charlielinda Posted December 26, 2018 #1 Share Posted December 26, 2018 I love cruises and I love planning the trips. I find half the fun is the researching. Does anyone else love the process. Yesterday I booked specialty dining; today made air arrangements and got my internet package. After our cruise we’ll be staying for 11 days in Ireland so I have lots more planning to do. Does anyone else loved the planning phases? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bebe08 Posted December 26, 2018 #2 Share Posted December 26, 2018 I sure do 🙂 We have a cruise to Greek Isles Sep 2019 and a cruise to Japan April 2020 booked. Santa heard my wish and got me guidebooks to both for Christmas. I spend hours and hours researching...where to stay before and after, what to see, excursions, dining, reading reviews, etc etc. So much fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted December 26, 2018 #3 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Years ago, before retirement, I loved the planning and anticipation process. Now we are retired and travel often so I have come to absolutely hate the planning as there is so much more of it. First world problems for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen haywood Posted December 27, 2018 #4 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Yes! We had a cruise one year when a hurricane interfered and we honestly weren’t sure we’d be able to go until the day before. I had told myself not to think about it because if we couldn’t go I’d be crushed. When we finally were able to go I felt like the cruise was half the experience it normally was...and it was! Because I’d been deprived of all the pleasant planning and anticipation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuker Posted December 27, 2018 #5 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Love the planning. I'm a retired accountant, so planning details comes easy and willingly. Example: one of the first things I do when planning a new trip is to find out when sunrise and sunset is. You might be surprised how much it varies on a cruise, with the ship moving around and changes in time zones. That way I know the 'window' I have for daytime, 'exploring', beach etc. activities and, if there is port time after dusk (e.g. on an overnight port stay) what time is available for evening partying etc. It's a good way of getting the best out of the time available. Example: we sail into New Orleans for Mardi Gras, arriving at 6:30 pm. Sunset there is 6pm. I am so looking forward to sailing up the Mississippi as day turns to night and the lights and sounds of The French Quarter greet us as we reach the Big Easy. By knowing the time of sunset that day, it makes planning for this treat dead easy and ensures I won't miss it, camera and binoculars in hand. You won't find that listed in the cruise ship's daily program! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlielinda Posted December 27, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Awesome. I’m going to check on sunrise and sunset times right now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted December 27, 2018 #7 Share Posted December 27, 2018 We justify the cost of cruising by the fact there are definitely three different pleasure sensations.... the planning the cruise the memories.... We are serious planners, We generally book as itineraries are released to make the most of the ‘anticipation’ time! We research everything from pre and post cruise hotels to restaurants in ports, airline choices....On ship we know exactly the room we want and even which restaurant we are going to book each night! What a lovely post Charlielinda! Must go and check now how that hotel I fancy for 2020 in Japan is doing on trip advisor.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlielinda Posted December 27, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted December 27, 2018 You made me laugh. Right now I’m sending emails to taxi tours in Liverpool for May of this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted December 27, 2018 #9 Share Posted December 27, 2018 I also love the planning process an it keeps me busy between cruises. Sometimes things don't go as planned and then back to the drawing board. Earlier this year I took a B2B2B from Alaska to Japan and around the island. I had really been looking forward to this cruise and had something booked in every port. I had booked 7 private tours and 2 group tours and all of them required advance payment. We were hit with 2 typhoons and schedules were shifted causing me to cancel all with the exception of 2. Luckily mot were booked through Tours by Local and they have a force major clause in their contract which allowed me to receive a 100% refund. Always good when doing your future planning to make sure you understand the cancellation provisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted December 27, 2018 #10 Share Posted December 27, 2018 18 hours ago, charlielinda said: I love cruises and I love planning the trips. I find half the fun is the researching. Does anyone else love the process. Yesterday I booked specialty dining; today made air arrangements and got my internet package. After our cruise we’ll be staying for 11 days in Ireland so I have lots more planning to do. Does anyone else loved the planning phases? I enjoy the planning, since I am able to vicariously enjoy the trip before it is taken. I plan our land tours, hotels, tours, flights and have no need of a travel agent. For cruises, I tend to plan private tours. Occasionally taking a ship's excursion when the price is close to private tours and the tour I want is long and missing the ship is more a risk. I like to write up detailed cruise reviews of our trips after they are done. If you are planning to visit one of these places, this may help you. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/user/4774Papa/ New England and Eastern Canada http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Melbourne, New Zealand and Explorer of the Seas TransPacific cruise https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=620702&et_cid=3065755&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards 28 drive tour of Wales and England with TA back to Miami https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=599139 Portugal, Douro and part of Spain http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=535267 North Sea and TA http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264272 Black Sea and E. Med http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=228545 British Isles http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221137 Transatlantic http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221136 Australia http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=216863 W. Med NCL Epic http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103808 AMA Rhone River http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103733 Southern Caribbean http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=99934 Spain, Canary Islands and Morocco http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=80907 E. Med and Adriatic, NCL Gem http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=70129 Russia, Kiev and Baltics http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1478384 China http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718320 Alaska, Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Japan and a little bit of China http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Singapore to Dubai http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=501167 South America http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248878 http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94024 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miched Posted December 27, 2018 #11 Share Posted December 27, 2018 14 hours ago, Canuker said: Example: we sail into New Orleans for Mardi Gras, arriving at 6:30 pm. Sunset there is 6pm. I am so looking forward to sailing up the Mississippi as day turns to night and the lights and sounds of The French Quarter greet us as we reach the Big Easy. By knowing the time of sunset that day, it makes planning for this treat dead easy and ensures I won't miss it, camera and binoculars in hand. You won't find that listed in the cruise ship's daily program! The sun rise and sunset is listed every day in the daily paper Happy cruisng 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted December 27, 2018 #12 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Knowing things like sunrise and sunset times can really enhance experiences....When we cruised from Seattle, for example, we booked the space needle to arrive to dine whilst it was still light and we could enjoy the views but then to still be dining and able to then enjoy the night time skyline... We often book Tuscan on S class to enjoy the sun going down.... We do also really track the sun’s path on our cruises to see if port or starboard offers an advantage.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlielinda Posted December 27, 2018 Author #13 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Thank you for the great ideas. I always check on other ships in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marelaine Posted December 27, 2018 #14 Share Posted December 27, 2018 I love cruise planning, starting with researching itineraries and pricing. After I've made my decision, I start looking at pre/post cruise hotels and excursions, do some more research on each port, check out weather histories and forecasts. After booking the cruise, flights, hotels, excursions, I turn my attention to packing, which I enjoy even more than planning. My children are adults who have moved into their own homes. I've turned one of their bedrooms into my packing room. I keep all my summer and travel clothes, travel sized toiletries, accessories, shoes, iron, ironing board and luggage in there. I usually start packing and re-packing 6 -8 weeks prior to the cruise. I guess packing is my hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DENIE Posted December 28, 2018 #15 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I love the planning! Of course, my wife does not....so I usually get free reign there. I just have to have everything "approved" on her end, though (LOL!). But, we have similar tastes, so usually we agree. A few years ago we met another couple through Cruise Critic before taking a Caribbean cruise. They were looking for another couple to share/reduce the price per person. We gladly joined them on 2 private excursions, and have remained good friends to this day. Our friend was experienced at booking private excursions on cruises, and taught me a lot. Today, it is fun to plan our "private tour" adventures, and always get great tour guides! We just booked a Mediterranean cruise, so that will be the next big planning challenge...including booking air! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike981 Posted December 28, 2018 #16 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I do and I don't. I like planning and I feel that I spend more time planning than my wife could because of her job demands. But I don't like the pressure/feeling that I am responsible for a great trip. I have gotten better over the years, but I never lose my nervousness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkswans13 Posted December 28, 2018 #17 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Indeed..Indeed...Love, love, love the planning process!! Such a euphoric feeling. My partner and I have a transatlantic coming up in April on the Edge. The excitement has been enhanced by this brand new ship. Excursions, hotel, air, dining as well as spa treatments have all been booked. Sometimes I research what I have already researched just to make sure I made the right decisions. Besides you always want to have educated/researched backup options. Now the cure for that sad, depressive feeling we sometimes experience at the end of the trip experts say, is to start planning the next vacation immediately...It works!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeahawkSiren Posted December 28, 2018 #18 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I too so love the planning! I have been on several cruises but just booked my first one with Celebrity! I am so excited! And my cruise is not until April 2021. Such a long wait. Ugh! It will be a bucket list cruise though, a Transpacific including Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii. It will also have many at sea days which I am really looking forward to, glorious days just relaxing on the ship watching the ocean. It will also be my longest cruise - 20 days! I cannot wait! I have booked my cabin on Celebrity Solstice and have started researching hotels in Sydney. Have a lot more research to do, including shore excursions, etc. Also have plenty of research to do just with Celebrity in general (dining, spa, etc.) since this is my first Celebrity cruise. I also like to look up what phase the moon will be at during my cruise as I love the way it shimmers on the water! And there will be a full moon during my cruise! (yes, I admit I have already looked at the moon phases for April 2021) 😀 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silkroad Posted December 28, 2018 #19 Share Posted December 28, 2018 This is a great thread! I’m happy to know I’m not alone😉 We too check the path of the sun to decide between port & starboard cabins. We also check sunrise/sunset times before the cruise, in part to decide when to book dining. And yes, we do check the moon phases. I do most of the research and booking, but I need to work around our work schedules. I fantasize about being retired, and being able to book long b2b itineraries. Someday🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdad59 Posted December 28, 2018 #20 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I love doing it. MY gang calls me THE PRINCE OF PLANNING. I really enjoy doing the research. Attached it a copy of our itinerary for our upcoming cruise in February. Each couple gets a laminated version to put up in their cabin, and I also make a pocket sized one for folks to carry in their pocket. Enjoy the planning. I sure do. Itinerary.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted December 28, 2018 #21 Share Posted December 28, 2018 2 hours ago, SeahawkSiren said: I too so love the planning! I have been on several cruises but just booked my first one with Celebrity! I am so excited! And my cruise is not until April 2021. Such a long wait. Ugh! It will be a bucket list cruise though, a Transpacific including Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii. It will also have many at sea days which I am really looking forward to, glorious days just relaxing on the ship watching the ocean. It will also be my longest cruise - 20 days! I cannot wait! I have booked my cabin on Celebrity Solstice and have started researching hotels in Sydney. Have a lot more research to do, including shore excursions, etc. Also have plenty of research to do just with Celebrity in general (dining, spa, etc.) since this is my first Celebrity cruise. I also like to look up what phase the moon will be at during my cruise as I love the way it shimmers on the water! And there will be a full moon during my cruise! (yes, I admit I have already looked at the moon phases for April 2021) 😀 We did a TP as I retired! Best itinerary ever....Planning included finding a little gem of a hotel in Hawaii (Park Shore), snorkelling in Bora Bora and time post cruise in Sydney....The sea days were fantastic too, lots of rest and relaxation, hope you enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoberJulie Posted December 28, 2018 #22 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I too think that the planning portion is every bit as fun as the vacation itself! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamkev Posted December 28, 2018 #23 Share Posted December 28, 2018 18 hours ago, 4774Papa said: I enjoy the planning, since I am able to vicariously enjoy the trip before it is taken. I plan our land tours, hotels, tours, flights and have no need of a travel agent. For cruises, I tend to plan private tours. Occasionally taking a ship's excursion when the price is close to private tours and the tour I want is long and missing the ship is more a risk. I like to write up detailed cruise reviews of our trips after they are done. If you are planning to visit one of these places, this may help you. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/user/4774Papa/ New England and Eastern Canada http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Melbourne, New Zealand and Explorer of the Seas TransPacific cruise https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=620702&et_cid=3065755&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards 28 drive tour of Wales and England with TA back to Miami https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=599139 Portugal, Douro and part of Spain http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=535267 North Sea and TA http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264272 Black Sea and E. Med http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=228545 British Isles http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221137 Transatlantic http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221136 Australia http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=216863 W. Med NCL Epic http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103808 AMA Rhone River http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103733 Southern Caribbean http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=99934 Spain, Canary Islands and Morocco http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=80907 E. Med and Adriatic, NCL Gem http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=70129 Russia, Kiev and Baltics http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1478384 China http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718320 Alaska, Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Japan and a little bit of China http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Singapore to Dubai http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=501167 South America http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248878 http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94024 Would like to see your New England review although when I click on the link it's not available. I'm a planner also have the fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted December 28, 2018 #24 Share Posted December 28, 2018 5 minutes ago, pamkev said: https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamkev Posted December 28, 2018 #25 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Just now, 4774Papa said: https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards Thanks Just now, 4774Papa said: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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