What are your Regrets, Realizations and Solutions?

[JAMS1]

Regretted taking Computer on cruises –

Realized, I Do Not want to work At All on my cruise & don’t want feel guilty for not working

 

Regretted taking BlackBerry –

Realized coming into ports it would upload messages & did not want to think about working and responsibilities while vacationing

(During Mexico cruise we were within a cell site the entire time, had to shut it off and left it in the cabin)

 

Regretted not taking cruises earlier in life.

Realized Grandma & Grandpa were right, cruising is not just for the older folks, it is a wonderful way to vacation!

 

Solutions cruise as often as possible, leave computer & phone at home, tell the boss I will be on vacation and not reachable.

 

Folks think of those new and semi new to cruising and give them good advise.

[weltek]

Regretted not taking a few warmer clothes.

Realized it gets cool on some sea days.

 

Regretted being in school when we cruised.

Realized how much time I spent inside working on homework.

 

Regretted not going to a few silly daytime activities.

Realized there's plenty of time to relax and drink at night.

 

Regretted wasting time on port talks.

Realized they were really ads for the stores and I wasn't going to win a

prize.

[mamasue]

Regretted taking the over-the door- hanging thingy..

Realised there's enough space, and it just gets in the way!!

 

Regretted eating too much every day..

Realised weight is easy to put on, but not easy to lose at my age!!

[STARFISH*4]

REGRETTED packing to much and having to PAY for being overweight or buy another piece of luggage

REALIZED that i am getting BETTER and BETTER each time i cruise and havent had to PAY or get another piece of luggage

 

REGRETTED NOT SWIMMING with the dolphins when hubby did it in PV

REALIZED that i could have done without so called fears and would have been FINE

 

REGRETTED NOT CRUISING EARLIER in LIFE

REALIZED that we ACTUALLY COULD HAVE

[cruisemom42]

REGRETTED packing too much on our first few cruises (and feeling put-upon because "mom" had to stay in the cabin packing and unpacking while others were out having fun....)

 

REALIZED that I should pack less and have been happier ever since. I pack less and less on each trip!

[CapeCodCruiser]

Regretted not trying more new foods at dinner.

Realized there's still time to expand my palate.

 

Regretted throwing away 18" of hair at the salon on a cruise ship and not donating it.

Realized I could grow it again and donate it. It is currently 15" long and about to cut any day now;)

 

Regretted not cruising more often.

Realized I don't always 'need" a balcony

Solution - booking inside cabin to cruise more! (except for upcoming 25th)

[dustyroad]

regrets--that i cant stay on the ship more days

 

realizations--that i need to stick to my smaller packing list and not over pack each time

 

solutions--do more to mingle in the great hot spots on the ship too meet more fabulous passengers in the evening. do less tours at each stop and search the port city on foot for interesting museums and things to see and learn about.

[mousey]

Regret - Not having money to cruise more often!:(

Realize - That I'm thankful I get to cruise at all!:)

Solution - Rob a bank!:eek: Just kidding!

[Happy ks]

I regret buying so many little things I read about here and on other cruise message boards to pack, plus reading all the things women write about with their new clothes. I spent way too much money on a pile of junk and all new clothing.

 

Realized that I didn't need 99% of the stuff I didn't think of myself and that there are just average people on cruise ships, no fashion models anywhere.

 

Solution was to keep the carry on packed all the time with essentials ready to go, pack from my own closet and relax about what to wear. We still dress nicely, but in clothing we wear at home.

[RetireeWannabee]

REGRETTED packing too much on our first few cruises (and feeling put-upon because "mom" had to stay in the cabin packing and unpacking while others were out having fun....)

 

REALIZED that I should pack less and have been happier ever since. I pack less and less on each trip!

 

I'm hoping that you come to realize that your family members should be responsible for packing/unpacking themselves! My mother would never have done it for us. You are way too nice.

[printingchick]

Regretted gaining so much weight on my early cruises.

Realized I don't have to eat dessert every time it's offered.

 

Regretted falling asleep too early on my more recent (since I've been older) cruises.

What happened to that passenger I used to be, who stayed at the piano bar until it closed, then followed the "party crowd" up to the pool deck? I'm taking some energy drinks on my next cruise. I'm not missing another pool-side bathrobe party or midnight buffet because I crashed too soon!

 

Regretted taking books to read on that first cruise.

There's WAY too much to do!! Who has time to read??

 

Regretted not learning more about ports before the cruise.

These days, I research on line and buy guide books for my upcoming ports of call. I don't want to miss something for not having done my research! (Amazon.com LOVES me!)

[G'ma]

Regrets: None

 

Realizations: Life is short...don't waste it.

 

Solutions: Travel as often as possible

[Harry and Lucille]

1. Places that I haven't seen yet.

 

2. People that I haven't met or talked to.

 

3. Food I haven't tasted.

 

4. Winning in the casino.

 

5. Too old and skinny to compete in the bellyflop contest.

 

6. Not enjoying a cruise with the whole family. (checking this one off the list in December on the Crown Princess.) Will work on the others. Harry :cool:

[lahoban]

Regrets: None

 

Realizations: Life is short...don't waste it.

 

Solutions: Travel as often as possible

 

G'ma this is perfect!

[JAMS1]

Everyone's posts are such good advise.

Wish I found Cruise Critic years ago.

[mickym]

Regret-Missing the ship last year because of plane problems

Solution-NEVER again fly out the day of a cruise!!!

 

Major regret--To little time and to little money to see all the amazing things this world has to offer.

Solution-See and do all I can with what I have in both areas of time and money and cherish every moment!!!

[2Cruise4Ever]

Regret: not cruising earlier in life

 

Realization: if I had discovered cruising earlier, I'd be a Cruise Director by now

 

Solution: Cruise more; Cruise often; Cruise anywhere (do you think they'd hire a 50+ someone for the entertainment crew??? :D)

[Garyorient]

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

[Almost Packed]

i wish i had been introduced to cruising earlier...and I wish i could have taken both my parents on a cruise together.:(

[Grand Sophy]

Regrets: None

 

Realizations: Life is short...don't waste it.

 

Solutions: Travel as often as possible

I like that- "travel as often as possible." I couldn't agree more.

[JAMS1]

Solution: Cruise more; Cruise often; Cruise anywhere (do you think they'd hire a 50+ someone for the entertainment crew??? :D)

 

Its worth a try!

Why Not!

Go for it -

[TahoeBob]

No Regrets here, life is what it is. I did no take my first cruise until I was 49, I am now 54 and going on cruise 5.

 

I had the rare opportunity to spend about 3 hours talking to my grandfather on the day he died, I learned a lot that day. One question I asked him was "if you could do life all over again what you do differently" His reply was "I would go fishing more". Yes I have made some stupid mistakes since that day, but those stupid mistakes are why I ended up where I am.

 

No Complaints and no regrets, and gramps I go fishing more!

[G'ma]

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

 

Ah, you did it your way........:D

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Is it a regret if you secretly unadmittedly liked it?!

 

No real regrets for me though.

[ATL2LAS]

Regrets-None. I've lived, loved and been loved. The road less travelled is the one I live on. I have been more places than I can remember and seen more places than I have forgotten. It has not been easy but noone ever said it would be. I take time to enjoy the simpler things in life and good people to share it with. A cruise give you that chance to reflect on the simple things that make us happy. Sea and sky with us somewhere in the middle.