Need opinions once more...

[Luckymommyx2]

First off, thanks to those of you that helped me decide to cancel my RCCL and decide to make the switch to DCL. I am very eager to book the DCL but my husband wants to wait until we get back an estimate on repaving our road. I'm 80% sure we will be going so I want to book it now before price goes up or it sells out. (We're looking at Sept 14th, 4 nights/5 days and the cat 11 is already at a GTY status.) My question to you is should I go ahead and book it now then "surprise" my husband when he finally says to book it or should I be a good wife and obey my husband, for now. I sort of already joked about booking it on my credit card so he wouldn't have to know and he didn't really say anything. I'm itching to do it yet I do not want to have to cancel another cruise!!
HELP!!

 

[decolady]

Hi Lucky!

I was sort of in the same situation last week with my husband. He wasn't ready to commit, we are planning a cruise exactly a year from now in March 2004. Well, the prices went up just this week! Waiting only one week will cost us over $150! He says that is okay, he wasn't ready last week.

I would never do anything behind his back, nothing is worse than creating stress in your relationship. Then the cruise could become a sore spot and a reminder of bad feelings rather than the fun it should be. Wait till he agrees and book it together.

Good luck!!

 

[floridaminnie]

I would talk with him and explain that if you book now, the price won't go up on you then. If you both decide that you are unable to go b/c of money issues, you can cancel 60 out without losing any money.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I'm going to talk to him again this evening. I think he didn't tell me NOT to book the cruise because he secretly wants me to just do it. It's one of those things that we joke and laugh about yet we know that deep down I'm serious. I don't know how to explain it but thanks for the input. Hopefully he'll just come right out and tell me to book it tonight. Thanks!

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Hi Lucky,
I think you are right on the money by discussing it with him first. Of course, I am not taking my own advice at all. My DH and DDs have seen the DCL video arrive, the Passporter delivered, and me lurking the boards, but I have not told them we are going in June 2004. I plan on popping it on them next Christmas (at least on the DH, may keep the DDs in the dark until it's time to go) when it will be paid in full. We can get the money back if we cancel within the specified time, and I also have trip insurance just in case something goes wrong close to the date of the trip. I have been able to rebudget my own expenses to make up enough $$ no one will be going without..... So what about the drapes.... I planned our other two WDW trips and DH had a great time-much better than he ever expected, so when it comes to vacations he leaves it up to me. Have fun planning with the DH
Buggie

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Hummm, our anniversary is in August so that would be a great present! Actually we need to get the kids their US passports and in order to do that they need both parents. I'm afraid that getting passports after our anniversary wouldn't give us enough time to get them back before our trip. My husband definitely wants to do the cruise, he's just worried about the expense before knowing how much paving our road is going to be. I think I could have it paid for without him even missing a beat but then I would have to try not to let his surprise slip. His famous line is "just wake me up and tell me where we're going" because he leaves everything (planning, finances, etc) to me.

Don't worry, I will still talk to him tonight but you have found a loophole for me DoomBuggieDriver! Thanks!!

 

["Ginger"]

Luckymommyx2 your children do not need a passport to go on the cruise, you can use their birth certificates.

 

[mbaidacoff]

Lucky,
This is what I did. I called DCL directly to find out what was available for the cruise I wanted, and the agent said she could hold the reservation for a week before I had to put down a deposit. The room and the price were perfect so I said okay. When I told DH I made sure that he knew that so far no money was involved and that he had a few days to think about it. That's all he needed and now we are booked! I also showed him how the price increases closer to the cruise date and assured him that we could get our deposit back up to 60 days before the cruise date (he was a bit leary about booking over a year in advance) All our decisions are made together, but I think the little push helped

 

[aprilgail2]

You should try dreams unlimited for a price, theres was cheaper than going through Disney directly for me!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I plan on booking with Dreams. Trust me that Michelle has had her share of emails from me. I forgot that if you call DCL that they can do that, but I don't think Dreams can. As far as the passports go, I don't feel comfortable with the birth certificates that were issued to us because to me they don't look very official and I would hate for us to have any problems trying to get on the ship! Thanks for all the input!

 

[mmouse37]

We just renewed my DD19's passport when she was home on break...her's was first issued when she was 14 and children's only last for 5 years (adults 10 years).

Quite a price difference from 5 years ago!!! It cost $55 for the renewal to U.S. Dept. of State (would have been $45 if she was renewing an adult passport but she was a child then so had to fill brand new application). $30 bucks for the application fee to our county clerk's office and $10 bucks for her passport photos taken at the county clerks offce. I know I could have gotten the pics taken somewhere else for less money but we were there and in a time crunch.

We applied on 3/7 and the sign said it would be back by 5/7. I hope so as we sail 5/17. I'll keep you all posted on how long it actually takes to get back. We prefer to use passports....I keep hearing about more and more placed going to be requiring them for travel that now accept birth certificates. Plus, they are easier to carry than BC and can handle the rigors of travel better!!!

MJ