Background: It's been a long 18 months. We bought a new house; sold two-ours and MIL's, I quit my job in energy industry (YES-Enron was one of my customers) and moved MIL in with us because of ailing health. Then my DH required emergency major back surgery-surgeon told me as they wheeled him to the OR that he would not guarantee that he would be able to walk afterwards-he came thru with flying colors and is completed mended. One month later DS-9 developed crippling, what were later diagnosed as migraines, and spent 3 days in hospital undergoing tests. Two months later MIL's health worsened and was hospitalized for 6 weeks-once being revived by 10 shocks. Ultimately we were told to bring her home and make her comfortable. She passed away one week later. This was just as school started. Dealt with sorting her belongings and legal stuff. Sensing I needed a "lift" and a "change" for Thanksgiving DH suggested WDW and US. In the midst of planning this trip my youngest sister was hospitalized. She was released on Sunday and we left for WDW on Monday before Thanksgiving. Arrived safely and enjoyed the afternoon/evening at US. Around midnite received a call that she had been readmitted to ICU in respirator failure. Next a.m. called other sister to apprise this situation for me. The next morning we were at US when sister called to advise I definitely should come on home (she's a nurse) that there really was a slim chance that sis would make it thru the nite. Left my DD-19 and DS-10 at US and DH took me to the airport by noon. What should have been a 2 hour check-in flight before 9/11 turned into a 7.5 hour ordeal trying to get home. After 14 days in ICU and multiple blood transfusions we were told she was going to be ok but it would be months before she regained full strength.
DH, DD, & DS stayed behind at WDW and met some wonderful people at WDW. I had really hyped the Osborne lites and Fantasmic to them. One nice couple from NC agreed to make a copy of the video they made at Fantasmic and send it to DH.
Then our my DH's closest friend died from leukemia on Christmas Eve in Lexington. We buried both MIL and FIL' ashes several days later.
He received the tape from the NC couple the week after Christmas at his office with a note that they had included "something extra". After dinner that nite he popped in the tape, turned out the lights and pressed "Play,"--it was the complete Fantasmic show and their tour of Osborne lites--an immediate boost for me!!
Then a beloved aunt passed away and another of DH's friend developed and brain anuerism and is not expected to recover.
Against this backdrop our 25th anniversary is looming in the spring. We had discussed cruising possibly to Alaska but I wanted to be on a ship on our actual anniversary and you can't cruise Alaska in April--so what else to consider but DCL. I began lurking on these boards months ago and occasionally checking pricing and dates. I showed them to him periodically and he would scoff at the $$.
I began to accumulate info from this site--constantly printing items for future reference. Last week when checking pricing/dates (the 60 day payment deadline had just occurred for the dates I wanted) I was hoping something might open up. I was aghast!! It appeared the ship was selling out quickly. I began hint dropping in earnest. So Friday afternoon I stopped by AAA and checked with our TA. She called DCL and confirmed my suspicions. She offered two options--a Cat 5 guarantee or Cat 7 Navigator's. I asked if it was possible to put one on hold over the weekend (so I could really go to work!) The answer was "YES." We put a hold on a Cat 5 guarantee and with brochures, print-outs and such I headed home. (Just an aside -- I was able to answer many of the ??s the TA was asking DCL from the knowledge I have picked up on this board and I am truly grateful.)
Saturday, we went to the jewelry store to get a watch battery replaced and I looked at gold charm bracelets and charms--DH just sorta hung back and watch me browse. As I gave the bracelet back to the jeweler he asked me if that was what I wanted for our anniversary--my reply "I guess -- if we can't have a Disney cruise."
Off to DS's roller hockey game. I mentioned that you could probably buy that bracelet a lot cheaper in Nassau with no response. I also reminded him that you are only married 25 years once later in the day.
Well--lo and behold--Sunday morning while I'm just waking up he whispers "wonder what it would cost to book this cruise thru AAA - I guess we'll have to wait til Monday for you to check it out." My response, "Just let me roll over here and get you some info from the nightstand." Out came the AAA quote, EntropyM's guide, lots of print-outs from Dave and Barb, etc. He was shocked and impressed!! He had such questions:
"Do they have tv on this ship?" Yep look right here in EntropyM's guide--here's the list of stations.
"What are we going to do with DS?" Take him with us of coursef(he will have his 11th burthday two days before our anniversary and I wouldn't dream of leaving hime home) - he can stay at the Oceaneers' club so we have private time and look at this description (printed from Barb's site) of this "spa thing" we can do! THANKS!!
"What kind of excursions and how much?" I rattled on about Atlantis and such quoting prices all along. There's also a fishing trip you and DH might enjoy also.
"Where do we stay before the cruise and what do we do with the car?" Just look at this info on hotels and stuff to do at along the Space Coast (printed from Dave's site). THANKS!!
After a few minutes of thought and calculation he said, "You're right we will only be married for 25 years once--go to AAA and book it first thing Monday a.m.!!!!
I have been like the little kids in the WDW commercial--"We're going to WDW and we're so excited!!" Well, we're going on a DCL cruise and I can't wait!!!"
I'm sorry to have rattled on for so long but I really am just so EXCITED!! I will be on these boards constantly for the next couple of days as I plan this trip--I want it to be perfect! Well time to clean up the pixie dust and get to planning in earnest.
DH, DD, & DS stayed behind at WDW and met some wonderful people at WDW. I had really hyped the Osborne lites and Fantasmic to them. One nice couple from NC agreed to make a copy of the video they made at Fantasmic and send it to DH.
Then our my DH's closest friend died from leukemia on Christmas Eve in Lexington. We buried both MIL and FIL' ashes several days later.
He received the tape from the NC couple the week after Christmas at his office with a note that they had included "something extra". After dinner that nite he popped in the tape, turned out the lights and pressed "Play,"--it was the complete Fantasmic show and their tour of Osborne lites--an immediate boost for me!!
Then a beloved aunt passed away and another of DH's friend developed and brain anuerism and is not expected to recover.
Against this backdrop our 25th anniversary is looming in the spring. We had discussed cruising possibly to Alaska but I wanted to be on a ship on our actual anniversary and you can't cruise Alaska in April--so what else to consider but DCL. I began lurking on these boards months ago and occasionally checking pricing and dates. I showed them to him periodically and he would scoff at the $$.
I began to accumulate info from this site--constantly printing items for future reference. Last week when checking pricing/dates (the 60 day payment deadline had just occurred for the dates I wanted) I was hoping something might open up. I was aghast!! It appeared the ship was selling out quickly. I began hint dropping in earnest. So Friday afternoon I stopped by AAA and checked with our TA. She called DCL and confirmed my suspicions. She offered two options--a Cat 5 guarantee or Cat 7 Navigator's. I asked if it was possible to put one on hold over the weekend (so I could really go to work!) The answer was "YES." We put a hold on a Cat 5 guarantee and with brochures, print-outs and such I headed home. (Just an aside -- I was able to answer many of the ??s the TA was asking DCL from the knowledge I have picked up on this board and I am truly grateful.)
Saturday, we went to the jewelry store to get a watch battery replaced and I looked at gold charm bracelets and charms--DH just sorta hung back and watch me browse. As I gave the bracelet back to the jeweler he asked me if that was what I wanted for our anniversary--my reply "I guess -- if we can't have a Disney cruise."
Off to DS's roller hockey game. I mentioned that you could probably buy that bracelet a lot cheaper in Nassau with no response. I also reminded him that you are only married 25 years once later in the day.
Well--lo and behold--Sunday morning while I'm just waking up he whispers "wonder what it would cost to book this cruise thru AAA - I guess we'll have to wait til Monday for you to check it out." My response, "Just let me roll over here and get you some info from the nightstand." Out came the AAA quote, EntropyM's guide, lots of print-outs from Dave and Barb, etc. He was shocked and impressed!! He had such questions:
"Do they have tv on this ship?" Yep look right here in EntropyM's guide--here's the list of stations.
"What are we going to do with DS?" Take him with us of coursef(he will have his 11th burthday two days before our anniversary and I wouldn't dream of leaving hime home) - he can stay at the Oceaneers' club so we have private time and look at this description (printed from Barb's site) of this "spa thing" we can do! THANKS!!
"What kind of excursions and how much?" I rattled on about Atlantis and such quoting prices all along. There's also a fishing trip you and DH might enjoy also.
"Where do we stay before the cruise and what do we do with the car?" Just look at this info on hotels and stuff to do at along the Space Coast (printed from Dave's site). THANKS!!
After a few minutes of thought and calculation he said, "You're right we will only be married for 25 years once--go to AAA and book it first thing Monday a.m.!!!!
I have been like the little kids in the WDW commercial--"We're going to WDW and we're so excited!!" Well, we're going on a DCL cruise and I can't wait!!!"
I'm sorry to have rattled on for so long but I really am just so EXCITED!! I will be on these boards constantly for the next couple of days as I plan this trip--I want it to be perfect! Well time to clean up the pixie dust and get to planning in earnest.
