Nervous Hubby for 1st cruise----help!!

[DVC Mary]

Help! The closer it gets to the cruise---the crankier & more nervous DH gets. He's worried about packing, not being ready to go on time (we're behind w/packing etc.) the kids behavior if seated w/ another family even if there kids are as poorly behaved as ours (DSs are all boy & have to work hard to be calm sometimes), & overall I think he's a little nervous whether he'll enjoy this. Neither of us has ever cruised before. Any tips to help me ease his fears & thus prevent me from killing him before the cruise.

He's starting to make me crabby. Help!

 

[MickeyB426]

I learned a long time ago that no matter how bad you think your kids are, you'll see others that are far worse. DCL is no different.

Other than that, I won't be able to give you any advice on how to calm your hubby down..but I CAN tell you to turn a deaf ear to his worries.

Once you step onto th ship and they call your name and place of residence, 99% of your/his worries will be left on the dock.

 

[Hygiene99]

Dont Worry Be happy......................

 

[webray]

When is your cruise...get a special place and start setting stuff aside that you will be packing for the cruise..or make a list of everything you want to take a long to ease his fears about forgetting things..and you will be totally organized at packing time.

As far as the kids..if they don't behave in the dining room, then let them eat fast food before the dinner hour and take them to the clubs to play while you enjoy a nice relaxing dinner.

There is so much to do on the ship, your boys will probably be worn out anyway.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Or you could just go ahead and kill him and enjoy the cruise with your sons....just kidding. I thought DH would drive me crazy with anticipation before our last cruise but I survived and we all had a fabulous time. As you can see we're going again this year and it's just about all he talks about. What we need to buy, how much more we need to save, and so on. I agree with MickeyB, once you board the ship all worries seem to be left on the dock. Just tune him out until you sail and have a great vacation.

 

[disny4ever]

Don't let these things bother you. Everything will go much easier if you don't stress out about them. If you forget something, buy a new one or live without it, if the kids act up...their kids....it happens, go with what happens and you will have a better vacation. Have fun.

 

[CM_Mom]

Just a word of warning.... I see lots of threads about "reluctant" hubbies who are worried about "it costs too much, forgetting something, kids behavior, not enought to do, seasickness, lost luggage, you name it."

What usually happens is that those exact hubbies are the ones who INSIST on booking the second cruise for the family while on board the first.

I think ALL hubbies have a little bit of Crankshaft from the comics embedded in them just to make life interesting.

 

[Zandy595]

I have to make a list for myself or I'd just breakdown and be useless. I start my list months before the cruise and add things to it as I think of them. It's not just a packing list, but also a list of things to do before we leave, like stopping the mail and newspaper, setting the VCR for shows I don't want to miss, etc.

As for the boys ... see how it goes the first night. If they are just to antsy to sit at dinner you could have your server bring their food out right away and take them to the club/lab as soon as they're done, then go back and have a relaxing dinner.

If anyone in your family is prone to motion sickness make sure you take some meds with you, just in case.

Make sure you have all your paperwork in order - birth certificates, drivers licenses, cruise documents, etc.

I find that being well prepared reduces the stress a great deal. Find out everything you can about the cruise so there are no unpleasant surprises.

 

[gshoemate]

Your first cruise can be very overwhelming. I know I made myself nuts before out first one. Let me tell you that half of the stuff we packed, we didn't even use. And as far as your children, don't worry about it. I agree, try it the first night and if it doesn't go well, then have them eat early and take them to the club. In the dining rooms there is so much to look at that they may keep occupied. Just try to relax and have a great time. Once you walk on the ship, all the worries will fade away.

 

[natdencro]

You will normally find that the Servers are well prepared for children: they have various tricks up their sleeves to keep them entertained during a meal. Besides, the worst behaved person we had on our cruise in March was "Ursula" (as many guests referred to her)- the mother from hell! Anyone at our Immigration meeting will know who I mean. The children are usually overwhelmed by all things Disney. Dont worry. You will have a fantastic time. Nat

 

[RickW]

To make it easy, here is a basic packing list. If you have these things you have the essentials, everything else is just gravy:

1. ID/Birth Certificate or Passport
2. Socks & Underwear
3. 1 pair of pants
4. 1 shirt
5. 1 pair of shoes
6. 1 credit card
7. Anything needed for a special medical need.

In other words, documentation to get on the ship, the clothes on your back and some way to pay your onboard account. I can't think of a single thing besides those things that a person would truly need on the cruise.

 

[invaderzim]

Okay, I've been patient -- but now I HAVE to ask. After seeing her name mentioned on at least three different threads, I must know what it is that "Ursula" did to get her this reputation. Her name was also mentioned in the thread about chair hogs and the thread about hot tub hogs.

 

[DVC Mary]

Thank you for all the ideas. I think the best advice from all of you is to relax & not let anything bother me. I just need to help my DH relax--maybe I should book the surial. Or buy him the beer mug right away. Where can you purchase them & use them???

All the packing stuff is awesome. We are usually super organized. This has been a rough school year for our family. I'm a teacher & the DC. I was back in grad school 2 classes per semester DH went out of town last week on unexpected business trip for a full week & my two sweet boys were & would't sleep or nap b/c Dad was gone. He rarely travels. At the last minute we found out we were having company staying w/ us for 36 hours before we leave w/ their two DSs. I would've said no way to the company but they are very close friends, one of whom just got laid off & really needs to talk to my DH. My son's b-day party was today w/ 35 of our closest family & friends at a restaurant--at least I was smart enough not enough to host it at home. Oh yeah, & the good news is I lost about 15 lbs. waited until 1 week before the cruise & found out my clothes don't fit & barely have time to shop for some new clothes. I found them & now just need to wash get ready to pack. My only true down time at the moment is the few minutes a day I steal to be on the boards to find answers to all my last minute neurotic questions.

Thanks for reading/listening. I can't wait for Wed. leave for WDW & Sat's cruise.

 

[disneyholic family]

i only have two things to say to you...

first - RELAX......it's all going to work out fine....and everyone is going to have a magical time....including dH...

second - have a wonderful time!!!

 

[invaderzim]

Hygiene99:

Is that a new puppy? Very cute.

 

[TheWog]

the beer mugs will be at the bars. They will also have tables set up when you board. Go to Diversions if you don't see anything. Get lots of drinks, get a great spot on Deck 9 for the kids for the Sail Away Party and relax. Hubby will have a wonderful time. relax and have a beer for me.

 

[kennancat]

Here's what I'd suggest: Next time he starts to worry aloud, make him sit down with a piece of paper and list out everything he's thinking about on the left hand side. Then, have him write down solutions next to each worry. So for "the kids misbehave at dinner", he can put "take them back to the club." If there is no solution, i.e. forgetting passports, then write down how to prevent the problem from occurring, like "put passports in suitcase now." Once he's finished with the exercise, have him rip up the paper and throw it away. Hopefully, this will help him get the worries out of his system (or if nothing else, see how silly he's being when he's filled up three sheets of paper ) and let the worries go.

 

[Grumbo]

but now I HAVE to ask. After seeing her name mentioned on at least three different threads, I must know what it is that "Ursula" did to get her this reputation.

I had two "experiences" in viewing "Ursula".
She was a lady maybe about 5'10", bleached blonde hair, appeared to have a part time job as a tackle dummy for the Green Bay Packers, was VERY loud and completely obnoxious. On our St. Thomas morning everyone was lined up for the non U.S. residents immigration and she was Yelling and Screaming at the poor C.M.'s about how ridiculous it was to have to stand in line for this, how it was too early, how they were late (U.S. immigration were delayed). That she would never sail on Disney again if they paid her to. The poor guy she unloaded on just took it. I think after 30 seconds I'd have given her her own "Disney moment". After belabouring that point she then went on to complaining about her food the previous night Like this poor C.M. could do or should do anything about this at 7:00 am. She went on about working in a nursing home and the meals there were better than what she was getting on the ship. The fish and chips were awful blah blah blah... People just stood and stared, shaking their heads at this woman.
I saw her later that cruise dragging her one child by the arm like a sack of potatoes yelling at him and "F" this and "F" that.
The way she had her hair done up with a band around it and her "Cheery" disposition reminded of us "Ursula"

Thats the Reader's Digest Version of my interaction or guess observation of this lovely woman.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[TheWog]

she sounds like a "peach"

 

[Greysword]

I have an observation. If your signature is correct, then you will be cruising this month. Well, since there are only 9 days left in the month, I don't think you can get your money back. Thus, I would tell your husband it is too late to back out now without loosing all of your cash (or at least a large chunk of it). Thus you are in a use it or loose it situation

Good luck on the cruise and have fun!!