Do you savor the process?

[Lesinindy]

Was just looking at the boards and found myself wandering in thought. There is something about a cruise vacation that is not like any other vacation you can do. I have noticed that I tend to do things almost the same way every time.
1. I search endlessly to for a cruise that fits the time and place that I want.
2. Go over and over the sites to see the best cabins and ships.
3. Finally find a cruise that is affordable and the move up a notch in price:)
4. Compare other lines and where they will be when I am on-board.
5. Start looking for excursions.
6. Have dreams about tropical beaches and half naked persons (trying to be PC)
7. Search out photos of the ship and cabin I am going on (looking good so far)
8. For a winter cruise, I tend to go outside and sneer at the weather.
9. Begin to stretch the old abdominal muscles to accommodate the extra food.
10. Set up my tanning sessions with the appropriate music on the Ipod.
11. Enjoy the cold weather because in a little over a month I am outta here!
12. Locate those Rum Runners I had from last year (Hey times are tough all over).
13. Make nasty notes on my work schedule, things like, 02/01/10 nurse sunburn while drinking gin and tonic at sea. Folks that have access to my calendar like those entries (yeah right).
14. Spend more time on CC than I should
15. Work on my best "anti chair hogging methods". I especially like the lost and found method, find lost articles left on chairs and turn them in!!!
15. Diet over the holidays. This always gets a raised eyebrow.

Bottom line, this is the most wonderful time of the year!

[CowPrincess]

I totally agree Lesinindy. Planning, researching, comparing, all helps extend the cruise for me. While a year may go by between cruises, I can still enjoy everything else associated with cruising. On the other hand, DH doesn't care about any of the pre-cruise stuff, just when to be packed and how much money he needs.

[suse]

yes

[knitlady037]

Great minds think alike;)

[fann1sh]

Ditto.

If I could cruise as often as I liked, perhaps I'd spend less time on CruiseCritic. But, I get my vicarious fun out of helping people plan, decide which cabin for their budget, etc, etc. :)

[PathfinderEss]

I concur with you both...........

[CowPrincess]

quickly off topic: Fann1sh, did you get the e-mail I sent you?

[cb at sea]

I do pretty much the same thing with ANY vacation....(and I only vacation in WARM locations!!)...I plan, I dream, I pre-tan, I gloat to co-workers, family and friends.....any vacation (not just a cruise) is an EVENT!!!!

[fann1sh]

quickly off topic: Fann1sh, did you get the e-mail I sent you?

Not until you nudged me, and I checked my other email. Reply on its way!

We now resume regular programming...

[shandryl]

I hear ya!! I do the same things too!! Love every minute of it!! :)

[sevenseasnomad]

Other than actually being on the ship, the best part of a cruise is a-n-t-i-c-i-p-a-t-i-o-n. We do a lot of it on CC, living vicariously through the reviews here, live posts from ships, reading about the ports-of-call and CC members' advice. Then comes the planning. Delicious fun! We have lots of time to anticipate, since we book so far in advance.

Love of every minute of it!:)

[debshomespun]

I get obsessive over planning our cruises. Then I spend waaaayyyyyyy too much time on CC researching for info.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Yup, I savor the process. Planning is half the fun!