Norwegian Dawn just busted my bubble

[Lorelai71]

So I am on the computer reading my confirmation E-mail from DUI because I just put a downpayment on my very first cruise. It is supposed to be a surprise birthday gift for my mother and guess what pops up on the news?

Yep, the Norwegian Dawn, and my mother starts shaking her head and says, "See, not me, I will never go on a cruise."

So now I am thinking did I make a mistake. This trip won't be until nov. I was planning on keeping it secret until two weeks before the trip but what if she refuses to go?

My question to all. Did you or someone you know ever swear off taking a cruise due to fear but change your mind in the end?

I really hope so

 

[tezb]

I hate to be a downer...but I would never surprise my in laws with a cruise because I know they would not want to go. My mother in law is sure she would get seasick and I know they won;t even want to try it. However, what is the reason she doesn't want to go... BEFORE the huge wave incident. Had she expressed her feelings about cruises before? If she has specific reasons, she may not be that happy to go....I would sort of try to get answers from her now without really telling her. As much as you might try to persuade someone to do something you really like or want, they may not be as thrilled about it as you...or interested for that matter.

I could be wrong, I'm just going by my own personal experiences.

Good Luck...

 

[disnut8]

I dunno but two weeks before your cruise, the whole thing is paid for so that would be an extremely ungrateful situation if your mother refused to go on it. I don't think she will. I agree with the other poster - see if you can find out her specific reason for not wanting to cruise. For me, I turned down cruise offer upon cruise offer from my in-laws just because I didn't think I'd like being on a ship for seven days. Too confining, not enough freedom. But once my mother-in-law surprised me by saying she'd be up for a Disney cruise, we were booked within two weeks. Yeah, I'm worried about getting seasick since I did on my dad's boat. I'm going very prepared. If your mother is concerned about safety, more people have car accidents than airplane or cruise ships accidents. You just hear about the other more since there's a greater number of people involved.

But she is your mother and you know her pretty well.

 

[kidzmom3]

I dunno but two weeks before your cruise, the whole thing is paid for so that would be an extremely ungrateful situation if your mother refused to go on it. .

I don't think you should consider her ungrateful, because she has already clearly expressed in your hearing that she would never go on a cruise. Some people are afraid to cruise, some think they won't like it etc... You may be taking a very expensive gamble.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

The cruise industry has its ups and downs. After 911 DCL was giving "credits" just to not cancell. Eventually people started sailing again. Then after the fall of 02 people were getting VERY ill on cruise ships. DCL cancelled a sailing and cut another short, people started sailing again. Now this.....it too shall pass.......JMHO

 

[tecdavidt]

I would love to surprise my parents with a cruise with us but I know they would refuse to go. My father will not fly and my mother would convince herself that she would be sea sick. Why not give your mother something you know she will love that doesn't give you the pit feeling in your stomach of "I spent all this money and she won't go."

A few years back on this board a woman surprised her husband with a Disney cruise, it did not go well. He was not nice but down right nasty in his reception and when he went. When I read her post on how it went my thoughts were that he should of just stayed behind and let the rest of the family go. He made the cruise miserable for all in their party. I felt so bad for her because she was so excited and the surprise was a bust.
Kathy

 

[232271]

I might kinda hint around and she if she is "joking" or really would not go?

I know my FIL got very sick on a cruise and they said they could never cruise again. IT is a lot of money to spend if she will be miserable? and would you want to go if you had to drag her?? how fun would that be???

 

[Rence]

Surprises are great when they go over well, but you take a HUGE risk when you surprise someone with something big like a cruise. If a surprise falls flat it can become a very very negative experience for everyone involved.

If you are not 100% certain that your mother will be thrilled, than don't surprise her. Don't bring it up right now with this current story in the news, wait a while. I would 'surprise' her with it about three weeks before final payment is due. If she has a negative reaction, you can cancel, get a full refund and think of something else. This is far better than surprising her two weeks out, she refuses to go and you're out the money.

You can try to discuss this current story with her and comment that isn't it remarkable that a 70 foot wave hit the ship and only four people were injured and they were all minor. You could work now to get her to change her thinking before you told her about the cruise.

 

[mamalle]

I would bring it up and get her true feelings. Just from personal experience with my mil- it wouldnt fly at all and we would all most likely be miserable. she states she gets seasick and couldnt tolerate a cruise. dh actually called me this am and told me to watch the news- wow is all I can say. I thought the 15ft waves on our cruise was bad enough. How scary! good luck with your decison.

 

[slindamood]

I would surprise her, but I would make the surprise this Mother's Day for a cruise in November. Then she has time to consider and plan, and let you know if she really does not want to cruise. You can let her know that you really want to spend some special time together and find out what she would like to do.

Part of the fun is planning, and the longer lead time would let her participate and have a greater feeling of control.

 

[Lorelai71]

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Our upcoming disney trip is our first real vacation and we have been joking around about all the places we want to visit: Hawaii, Colorado, Vegas and I even mentioned taking a Disney cruise. She just agreed. I think the Norwegian incident just made her scared.

I think I like the suggestion of letting this incident fade away and then perhaps I could mention taking a cruise. I think you are right and I will definitely tell her before it's too late to get my deposit back.

I was just so happy that I didn't think for a minute that she would not want this.

 

[tvguy]

I'd say it's too much money to gamble without clearing it with her first.

Having said that, my wife and I took our kids on their first cruise in 2002 on HAL'S Amsterdam to Alaska and "forced" our then 11 year old daughter to go. From the minute we started talking about it she would get upset......afraid of a ship. Her 15 year old brother didn't care. We finally just decided we were going, and she dealt with that decision fine.
EVERY concern she had melted away when she stepped out of the bus in Seattle at the cruise terminal. Her mouth dropped open when she asked where the ship was, and we pointed out the 12 story high "building" she saw behind the 3 story cruise terminal building was the ship.
So 18 months later, when we took our first Disney cruise, she was an old pro.
Although on both cruises, neither she or her brother had a thing to do with the kids clubs.....too many other things for them to do on the ships.

 

[jhorstma]

Take me instead!!! I'm a nice guy and you can be sure that I'll appreciate the cruise. DW would probably be grumpy at me, but hey you can't please everyone.

 

[la37]

I have always been afraid of water and said that I would never cruise. After talking to sereral people that have cruised, I decided it might not be so scary and I started planning a cruise. I haven't been yet but my first cruise is in about 2 weeks and I can't wait. I'm so excited from all the planning. People can change their minds. I did.

 

[taeja71]

Take me! Take me not jhorstma! I've been going crazy w/ my kids and my DH is on Short Term Disability due to a broken knee. I really need to get away....far far away like Cast Away Cey!

 

[Lorelai71]

Okay so I figured I had better mention something about this trip to my brother since he would be going also-he is 25, I am 33. I know you must be thinking that I must be nuts to book a surprise trip for my mother and brother but we are a really close family.

Anyway, I told him about it and he was really excited (he smiled and didn't say anything negative- that's really excited for him)

So last night the Carnival cruise commerical came on and of course I sang along as I have been doing for the past month and she didn't join in as she usually does so I said something about cruising.

Well to make a long story short she admitted that she was looking forward to taking a cruise (we have watched the Disney Cruise Line on the Travel Channel) until she saw the report on the Norwegian ship.

Well, my brother and I pointed out that nothing major has happened since the Tiantic and we talked about the fact that cruising is safer than driving.

I am a bit more optimistic because I think she will go for it. But, I will DEFINITELY take your advice and tell her before it's too late to cancel.

By the way, jhorstma why don't you talk your wife into coming along and taeja71 leave the husband and bring the kiddies. I'm a teacher, I love kids! We will all have a blast

 

[justmestace]

Our first cruise was my idea...ever since "Love Boat" I'd always dreamed of going. Then, we got to the day before the cruise (DCL) and I was panicking....worrying about every little detail, mostly the feeling of being "confined".....
We obviously went anyway, I was shaking in my shoes all the way to the port, in the terminal, up the gangway.....I stepped into the lobby, and was amazed, astounded, over-joyed! Now, sadly, I am addicted to Disney Cruise Line!

I agree with the others, tell her in advance of the date for getting your money back, but talk to her about it alot. Show her the video...tell her about "doubters" like me.....

 

[jhorstma]

No issues talking my current DW into wanting to come - she and the DKids are badgering me about doing the Western after having such a good time on the Eastern. I just point out the empty gas tank that is our checking account and rent The Poseidon Adventure and Titanic from Blockbuster to try to put the brakes on their enthusiasm.

Have a great time!!!