Under twenty days and wish I could cancel.

[Kitt Grey]

:(I don't know why this year I an dreading my annual cruise. This will be my 6th cruise and just want to stay home.

 

I am going with two friends and know once we get there we will have a good time but have little enthusiam for the trip.

 

Normally I would be bouncing off the walls by now and have drawn up packing lists and all. I hope my excitement show up soon cause the pre cruise excitement is all part of the package for me.

[happy cruzin]

YIKES!! :( I wish you a BIG dose of "cruise fever" soon!! ;)

[j603]

Hang in there. I felt the same way last summer about my annual trip to Disney World. I was so bummed I just wasn't into it. I think I was just so overwhelmed at the time. But low and behold it hit me full-forced about 2 weeks out. Then it just couldn't get here fast enough. I wish the same to you. Hang in there and just think of the lounge chair near the pool that has YOUR name on it. :) Best wishes and have a great trip!

[Kitt Grey]

I have my books ready to pack and excusiona booked so maybe tomorrow I will be more excited.

[SkyMaster]

VALOR is a GREAT ship, and I know you'll have a super time once aboard. Sometimes it's hard to get "revved up" for a cruise, or any other activity, but hang in there. You're going to have a wonderful time.

 

"SKY"

[mandms40]

I do know what you mean, we leave for our cruise the 12th, and something just doesnt feel right. I have started to pack, but dh just has his suitcase out. Usually, Im boucing off the walls, but not this year. I hope it gets better!

 

Sandra

[MSRussell]

Your emotions probably have to take a 'time out' after all the hectic Holidays. I'll bet in another week or so, you will be back to normal.

Melanie

[LynneL]

Your emotions probably have to take a 'time out' after all the hectic Holidays. I'll bet in another week or so, you will be back to normal.

Melanie

 

MSRussell probably right, but have no fear if in a week you are still not bouncing off the walls. I am leaving in a few days on my cruise. We usually go in the summer and with another family (not the case this time), so in my head, it just doesn't seem like I'm going. I am almost all packed, nagging my kids to get their stuff together, etc. However, I look out & see mounds of snow, I'm still trying to put away decorations/gifts from Christmas, get my returns done, know I have to get set for work tomorrow after being off all week....a cruise just doesn't seem to really be in the horizon. I know once I hit that hotel in Florida and am wearing my sandels, I will be so excited about the cruise. Sometimes immediate life is just too busy to get excited about future things.

 

Kitt - I did notice you used the word dread when referring to your cruise. For some people the holidays can be a bit depressing - either the leading up to or the let down after. If you are one of the many people that does get a bit of the holiday blues or out & out depressed, that could be the reason too. Even more of a reason to go with your friends & you can just kick back, relax & regroup.

[richfret]

Oh my goodness, you have caught a horrible desease call "Nervouses Cruiseites". It's when your nevous system completely breaks down and you become listless and lethargic just before a cruise. It has been studied for years and little is known of the desease except that it is believed that the cause is extreme excitement and expectation, mixed with frustration and anxiety. Be careful not to spread this desease to others cruisers.

 

Fortunately, there is a cure. You need to spend several hours each day and deligently follow Cruise Critic. Go to your picture albums and review all your cruise pictures. Watch the Travel Channel for cruise videos. Finally, take two aspirins.

 

Naturally, there will be a slight charge for this advice which may or may not be covered by your health insurance or Medicare. After you finish your cruise, I am quite sure you will thank me for the advice.

[kerrytens]

:(I don't know why this year I an dreading my annual cruise. This will be my 6th cruise and just want to stay home.

 

I am going with two friends and know once we get there we will have a good time but have little enthusiam for the trip.

 

Normally I would be bouncing off the walls by now and have drawn up packing lists and all. I hope my excitement show up soon cause the pre cruise excitement is all part of the package for me.

Kitt, I hope the thought of the cruise you (we, actually since I was onboard the Destiny too on the 16th cruise) had last January isn't the reason for the lack of excitement. If it has any part in it, forget about it. Time for new memories and smooth sailings too:D

 

I'm sure the excitement will hit you soon. Go and enjoy.

[evandbob]

:(I don't know why this year I an dreading my annual cruise. This will be my 6th cruise and just want to stay home.

 

I am going with two friends and know once we get there we will have a good time but have little enthusiam for the trip.

 

Normally I would be bouncing off the walls by now and have drawn up packing lists and all. I hope my excitement show up soon cause the pre cruise excitement is all part of the package for me.

 

 

I do hope you post after your cruise and let us know if your out look changed. "Dreading" a cruise or any vacation, especially post holiday, can be a signal that something else is not quite right in one's life. Hopefully, the cruise will change your emotional outlook. If not, there's help available for depression - it's there if you need it.

[megmno]

For me, the "dread" part of pre-vacation is realizing I have a ton of things to do before I can leave. I own a small business that is very deadline oriented, so I have to do a lot of work in preparation for vacation so our staff can complete it while I'm away. I usually end up working about 50% more hours the week before we leave. And then there's packing and arranging for stuff like pet care.

 

What I do to reduce the anxiety is make lists -- a lot of lists -- in a little notebook. I called it the List Of Lists last year. I feel like if I have it written down I can get my head around it better and as I check stuff off as "done" it provides a lot of relief.

 

The final item on my "to do lists" is to have a DOD after embarkation. Then I can put away my little notebook and relax :D

[Froufie]

I too have suffered from this 'disease' as mentioned by Rich! :).

 

I do all the planning/reading/arrangements and am so excited getting this all taken care of and researching hotels, excursions, transportaiton, etc. Then something happens!

 

(and I feel it coming on now). I am curently a month away from my cruise and I feell like - ya okay so I'm going on a cruise - big deal....the excitement seems to have vanished? The suitcases came up yesterday and is in the den ready for packing along with a few things that I drop off now and again as I think of them. It does seem so overwhemling to get everything organized, clothes packed, lists checked, details taken care of etc that I feel like I don't want to go anymore!

 

I know and hope that this will change as I get closer to takeoff. I think I 'used' up alot of my excitement in the planning stages so I am 'empty' right now - need to make some 'deposits' and get ready to have a great time. Just getting away from the cold and snow usually gets me going and I hope you too find the excitement again and enjoy that cruise! :D:D

[Unknotted]

Your emotions probably have to take a 'time out' after all the hectic Holidays. I'll bet in another week or so, you will be back to normal.

Melanie

 

 

This is just what I was thinking too. I see you've cruised shortly after the holidays before, but maybe this year it hit you a little different from years past. You are kinda stuck going now...so just roll with the flow and you'll most likely feel the excitement soon.

[drsb]

I understand completely, as I am going through a similar situation, but I have time. My cruise on the Valor isn't until April. Part of the problem is that is is "same ol' same ol" and no one I am going with is excited. I am trying to talk up excursions or beaches to go to and I get no feedback. So I have decided to find stuff that I want to do and book it and if they want to tag along they can. I am also cruising with family members that I have not cruised with before so part of the anxiety is that.

 

I hope you have fun once you are there and let me know what you did so I can consider it for my trip!

[brooklynfc]

Ever get so excited about a vacation and have all these wonderful ideas of how its going to be and when you get there......it can't meet your expectations?

 

Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe you aren't expecting a great time and then you will have the best cruise EVER!

 

The other thing is...when I need a little cruise excitement. I go somewhere quiet where the real world can't distract me and I look on cruise critic and on youtube for videos of my ship. Then I let my memory take over.

 

I close my eyes are remember walking on the ship and the way the ships have that sunscreen and chlorine kinda smell (at least to me).

 

And I picture going up to the bar and ordering my fav. DOD and remember how it taste.

 

I think about walking on the main deck, the way the doors open and the warm air comes into the AC and washes over you.

I feel the excitement of all the people around on the deck and in the dining room.

 

I remember walking into my room for the first time, knowing this will be my home for 7 days and I don't have to lift a finger to clean it. (This time I will get to walk out onto a balcony for the first time)

 

Then, I breeze through muster and hurry to grab my camera and DOD and find a perfect space to watch us sail away from reality for a week.

 

Then the excitement of figuring out what your MDR table will be like and choosing from all those delicious dishes and knowing you don't have to wash any of them.

 

You can't forget the Welcome Aboard show and then your choice of Piano Bar, Disco, or laying some money down in the casino.

 

Finally, Getting back to your room and getting into those soft comfy Carnival beds, freshly made and turned down for you and falling asleep to the slight rocking of the ocean after a totally........get this......ONLY FIRST DAY!

 

Well, I think I've made myself excited........hope I helped you too. :D

[monkeyates]

The image in my mind of seeing the ship I am about to board works for me.

[FreezingInMichigan]

:(I don't know why this year I an dreading my annual cruise. This will be my 6th cruise and just want to stay home.

 

I am going with two friends and know once we get there we will have a good time but have little enthusiam for the trip.

 

Normally I would be bouncing off the walls by now and have drawn up packing lists and all. I hope my excitement show up soon cause the pre cruise excitement is all part of the package for me.

 

Perhaps this holiday season was different than years past and it's having an impact on your pre-cruise excitement? Are you going with same/different people? Having previously lived in Elkhart myself, I can understand the desire to get to warm Caribbean water ASAP in January. Hopefully your enthusiasm makes it debut soon. If not, head for the port and let the sound of the ocean on a warm sea day work its magic. :)

[nytraveller53]

The Valor really is amazing. Please try to stay positive, is it because you are with family?

 

BTW, I'll gladly take your ticket if you decide not to go!;):D

[eastcoastbaby]

I hope that you feel better. We booked our first cruise in october and are a week out I honestly didn't get excited until I was 2 weeks out .I was so stressed out about packing plans and anxiety about the cruise and excursions and worrying that I won't have a good time because of motion sickness. I think you might just need some down time from the hectic holidays .. Take a breather and I'm sure once you get on the ship and realize you're on vacation you'll be fine.

[Rocknsoul]

For our cruise a few weeks ago, I honestly did not get excited until we were in the car driving to NOLA. Now that we've gone, I won't book a cruise that week again, but even though the weather was colder than we would have liked it, we really had a great time.

 

I also won't likely book another cruise without my kids, which had some part of why I wasn't as excited to go. I've hit that tipping point where everything I do makes me think of how much they would like it, too. DH & I had a fantastic time together, and we'll still do a getaway each year, but our next alone time won't likely be on a cruise ship.

[peptobysmol]

HA, hard for me to feel sorry for you. Come on, your going on a cruise! Something that so many people have never had the opportunity to do even once. Imagine if it is the last cruise you'll ever get to take. Hope your "mood" leaves you soon! good luck!

[Kitt Grey]

Oh my goodness, you have caught a horrible desease call "Nervouses Cruiseites". It's when your nevous system completely breaks down and you become listless and lethargic just before a cruise. It has been studied for years and little is known of the desease except that it is believed that the cause is extreme excitement and expectation, mixed with frustration and anxiety. Be careful not to spread this desease to others cruisers.

 

Fortunately, there is a cure. You need to spend several hours each day and deligently follow Cruise Critic. Go to your picture albums and review all your cruise pictures. Watch the Travel Channel for cruise videos. Finally, take two aspirins.

 

Naturally, there will be a slight charge for this advice which may or may not be covered by your health insurance or Medicare. After you finish your cruise, I am quite sure you will thank me for the advice.

 

 

Ok this one did get a chuckle out of me.

[happy cruzin]

This is just what I was thinking too. I see you've cruised shortly after the holidays before, but maybe this year it hit you a little different from years past. You are kinda stuck going now...so just roll with the flow and you'll most likely feel the excitement soon.

 

Funny that you would mention that!

 

We typically cruise the first week of February - but could not pass up the new Miracle itinerary so we booked for January 22nd. With all of the hubbub of the holidays I feel like it really has snuck up on me :o!! I do not have things together - like I normally do.....but I am getting there ;).

[j603]

For our cruise a few weeks ago, I honestly did not get excited until we were in the car driving to NOLA. Now that we've gone, I won't book a cruise that week again, but even though the weather was colder than we would have liked it, we really had a great time.

 

I also won't likely book another cruise without my kids, which had some part of why I wasn't as excited to go. I've hit that tipping point where everything I do makes me think of how much they would like it, too. DH & I had a fantastic time together, and we'll still do a getaway each year, but our next alone time won't likely be on a cruise ship.

 

I know how you feel. I was so happy my DS, 11, decided to give cruising another try. The last 2 cruises without him weren't as fun as I was picturing them to be. (Don't get me wrong. They were both definitely fun though.)