Cruising AGAIN...."Must be nice"!!

[Danno]

"Cruising again....it must be nice".

 

Interesting how those of us who love to cruise tolerate the dreaded "it must be nice"...while it is often offered with a smile the implication is is not so nice.

 

I think back over the years to how Jill and I have done things that allow us to cruise...

 

One car...two would be great but seldom is it an issue...Jill has it whenever she wants, I do without ;) ....there's $5000+ per year.

 

Don't smoke...drink little...BIG$$$$

 

One child...not so we could afford to cruise. It was a decision based on being able to put a roof over our heads and food on the table...things weren't always as good.

 

House is paid for and we resisted the temptation to build a new home on the lake...wasn't easy, the plans are still in the closet.

 

These are not unique to Jill and I...the point is we all set priorities...we give up what others have, to enjoy this small part of our year.

 

 

"it must be nice"...Indeed it is!!! and I'm through making excuses for it :D !!

[CruisingChick]

Oh my goodness Danno, I thought I was reading about my life.

 

While we do have 2 cars. They are not $30,000+ luxury/suv types, actually they are not even $20,000+ cars. My husband's car will be 11 years old this year (God willing) and mine will be 9. We too only have one son. My husband works two jobs and I work full time outside the home too. If we didn't we couldn't afford to pay the mortgage never mind cruise.

 

While it would be nice to have a brand new car with all the amenities, I'd rather cruise 2 times a year and send my money to Celebrity than the car loan company.

 

Anne Maria

[DUCK33]

same here

 

i work my butt off, mrs d has her business and also works her tail off. when the cruise urge hits, i work as much overtime as humanly possible, book almost a year in advance and thats how we get to enjoy our vactions

 

thats why i get so peeved when we are refered to as snobs and such just because we enjoy the finer things of cruising. we are basicly working stiffs that are willing to sacrifice all year for a week or 2 of pleasure. looking at that in writing....i must be nuts LOL

[excitedofharpenden]

I don't think you are nuts, Duck. I do the same. Wait a minute........... Perhaps we are both nuts!:eek:

 

Phil

[Danno]

....i must be nuts LOL

 

True...sad but true ;) .

[Kathy & George]

Here's to those of us who sacrifice to be able to enjoy our one vice in life...Cruising! Let them all wish they could, while we make our dreams come true.

[jodyrick]

I teach a class at a university one night per week in the fall and spring semesters.. if it were not for that teaching gig, our trips probably would not happen. This year's trip is Celebrity Infinity - 12 days RT San Francisco - Alaska!!! YIPPPEEE

 

Next cruise will probably be late 2006 - exotic caribbean or panama canal 14 day.

[CajunLiner]

I admit, I look at the cruises people list coming up and think, it must be nice...but never in a negative way. I think, where did I go wrong? What should I have majored in in college? :D

 

We (really Justin) do work our tails off to afford the cruise and all the amenities that go with it, just wish we could do it more often!!

 

Donna

[FreesiaE]

I am actually happy that people get such a wonderful chance to cruise, and love to read their reviews! I feel that my time will come (hopefully) where I can retire early and cruise at least once, no make that twice a year. However, much of my future funds is being put in today's IRA's. Let's see; I am 25 now, maybe I'll work 30 more years--is it to early to to start a roll call for a Med. cruise for 2035?

[goouchjac]

"Cruising again....it must be nice".

 

Interesting how those of us who love to cruise tolerate the dreaded "it must be nice"...while it is often offered with a smile the implication is is not so nice.

 

I think back over the years to how Jill and I have done things that allow us to cruise...

 

One car...two would be great but seldom is it an issue...Jill has it whenever she wants, I do without ;) ....there's $5000+ per year.

 

Don't smoke...drink little...BIG$$$$

 

One child...not so we could afford to cruise. It was a decision based on being able to put a roof over our heads and food on the table...things weren't always as good.

 

House is paid for and we resisted the temptation to build a new home on the lake...wasn't easy, the plans are still in the closet.

 

These are not unique to Jill and I...the point is we all set priorities...we give up what others have, to enjoy this small part of our year.

 

 

"it must be nice"...Indeed it is!!! and I'm through making excuses for it :D !!

Don't you just love it when people count your money,,,we also have stuggled and sacrificed and my DH worked very hard in our own business!!took us a long time to get to this stage of our lives,,so you enjoy and poop on those who are "jealous":eek: ..keep on cruisin!!!

[Cruise Junky]

"Cruising again....it must be nice".... Man I hate that comment!!

 

I work with people like that, although it's usually not "Cruising" as we don't do it that often, but we try and vacation a couple of times a year. There's no secret to being able to afford a vacation, you make it a priority in your life like paying the bills. Once it's a priority for you, you work every month towards it. Not many of us can wake up on a Monday morning and think, yeah, I'm going to spend $5,000 on a vacation today. You have to plan for it, save for it and make sacrifices for it. Some people will just never get it.

[alpal1993]

I work every day knowing I have a cruise to pay for,so it is with a cheery attitude that I get up every day.I have a secure job,but pay is nothing to brag about.Most people I work with have never been on a cruise.So proudly I go to the bank each Friday and deposit what ever I have left out of my weekly allowance.DH empties his pockets of change each day and once a month it gets deposited as well.

Was really planning a caribbean cruise this year,but when opportunity arises we grab it.Only 4 months till Scandinavian/Russia cruise June 2.

[mmp13]

amen. Cruising is the reward reaped for a lot of us. If it came too easy it would not mean as much!! (I wouldn't mind if it came a lttle easier:))

[Danno]

amen. Cruising is the reward reaped for a lot of us. If it came too easy it would not mean as much!! (I wouldn't mind if it came a lttle easier:))

 

The most wonderful thing I ever bought...I mean EVER...was an automatic dishwasher...we were poor, we didn't know it, but we were...I saved for over a year and a half to buy us a portable automatic dishwasher, $438.23 (I still remember!!)...OH THE EXTRAVAGANCE :eek: !!!

 

Those were tough, wonderful, times...we survived, and now we cruise for exactly 2.2% of the entire year...and for this I refuse to be anything but delighted for what I have.

[mkk]

Yes..Hate the "must be nice" comment..DH and I are in our early 50's and retired.. we live on very little..but by choice. He worked very hard, planned and saved for 30 years so he could do this. We get the comment all the time about EVERYTHING..cause we have a boat (it's 15 yrs old)..a motorcycle (20 yrs old) and three vehicles (one's 30yrs old..the other two are 5 yrs old)

We take good care of our things and don't replace them til they are beyond fixing. We bought a vacation home in the mtns a few years ago that most people wouldn't have spent the time to burn down but we fixed it up..worked 12 hour days for almost a month..made it liveable and we appreciate it so much more because we put so much of ourselves into it!

We cruise once and sometimes twice a year because we shop for travel bargains all the time and take advantage of them when they occur. We do not live extravagantly the rest of the time.

My comment is "Yes..it IS nice and we earned it!"

[DUCK33]

[ We get the comment all the time about EVERYTHING..cause we have a boat (it's 15 yrs old)..a motorcycle (20 yrs old) and three vehicles (one's 30yrs old..the other two are 5 yrs old)

 

 

ahhh antique collectors.........it must be nice LOL

[Offtune Angel]

We, too, have heard that phrase ad infinitum, especially from adult sibs and sibs-in-law. It REALLY annoys me to hear that phrase and it annoys me even more when I feel I have to justify our pleasure. They forget (or ignore) that:

 

 

• we are ten+ years older than some of them;
  
• we are retired from low-paid but high stress careers;
  
• our kids are adults;
  
• our mortgage is (finally) paid off;
  
• our five year old Neon is fully paid and still runs (our last car lasted eleven years);
  
• we don't visit the Casino once, twice or thrice a month (depending on the sib);
  
• we have never smoked;
  
• we don't play bingo;
  
• we don't buy lottery tickets;
  
• we have enough stressors (ten family funerals last year) and illness in our lives that we need a real break -- not a "weekend at Niagara".
  

Also, we search for the bargains and either book as soon as a cruise is released, or while on board, or through a last minute sell off ($499 CDN for a Balcony for Hawaii was too good to pass up:D)

 

Thanks for starting this topic. I really needed to let off steam:)

[wesp]

Ask me about coupons and leftovers, our 12 year-old car, etc.! And once we're aboard, the onboard account doesn't accumulate much either.

 

Wesley

[hmg]

We're spending our kids' inheritance—and enjoying every minute of it! ;) :rolleyes: :D

[Rustynail]

Whenever we feel the urge to cruise we simply rob a bank. But please don't share this with any cops that may post on CC. :D

[Blazerboy]

I used to get this all the time, because I started cruising in my twenties (Well, I started when I was four, but no one asked how I paid for cruises or crossings then;) - my "Toys 'R Us" Mastercard, I'm sure!)

 

And I say to all now what I said then- "I inherited the money when my grandmother died in a terrible wreck, why do you ask?" It sure stopped a number of conversations. The fact that it's not true doesn't seem to matter (she lived to a very ripe old age, died in her sleep, and left what money she had to my mother and aunt who are in remarkably good health, just so you know:) ).

 

Every once in a while, there's a way to remind people that their manners need a little tweeking. Do I always clip coupons? Do I drive an American econobox? Did I walk three miles uphill in the snow EACH way to school with holes in the soles of my shoes? No, No, and No. But great for you if you did- I honestly admire people who set goals and priorties to get what they want in life. Am I a Rockefeller? Spoon fed with a stering silver tipped mother-of-pearl spoon? A trust fund baby? Again, no, no, and darn it all, no. But some people who did are nice hardworking people, and have some fun stories to tell. Last I checked, none of us owes an explanation to these how-nice-for-you-type people about our vacation choices or how we spend our money. Some cruisers are rich, some aren't- but we all go on a vacation that we've paid for (or will pay for when the credit cards come due)

 

My favorite friends are the ones who hear about my childhood, or hear about a cruise that I'm planning and say "what an interesting way to grow up that must have been" or " Please send us a postcard, we've always wanted to go to___." They then relate stories -about their growing up on a farm in Kansas, or in the military or whatever-which are facinating to me (and I let them know it) and then they tell me what their plans are for the time of year that I'm cruising - "We're driving to my parents' to celebrate their 50th, and then going camping on the St Lawrence." Reply: "How fun, give them my best, and send a postcard from Canada!" And when the shoe's on the other foot, same deal.

 

We each have a story to tell, and all should be VALUED. But by defending ourselves with this "I worked so hard for this, so don't judge me" stuff allows these boors to keep saying the same thing!

 

I (humbly or not) suggest that we make this a forum of appropriate witty succinct (unlike my post) replies to this rude question/statement!:D

 

What say you?

 

Andrew

[Cruise Junky]

Seeing as it's a Her..that I work with that I usually here it from, I could respond that with what I charge for a Friday night and how her husband is such a big tipper, I could afford to vacation at least three times a year. Of course I wouldn't dare, but oh so tempting ;)

[L11]

I agree that this is a stupid and boorish comment. I take at least one long cruise (12 - 14 days) every year. It is absolutely necessary to decompress from my job and spend some 'alone time' with my beloved husband (though the reson is no one's business unless I choose to share it).

 

So, when I am confronted with someone saying 'it must be nice', I simply give them a s**t eating grin and say, 'Yes, it is. Very nice, in fact'. :D

 

Linda

[Danno]

So there you have it...for a complete explaination of why I get so passionate about cruising, and get upset by some of the changes that have been allowed to happen, read the posts above this one.

 

A cruise is not a one week vacation...it's the product of 51 weeks of fatigue, sacrifice, prioritizing, doing without, planning,....

 

The only difference between those of us who cruise and those who don't...we decided to do it!!

Thanks all for restoring my faith...what a great group!!

[Carol Anne]

People ask us all the time how can you cruise so often. We like many of you no longer have children at home. We sold a large home in New England and decided when we moved to Florida that we would resist the temptation to have that barrel tile roof home with the pool and the gated community.We have two Toyota's instead of higher priced cars. As one of you said its a matter of choice. We have a modest home (Modular, and some of the looks we get are just unbelieveable. Imagine those people life in a mobil home!! Well we are living the life and living it well. Its nice to be able to choose 3 or 4 trips a year. We both work stressful jobs and my DH is always traveling which isn't the same on business as for vacation. We also are careful to book early and not get too carried away in the casino.!!

 

The wife of theowner of the company where I work was in just before our cruise to Hawaii. She looked at another owner and said she's going to Hawaii whats wrong with this picture. I smiled and walked away. What was wrong with her picture was her choices for a half million dollar home, two high end cars and heaven knows what else. Life is choices. So she is tied to her big house and I have a really cute small one and all the money I need to cruise as often as I can