Questions for cruisers AND teachers, etc

[JohnsPrincess]

My mom's 50th birthday is in 3 years (yes, I know that's a long way away) and I've really been trying to think of something great to do for her. Of course I'll have the normal "over the hill" party, but I wanted something GREAT. I think what I've decided on is to take her on a Disney Cruise. My boyfriend and I (who will hopefully by my husband by then) will pay for ourselves, mom, and my little sister (who will by then be 7). It will be a surprise. SO, my questions are:
1: she has a passport but I bet it will be expired by then...how do I tell her she needs a passport without really letting on that she'll be leaving the country????
2: She's a nurse...but is studying to be a teacher. She'll get that degree this year. Her b'day is in Feb. So, should I book the cruise for the summer since she'll have a break then? I don't want her to have to miss work...or go during spring break...

I'll be inviting other people, such as family of myself and my boyfriend, etc with the knowledge that it is a SURPRISE...I figure three years is enough to save up for the 4 day cruise.

 

[dzneprincess]

HI there! Do not worry about passport, because at this time all you need is a birth certificate.
As far as when to travel, keep in mind tht summer is PEAK season, therefore rates are higher. If you can travel in off peak, it will be a savings.
Good Luck!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Almost every period that teachers (at least in traditional 10 months on 2 months off schools) get for vacation is a peak period. That's the way it is. And unless you want to take unpaid days you're going when you have vacation. You can't book yet anyhow, but if she has a teaching job you will have to work around it--and make sure she knows in advance so she doesn't schedule any summer college courses the week you go.
Robin M.

 

[dani2679]

You'll probably pay twice as much if you book during the summer, so it's a good idea to try and plan around the school year. Don't forget that there are holidays that give her at least one of the weekdays off (President's Day is in February, Memorial Day's in May, Labor Day's in September). My mom's a teacher as well, and when she and my dad took my sister and I on the cruise a few years back, she just took the first few days of the cruise off from work.

If you give her plenty of time of advance notice, she's more able to get the days off. I'm sure she won't mind taking them off since it's such a thoughtful gift from you.

And like it was said before, you don't need a passport for the cruise but she does need her birth certificate. That basically means that you have to give a day or two notice so she can at least get that (we keep ours in safe deposit boxes).

Danielle

Went: 3 night DC 11/1999
Going: 3 night Disney cruise 03/03/04

 

[WaltDisneyWorld]

At this time, US citizens only require a valid birth certificate for a cruise, however, that might not be the case in three years. Within the next year or so, mention to your mom that you and your family are updating your passports and suggest that she do the same. A valid passport is an essential in these times and is typically valid for five years from the date of issue. If you get it done this year, you will still have 2 years before your departure. As your mom's 50th birthday approaches, she will probably not make the connection of having updated her passport in 2004 with a surprise trip in 2007. And you won't have to worry about whether or not your mom has the appropriate documentation for travelling. You can spend your time planning the fun stuff.
Summer time is a great time for cruising but you would have fun cruising anytime of the year. Go when it is good for everyone.
Sounds like a fabulous surprise!

 

[JohnsPrincess]

Thanks guys! Good advice! I like the idea of telling her we're ALL updating the passports so she should go ahead and do hers too.
Also true about the peak times during vacation. I think as it gets closer I'll tell her that she needs to take a couple days off on such and such dates and since I should be able to book it...18 months (?) in advance that gives her Plenty of time to ask for the days off Plus I don't have to tell her WHY.
I'm very excited. At this point my DB and I have Never been on a cruise and mom's only been on a day cruise!

 

[abitjaded]

I'm applying for a public school job right now. Two forms of identification are required, a picture I.D., such as a drivers license AND some kind of proof of eligibility to work. One of these documents is a passport or birth certificate. Tell your mom to get a passport, it is the best proof for the schools of citizenship. Then she might not get suspicious at all. Check with HR at some of the school districts where she might apply.

Carla

 

[hsteacher]

Don't know how "tenure" works in your state but here in lovely Illinois if you are not a tentured teacher, the chances of taking "unpaid leave" of any kind is just not even thinkable. Even tenured teachers are highly discouraged from "unpaid leave". I'd really check this out first (call local schools????) and talk to principals/superintendents and see what they say. My husband traveled internationally (Italy, England, France, etc) and I was never granted unpaid leave to travel (even for just a long weekend -- ie: take Monday and Tuesday off) and I was already tenured and teaching for 15 years!!! Maybe it's just MY school district but it's something to check out. I get sick days and no personal days and sick days (I was firmly told) are for just that -- being sick. If I lie, and they find out (and they have with other teachers) it is one of the grounds for immediate (no paper trail needed) dismissal.

 

[professorandmom]

I second the inflexibility in time off restrictions! But you know, July 13 last year was absolutely wonderful! Yes, I checked the mid Sept rates and it was half as much...but if you can't go then who cares....I encourage you to try to work around her schedule
Barb

 

[MrsPete]

I've been a teacher for 13 years now, and here's how it works in my district:

Teachers have a very few "personal leave days" -- I'm thinking that a new teacher would probably earn one per year; teachers cannot build up more than 5 of these days total. These can be used at any time for any reason -- provided the teacher has submitted the permission form to the principal at least a week in advance. As long as the request is not a "key day" (i.e., first day of school, or the day we're giving state end-of-course tests), the principal can't turn it down. The catch: we have to pay our own subs.

If a new teacher needs a "personal day" and doesn't have any days built up yet, he or she can take it without pay. However, this doesn't really look good for a person hoping to gain tenure.

I'd suggest that you look at the school calendar and pick a week where there are already a few days off -- fall break, for example. That way you'd get lower rates AND she'd only miss 1-2 days of school. The catch: If she's a new teacher, she won't have any annual leave days built up, so she may end up taking the teacher workdays off without pay. However, this will be easier for her because she won't have to make up lesson plans for a sub.

The bottom line: It's really hard for a new teacher to be out of school. However, if you plan for spring break or summer, you're going to pay much more for the cruise. Tough call.

 

[musicgirl]

I would book it for the summer. As a teacher, that is one thing you learn to live with. Yes, it costs more, but sometimes the hassel of trying to get time off during class isn't worth it. We have to arrange for our own subs in this case and pay for them.
Some schools do not even allow you to take vacations during the school year.

Even if you do have long weekends, I would much rather take a vacation in the summer and be relaxed going into it and knowing that I have time after it.

Also, for your little sister, she wouldn't have to miss school either. Many schools frown upon taking kids out of school for vacations. Personally, as long as kids are keeping up, I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We get 3 personal days in my district. I usually use one for Halloween to work my own kids' parties, but in 2001 and 2002 I used the other 2 for a 4 day weekend in early December. Luckily I never needed them later in the year (although I could have used them for mental health!)
We are NOT permitted to take personal days the day before or after a vacation period. I was denied a personal day the day before Memorial Day weekend for DD#2's preschool graduation--as if I had scheduled it that day. I then called in sick but they red flagged it because of my request and asked if I had gone to the graduation. I didn't lie and lost a day's pay. My union rep. said I just should have called in sick instead of trying to do the right thing! Believe me when DS had the same day for his ceremony I had a horrible stomach flu .
Every district is different so check it out as soon as she gets a position. Summer is probably your best bet as she is just starting out. But I did want to add you are SO SWEET to do this!
Robin M.

 

[Nysie]

We have to go in the summer. My husband is a teacher and for someone just starting out without tenure, taking time off isn't looked at so well by the administration! Also, being up north, we can't even try for spring break because if we have a lot of snow days to make up, they take them from the spring break!! So, we end up going in the summer and that way my husband doesn't have to worry about missing work!! I wish there was another time to go, but we are used to it!

 

[eye R.N.]

Our district's is already up for 2005. Just remember when booking in the summer, teachers work days after the kids leave and days before the kids start. Spring break would have been good this year but snow days have taken it away, so don't bank on that one. Thanksgiving is also a good time in our district with Thurs/Fri off for both teachers and students. One year the kids didn't have to go back until Jan 6th so we squeezed in a 3 day cruise cheap, but that is rare.

Yes, I look longingly at those cheap off peak dates, but this is all part of having a teacher in the family.

 

[pooh luver]

I am also a teacher and we have taken both of our cruises during spring break. I have worked in one district who was incredible strict about taking leave and another who was not. It is not worth risking a new career. I vote for spring break, I usually need the fun time.

 

[clh2]

Spring break is not always at a predictable time either. In our school district - it's usually about a 50% time that we have them the week before Easter, and the other times it is the week after Easter.