Long-term cruise planning

[Sayyadina]

I was wondering how everyone planned for cruises....that haven't been announced yet. For example, my hubby and I will be having our 10th anniversary in 2011, and we want to do a foreign cruise. I was wondering if most people:

 

a) Just sock money away and wait for the itineraries to eventually be announced,

 

or

 

b) Try to figure out cruise itineraries based on where ships are going now, and plan/hope for them.

 

I was just wondering if there is any reason to do the latter, I guess. :p

 

Or do people do it another way?

[jhannah]

I would say both. Look at current sailings and those for next year to get an idea of which itineraries would meet your needs. See how much they cost. Then up that by 10% and start saving. Nothing's as fun to plan for as a cruise, IMO. Especially one marking such a wonderful life milestone!

[Old As Dirt Mom]

I was wondering how everyone planned for cruises....that haven't been announced yet. For example, my hubby and I will be having our 10th anniversary in 2011, and we want to do a foreign cruise. I was wondering if most people:

 

a) Just sock money away and wait for the itineraries to eventually be announced,

 

or

 

b) Try to figure out cruise itineraries based on where ships are going now, and plan/hope for them.

 

I was just wondering if there is any reason to do the latter, I guess. :p

 

Or do people do it another way?

 

Some possible ideas, which may apply to you or not:

 

Keep your eyes glued to Cruise Critic, and to the news department of each cruise line's website, so that you'll be the first to know of a new itinerary!:) Having a savvy travel agent helps, too, or using agencies that have a special relationship with certain cruise lines, which means they get first dibs on upcoming itineraries. That's how we booked our big cruise next year to the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia. I spent a lot of time researching, and keeping myself informed about upcoming itineraries. As soon as I read about our cruise being available for the wait list, even though there wasn't anything concrete such as pricing or specific port info, we put our names on the waiting list for the cruise we wanted with our travel agent, and as soon as the itinerary was available for booking, we jumped on it! Financially, get your debt ratio down, pay off any lines of credit, loans, credit cards, etc. Start a cruise savings account.

 

Good luck, and have fun!

[user8]

Regardless of how you select a cruise, you have to have the money when you decide to book. With that being said, DW and I have established a 'Travel' money market account and contribute to it every month. We put all unexpected, or special money we receive into the account as well as interest from other savings, It is fun watching the account grow and when a trip comes up, we usually already have the money saved up for it. And its a good feeling!

[kakalina]

We also have a "cruising account". I just wished it filled up faster.

 

When we want a cruise that is that far out we also put in a request to our PCC to put us on the waitlist until it is available for booking. The only time we had a problem was when it was re booked for a price drop and we lost our on board booking credit.

[btobey]

Interesting question! Right now, DH and I are on a 5-year cruise plan--we cruised for our honeymoon, are sailing this weekend for our 5-year anniversary (okay, so our anniversary isn't until June--so me a ship that goes through Panama then! :p ), and will likely do another cruise in 2013 to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. However, we didn't start thinking about this cruise until about 1 year ahead of time, so I expect that the same will be true in the future.

[Copper10-8]

Some itineraries (certain European, Mexican, Carib, Panama Canal, etc. - Alaska is pretty much the same every year) return every year so you can pretty much look at the 2008 or 2009 (yes, it's out) HAL cruise planner, pick an area you are interested in, and make the reservation as soon as it's openend up.

[localady]

I am also one of those pre-planners. :D We have already booked an amazing 2009 itinerary and now we are working toward paying for it. Told my husband I was going to get a teeshirt that says "Will work to Cruise!":D

[Copper10-8]

I am also one of those pre-planners. :D We have already booked an amazing 2009 itinerary and now we are working toward paying for it. Told my husband I was going to get a teeshirt that says "Will work to Cruise!":D

 

28 Days Venice to FLL - Awesome!! :) I'm envious! Come on as pax, roll of as cargo;)

[Northshorecruisers]

I was so happy to see this thread...until now I thought I was a little off with my excessive planning and spreadsheets! I am currently trying to anticipate where HAL will be sailing in Jan 2010.

[localady]

28 Days Venice to FLL - Awesome!! :) I'm envious! Come on as pax, roll of as cargo;)

 

John-

LOL. We hope that all the walking will allow us to debark none the more cargo like!:p

I notice you and Maria will be rolling with us for the first part of the trip! You picked a fabulous itinerary IMHO! ;)

[savannahgirl1]

Interesting question! Right now, DH and I are on a 5-year cruise plan--we cruised for our honeymoon, are sailing this weekend for our 5-year anniversary (okay, so our anniversary isn't until June--so me a ship that goes through Panama then! :p ), and will likely do another cruise in 2013 to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. However, we didn't start thinking about this cruise until about 1 year ahead of time, so I expect that the same will be true in the future.

 

This is exactly what my husband and I did. Except it was for our 10th anniversary, also in June. Last February (2007) We booked our Panama Canal

cruise for this past March and now we are looking for the 2010 schedule to come out. That way we can start saving for it. By the way, congratulations on your anniversary. You are going to LOVE the Canal cruise. It was amazing. :D

[Copper10-8]

John-

LOL. We hope that all the walking will allow us to debark none the more cargo like!:p

I notice you and Maria will be rolling with us for the first part of the trip! You picked a fabulous itinerary IMHO! ;)

 

Dummy me didn't even notice that! Wow, two cruises with the localady in one year on the same ship! Should be a great time! We're looking forward to it - First round of Wang Wang's is on me:)

[sassyredhat]

Well, I'm joining the "obsessive" group !

I booked the Team Splendor April 26, 2009 cruise back in Oct. 2007. :p

 

We just came back from a cruise, and now that I only have one booked, I'm getting nervous.

 

My TA is waiting to compare 2 lines to get a good price, so I know that if I just calm down, she will take care of everything. :)

 

Pat

[localady]

Dummy me didn't even notice that! Wow, two cruises with the localady in one year on the same ship! Should be a great time! We're looking forward to it - First round of Wang Wang's is on me:)

 

Bob and I are also thrilled to be cruising with the great Copper John and his child bride twice in one year!!:D

Maybe we could call the Yummers do the Med, Version 2.5 ! ;)

[Copper10-8]

John-

LOL. We hope that all the walking will allow us to debark none the more cargo like!:p

I notice you and Maria will be rolling with us for the first part of the trip! You picked a fabulous itinerary IMHO! ;)

 

Hey. I'm heading your way in about two and a half weeks - L.A. to Sacramento in a convoy of about 120 police cars from all over southern and central California for the Cal. Peace Officer Memorial ceremony at the state capitol

[GAJE]

Middle-aged Mom: What is this "wait list" you are talking about? It this through your TA, independent of HAL, or through HAL? We also like to do LONG TERM planning and booking! Thanks! Betty

[Sayyadina]

I was so happy to see this thread...until now I thought I was a little off with my excessive planning and spreadsheets! I am currently trying to anticipate where HAL will be sailing in Jan 2010.

 

Oh, good - I thought it was just me! I did a spreadsheet when I was trying to narrow down where to go (and which cruise line to go with) for our first cruise.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Middle-aged Mom: What is this "wait list" you are talking about? It this through your TA, independent of HAL, or through HAL? We also like to do LONG TERM planning and booking! Thanks! Betty

 

Gaje, sorry I didn't see your question until today. If you work with a travel agent who has a good working relationship with HAL's sales office, you can ask to be put on a waiting list for a cruise that has been presented or offered by HAL, but that doesn't yet have a price list or specific itinerary. You put down $100 per person, and that guarantees that you will be among the first to be notified by HAL thru your travel agent when the particular itinerary you want is available for booking. You can also work directly with HAL, I would assume. There are cruise "specialists" who advertise here on the HAL board who have such a close relationship with HAL. They are already accepting requests for the wait-list for the 2010 World Voyage, for example. Hope my response addresses your question:)

 

ps Just want to add that my knowledge of how the cruise industry works is limited at best, so please keep in mind that the info here is based on my experiences only, and there may be a bigger picture involved of which I am ignorant. I am fortunate to work with an experienced and professional travel agent who does a lot of the leg work for me.

[british betty]

We've booked for September 2009, ( but on Celebrity ), however, we only have to wait till December for our first HAL trip .:D

[GAJE]

Middle-aged Mom: Your response helps. I'll contact my TA Monday. Thanks a lot!!