptop in it, one can have a suitcase with immediate needs stuff, and two can carry our "drinks". That should last us until the Key West stop (I hope).

Hmmmmmm.... do I want one of the kids carrying my laptop? Or do I want them dragging around the softsided cooler full of alcohol? I don't worry about them wanting to drink it (they know I'd kill them) but both are quite valuable. I don't know if I could survive without my computer but if they were to break bottles or something.... well, that's just alcohol abuse.

 

[King Charming]

The kids are starting to resurrect items I eliminated. Good for them; it's nice to see I won't be the only person who's money scorched a hole in his pocket. They seem pretty keen on documenting this adventure their own way and the waterproof cameras are back. I told them I'd chip in if they took pictures of each other parasailing. "See that dot up at the end of this rope"? type pics is not what I'm looking for here, and a three count after leaving the deck will be recommended. I know that turning a couple of knuckle-heads loose with a hundred dollars each is not one of my smarter moves, so consider this your warning.

 

[King Charming]

Look out Caribbean, here we come! The last great obstacle has been cleared; THE CHECK CAME!!! Now all the credit cards will be quickly zeroed out in anticipation of a full on frontal assault by none other than "The Mic" himself. He cuts quite the figure out in front of the very attentive army he commands. I am told this can get very brutal and it is best to just write him a check (minimum bid $1K) on the second or third day of the cruise. This way everything from excursions to shopping can be listed on one bill, and later reviewed by a new psyco-analyst who will promise to help me recover. Gee, I MUST be crazy, because I'm still looking forward to this cruise.

 

[Hypermommy]

Ooooh, ooooh... I know a good doctor for you to go see. I'm pretty sure his name is Nigel Channing and he has been converted, er, uh, convinced that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Don't think about the money... think about how this experience will provide your sons with that one little spark of inspiration that's at the root of all creation.

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks to DW's post on the Unplugged board will follow this with interest

 

[King Charming]

So we are getting into the final month, and the anxiety level grows. We are into that period where a plaster cast of any type means limited mobility and pain from the affected area. Any kind of major health issue for that matter, be it mine, the kids, or even the extended family could seriously throw a monkey wrench into the mix. You may have heard I have a lot of dough riding on this one, with no trip insurance. You can bet I will at least be in Cocoa Beach that Fri nite, if only to get in my hundred dollars worth of swimming in their fancy pool. Everyone who has ever looked forward to an anticipated vacation knows the feelings of dread that can lurk. Thankfully I have someone to do that for me and take a more laid back approach to it all. I figure I would have spent the money anyway, on something else as useful, so it is no big deal if it all falls apart. Naw, your right, I'll pitch a big time fit and complain to anyone with ears (?) about spending/wasting money on something so frivolous (told you we didn't need passports) and outrageous (tuxedo's?)

 

[hayanyujah847]

I have loved reading along so far & can't wait to read more~!

 

[King Charming]

I started posting this epic last week, and have gotten warm support from folks. I'm told I am funny enough to make this interesting. I sure hope ya'll mean it in a good way...
The spending has begun. After months of talking about it, I am ready to take the plunge and purchase all those things that I think we need. We bought a good bottle of champagne, rolls of coins, shirts & ties for semi nite, and more. After all the moaning about WHY we needed something, I've either gotten used to the idea, or given up! Although I can't understand why we need to spend extra on COLOR copies (vs black & white) of the passports, I've resigned myself to kissing this first IRS check goodbye. Dollar signs have been replaced with percentage signs. Another color printer cartridge and some more white T-shirts and transfer paper? Sure, it's only another 1%. Extra door magnets for all those cool graphics DW came up with, (and lamination), 1% more. Deck shoes, new shorts, report card bonuses, WHATEVER!! If I was still attempting to limit these costs I would have lost it by now. A "zen" approach has settled in; one that I was forced to adopt during a "World" trip when DW told me point blank that if I didn't shut up about how much everything costs, I would ruin the experience for her. As liberating a feeling as it is to spend without care, I rarely get to do it and it is therefore an alien feeling to me. When they say that you experience a wide range of emotions when you get near the mouse, was this what they had in mind?

 

[King Charming]

Thanks to excessive planning and numerous threads read, all the larger expenditures have been anticipated. There was no startling increase in the spreadsheet this week, FINALLY!! I kept telling myself this eventually had to happen, especially after "the Mic" and I agreed that he could have the entire check. He hedged his bets on how much of the May "stimulus" check he'd take, saying we'd deal with it after I got on the ship. I'm willing to go another $500, but please don't tell him. I try and feel better after we have these man to mouse talks, but seldom do. At least he promised to take a picture with us and wave, but will again ignore me in public and not say a word.

 

[King Charming]

Oh fiddle sticks; I went and stepped in it this time, which is another good reason to go. Being as I have such a difficult time with my legs, it was only a matter of time before someone saw to it that I learn to use them properly. That's right, dance lessons! Tons of coordination I got, rhythm I ain't. So rather than kick poor old DW across the dance floor, she will drag me to the dance studio. For those of us who used to keep track of this sort of thing, it's only "another one percent". Now I know how a fellow can give 110%. If anybody asks, I'm really doing it so I can pay for us, but also bring the knowledge home and teach the sons. Yeah, that's the story. A pay for two, get two free deal. That sounds much closer to the real me. If I had known Kings were expected to 3 step, I might have chosen a more appropriate screen name. The up side is she can't be shopping while she is dancing.

 

[Hypermommy]

Don't worry darling... Mickey loves you. It's just that he has so many other people he has to see during this time as well. But you know good and well he'll be right there for another man to mouse talk after the cruise. You know he's going to want you to come visit him at his house again before too terribly long.

And y'all should see King Charming dance!!!! Oh, it feels soooo good to be held in his strong arms for a beautiful waltz. Someone please volunteer to shoot some video of us waltzing on formal night. My mom's not gonna believe this!

 

[King Charming]

The cruise timeline worked real well since we were told what to expect. Among our listed items were ordering fish extender stuff and tuxedos, buying Yankee trade gifts, gowns, and meds, reserving kennels and a hotel room, and making magnets, T-shirts, and address labels, plus holds placed on newspapers, ads, and mail, All the stuff has been bought by 3 weeks out, most of week 2 stuff is making things, and most of week 1 is phone calls to confirm everything. Getting the bulk of the items completed/assembled ahead of time is such a good feeling. I recommend a "Cruise Prep Timeline" to all.

 

[King Charming]

So now I'm getting heckled by the ghost of one percent. Remember my Cuban cigars? Or some neat pirate garb for the kids? How about fishing off the Cocoa Beach pier, playing Bingo, or buying another rolling soft sided cooler? Just because Mickey has agreed to cut me some slack (I think he heard), now there is room for other hands to go pocket diving. For some reason, "the sheet" is nowhere to be found, so I'm not really sure what the total is up to. I think I'll waltz off to find my happy place, a place where the wife has no shopping bags in her hand, and I chant "It's only ANOTHER one percent".

 

[Hypermommy]

Now just where exactly is this happy place of yours that has no shopping bags? I'd be willing to bet there's a Walmart there somewhere.

 

[King Charming]

I finally gave up on the effort expended to know where all the money is going. Pleeease don't tell DW. Controlling these costs is next to impossible, and I used to think I wanted to know why something was needed. These days I just do the regal "wrist wave" and mutter my mantra as DW attempts yet another explanation of the rationale behind her latest "must have" item. If I'm really gonna spend $5K+, I don't want to know about it until I'm well into therapy. When new things appear, I pretend to be happy that we are so close to the sail date. It really means we are one day closer to a savings account. A new countdown has begun for me, it marks the Monday AFTER the cruise when I pick up the dogs from the kennel and the final cruise bill is paid. The financial madness that we have been experiencing will finally be over and the still smoldering credit cards will get a well deserved rest. In an interesting paradox, the more I spend, the more I can get for my one percents. Given this logic, maybe that verandah upgrade is affordable after all.

 

[Hypermommy]

Madness is such a relative term, dear.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

KC After lurking in the background for the past several weeks, I felt I had to jump in an empathize with your situation. Like you, I would like to try and resemble the common sensical "frugalness" <-is that a word? of what you are trying to do, and like you, have seemingly failed miserably.

I am often overheard telling the DW that the cheapest part of the cruise, is the actual cruise, and that the nickel and diming (more like $'s and more $$$'s ) associated with the run up to the event far surpasses the event itself. The endless lists of must haves is mind boggling at best, and I to gave up trying to detail them all. So, I worship your attempts at trying to detail them, and for having hung in there for so long doing so.

I have resigned myself to the fact that as long as the DW is happy, life is good. A long term mentor of mine once told me, "Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy", it's difficult to have both.

So, make sure you have plenty of your favorite beverages to bring on board with you (this is my futile attempt) to at least control costs from my persepctive, and kick back. Life will be good, once you are on board; and if you're anything like me, will be booking another one once there. (Remember you will get an additional 10% doscount! )

I look forward to reading many more chapters of your exploits!

 

[King Charming]

A brand new game has taken over the household, and it is doing a pretty good job at defining what we are most looking forward to on this vacation. The "What will we be doing at this moment 3 weeks from now?" game is all the rage. We finally got together and drew up the itinerary (still 1/3 blank) that should prevent us from expecting to play bingo when we will be off the ship. I'm sure that next week only the name of the game will change. This is a fun way of anticipating our favorite activities while also making sure that the kids will be at the far end of the ship while some adult behaviors are enjoyed.

 

[King Charming]

I'm not sure why I feel the need to explain this next part, as I'm sure folks could care less. DW and I have really played up the shopping and alcohol angle alot. She seldom spends our money unnecessarily, and neither one of us drink on even a semi-regular basis. Booze references are usually amusing. That being said, I am very, very sure that our fellow cruisers will meet a completely different pair of people that who we actually are. When you always see us with a drink in our hand, and that silly half buzzed look on our faces, it will be easy to dismiss us as a couple of drunk fools. That's cool, even though that is not who we are and the majority of what we will drink will have no alcohol in it. Vacations for us have different rules, and since we hardy ever get sloshed together (someone has to drive), it is something that needs to be planned for and done right! If I don't drink them or give them away to my new buddies, what's left of a case of beer can always be given to the housekeeping staff. (Cold beer is usually second only to cold cash). Even though I have always prefered the taste of Pepsi over beer, some sacrifices must be made, especially on a "Coke" ship. Just wait until you see the size of the cup I ALWAYS walk around with! Hey Honey, since you are going back to the room, could you please bring a couple of beers back up with you?