How long to book all parties for Thanksgiving

[protocrone]

Hub and I are already booked for a cruise over Thanksgiving; my grown children and sister and her husband have decided they would like to do it with us. They will be flying from various locations on the West Coast to FLL. Sister and her hub will book a cabin, daughter and her friend will book a cabin and son is traveling solo. One of the couples will gladly let him share a cabin but they are all slaking off thinking they have LOTS of time.

I'm getting nervous since when I go on cruise sites to see prices, the lower priced cabins that my kids would be able to afford are going fast.

I know I just need to relax and let them work it out since they're all adults but I'm worried that if they wait too long there will be nothing available.

Since we're Mariner status should we step in and just reserve the cabins and let them decide who goes where or would I need everyone's info before I could do that?

Hate being such a worry-er.

[CtheW0rld]

if you are paying, go ahead and reserve the cabins. put whoever in whatever cabin, then sort it out when you get on the ship. you will have to put the deposit down immediately upon booking.

[CowPrincess]

I now refuse to be a travel agent for people who can't be bothered to look after themselves. My new motto re people joining me on cruises is "if you snooze, you lose" and I will not listen to them kvetch about higher prices, less availability, poorer exchange rate, blah blah blah.

These people are adults. They need to act as such :) (Sorry if I'm sounding harsh -- I have just recently experienced this, and will not put myself thru it again)

Send out an e-mail to everyone involved, saying "the cabins appear to be selling quite well, if you still want to join us please make your booking right away". JMHO YMMV

[kazu]

I now refuse to be a travel agent for people who can't be bothered to look after themselves. My new motto re people joining me on cruises is "if you snooze, you lose" and I will not listen to them kvetch about higher prices, less availability, poorer exchange rate, blah blah blah.

These people are adults. They need to act as such :) (Sorry if I'm sounding harsh -- I have just recently experienced this, and will not put myself thru it again)

Send out an e-mail to everyone involved, saying "the cabins appear to be selling quite well, if you still want to join us please make your booking right away". JMHO YMMV

I admire you Cow Princess - but it's easier said than done - especially when you want them to join you on the cruise - and you may not want to go or feel it is ruined if one of them isn't there.:eek:

But if people put it off or decide to take chances, I don't want to hear and won't worry about complaints about their cabin choice, etc. either;)

Some people plan and some people don't. It's a fact of life. I agree, don't blame me if you didn't.:)

[CowPrincess]

I admire you Cow Princess - but it's easier said than done - especially when you want them to join you on the cruise - and you may not want to go or feel it is ruined if one of them isn't there.:eek:

But if people put it off or decide to take chances, I don't want to hear and won't worry about complaints about their cabin choice, etc. either;)

Some people plan and some people don't. It's a fact of life. I agree, don't blame me if you didn't.:)

I guess I am letting my current frustration show :D However, that said, if someone ends up not on the cruise, I'm fine with that. I understand that with family, it is different.

I've been trying to organize 5 people re: a cruise I'm taking without DH. Only one has made a decision (isn't going to join me because she is going to the Med); the others are all oh-so-interested and oh-wanna-go-on-the-cruise, but thus far, not one of them has booked. I know that if I got their credit card #s, they'd be happy to have me book their cabins. Uh, no. I've enabled their disorganization and refusal to commit for long enough :D

I've now washed my hands of it -- "here's the phone # to call when you decide to book your cabin, and this is the date and ship." I'm going. With or without accomplices ;)

[protocrone]

Wow, I sure stirred up some emotions there. I'm not paying for anyone- but probably helping my son since he's not so well off that he can afford HAL and a cross country flight.

I've been sending email updates a couple times a week plus trying to get firm plans when we phone each other. Sister is chairing a big home/garden show in Seattle so hasn't been giving it her undivided attention; daughter just returned from 10 days on Cayman Islands with boyfriend. Son is actually getting his passport since he's never traveled out of country before. I was never a helicopter parent so I don't want to do that now that they're in their 30's. My sister, who is richer than God, said she'd help pay the kids portion so I think they may all be waiting for her to organize. (She is the organizer type that's why she's doing the home/garden show.)

So anyhoo- sorry to give you the story of my dysfunctional family. Just wanting a little support and help calming my nerves :o

It will all work out the way that it's supposed to...

[vbmom87]

I've now washed my hands of it -- "here's the phone # to call when you decide to book your cabin, and this is the date and ship." I'm going. With or without accomplices ;)

I so wish I could be like that. Maybe I will learn someday.

Thing is the person I book for, never complains if flights are higher, cruise is higher, etc. It is just I do tire of being everyone's personal TA. They are grateful and generous to me, but I just don't want the job. ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanksgiving is a popular week for cruising.

If they don't book soon -- they will be disappointed.

And you should not book cabins for them -- they have to get on the ball and do it themselves if they really want to go.

good luck

[kazu]

Wow, I sure stirred up some emotions there. I'm not paying for anyone- but probably helping my son since he's not so well off that he can afford HAL and a cross country flight.

I've been sending email updates a couple times a week plus trying to get firm plans when we phone each other. Sister is chairing a big home/garden show in Seattle so hasn't been giving it her undivided attention; daughter just returned from 10 days on Cayman Islands with boyfriend. Son is actually getting his passport since he's never traveled out of country before. I was never a helicopter parent so I don't want to do that now that they're in their 30's. My sister, who is richer than God, said she'd help pay the kids portion so I think they may all be waiting for her to organize. (She is the organizer type that's why she's doing the home/garden show.)

So anyhoo- sorry to give you the story of my dysfunctional family. Just wanting a little support and help calming my nerves :o

It will all work out the way that it's supposed to...

Mary Beth, it sounds to me like you are doing what can be done. If your sister is the organizer, I would dash her off an email or phone her, even though she's busy, explain that you have been on the boards and the cruise may be sold out because of the timing.

Perhaps that will spur her to action:)

Good luck, I'm sure you will all have a great cruise :)

[m steve]

I told my daughter and SIL to schedule the week as a vacation from their jobs and make the flight reservations now. If I waited until they make up their minds, it wouldn't happen.