gracefamilyvacation
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2010
I am a Disney Cruise fan. (One of my husband's worst decisions as now I go every chance I get.) To think of what we spent. We did a 7 night couple only cruse once that cost 2500 for air and everything. We did a 5 night around New Years with 4 kids for I think 1200 total for two staterooms not including air and all. (Disney was not selling a 10 night at New Years then in late fall they split it and we found the amazing deal.) We also did two Kids Sail Free back in the day when Disney tried Kids Sail Free. We also never cruised peak summer or holidays. And I found lately (well, last 4 trips) last min deals are pretty good.
My last cruise was Sep before Covid and I took our then 11, 12, 9mo (who is now the almost 4yr), and the kids 12 yr old friend. SO stayed behind. He has to schedule vacation a year out which does not always work for my job (or for special pricing).
With 13 cruises in 14 years under my belt I am really in need of some cruise time. So I am leaving SO, 14 yr, 13 yr old behind. They have school and work commits. (And to be fair it is much cheaper without them.) It will be me, a 10 mo, and an almost 4yr on a back to back.
I get 8 weeks full pay parental leave. Much needed as my husband and I each work 55+ hr weeks and worked all through Covid. I only got 7 weeks off when I had the baby. I started my 8 weeks the 1st of October and have to complete by Dec 15th. So not much flexibility on when I can take it (see, another reason to leave those guys behind. Haha, whatever it takes)
I booked the second leg first at 25 days out. Booked the first cruise (as it falls before the one I originally booked) 8 days out. More on that in a min.
So here I am, booked and paid for. Second day of my leave and the 3yr jumps off sofa and breaks his arm. Okay, no worries. We got a waterproof cast. Not ideal but we will make this work.
Then 6 days later I have emergency gallbladder removal. Geeze, I go on a cruise in two weeks by myself with two kids. Dr assured me I will be fine. So instead of two days at Disney World and a rental car after a recent surgery; logic seemed to add a 4 day cruise instead. Thus the back to back.
My last cruise was Sep before Covid and I took our then 11, 12, 9mo (who is now the almost 4yr), and the kids 12 yr old friend. SO stayed behind. He has to schedule vacation a year out which does not always work for my job (or for special pricing).
With 13 cruises in 14 years under my belt I am really in need of some cruise time. So I am leaving SO, 14 yr, 13 yr old behind. They have school and work commits. (And to be fair it is much cheaper without them.) It will be me, a 10 mo, and an almost 4yr on a back to back.
I get 8 weeks full pay parental leave. Much needed as my husband and I each work 55+ hr weeks and worked all through Covid. I only got 7 weeks off when I had the baby. I started my 8 weeks the 1st of October and have to complete by Dec 15th. So not much flexibility on when I can take it (see, another reason to leave those guys behind. Haha, whatever it takes)
I booked the second leg first at 25 days out. Booked the first cruise (as it falls before the one I originally booked) 8 days out. More on that in a min.
So here I am, booked and paid for. Second day of my leave and the 3yr jumps off sofa and breaks his arm. Okay, no worries. We got a waterproof cast. Not ideal but we will make this work.
Then 6 days later I have emergency gallbladder removal. Geeze, I go on a cruise in two weeks by myself with two kids. Dr assured me I will be fine. So instead of two days at Disney World and a rental car after a recent surgery; logic seemed to add a 4 day cruise instead. Thus the back to back.