"After cruise blues"...is there a cure?

[dexter]

It has been only a week since we got off the Zuiderdam, but both my wife and I are suffering bad withdrawal pains. Can anyone suggest a remedy short of cruising year-round. I have already been on websites looking at cruise prices and my wife keeps shouting at me and reminding me that our credit cards are loaded. God help us.

[Orcrone]

Until I read the entire post my obvious answer was "book another cruise". Sounds like your CC company would love that, but DW might not appreciate the extra debt.

It's not the same, but get the pictures developed and show them to friends and family. It'll help you relive the cruise.

Have the pictures put on a CD or scan them into your computer. You can then put them on the internet. When people ask a question about the ship, ports, etc., you can refer them to the website.

Even if you can't afford to book, have fun reading the boards, investigating cruises, etc.

Take some jello and a blowtorch, set it on fire, run around the kitchen and pretend it's an extravagant flambe desert.:D

[Tatka]

Until I read the entire post my obvious answer was "book another cruise". Sounds like your CC company would love that, but DW might not appreciate the extra debt.
I second "book another cruise"... :D

I am not very happy about debt myself but we only live once...

[lgt]

I wish HAL would do the $100 open booking while on board. It would make getting off the ship a little easier.

[localady]

The finances of cruising is what keeps us setting up our cruises way in advance! I would suggest you look for a cruise that you and your wife really want to take, work to come up with the down payment in cash, and then continue to put money away every month (even if it is just the money you use to go out to lunch or buy coffee) so that you can pay for the cruise prior to it. You can book all the way into 2005, and given a year you might be able to pay down that debt and take another cruise!:cool:

[taszmom]

Isn't it depressing coming back to reality! Just start thinking about planning a new cruise if you don't want to actually make deposit on one. I like the planning part and having something to look forward to. Also, hang out here on the boards. Like everything, in time, It'll get easier.

[jhannah]

Yep, another cruise is the only cure! Sit down now and make a plan. Get that card paid down/off, and as suggested keep putting that money aside in a separate account. It may seem impossible, but before you know it you'll have what you need to book that cruise!

[Nliedel]

I read the boards, look at pictures and plan another cruise.. even if it is a long ways off : )

[DFD1]

Sell the kids! Pawn the jewels! Rob your mother-in-law! and BOOK ANOTHER CRUISE!

In the meantime, start planning, looking at brochures, talking about your next cruise, cut back on things you don't really need, and finally scrape, beg, borrow, or steal enough for the initialy payment. Then replace breakfast, lunch and dinner with peanut butter sandwiches until you get the final payment.

And Finally, Remember the old (but true) saying....."When you get old and look back, it's the things you did NOT do that you regret, not the things you did do."

Best to you both. DFD

[Ziggy7]

It's not the same, but get the pictures developed and show them to friends and family. It'll help you relive the cruise.

Even if you can't afford to book, have fun reading the boards, investigating cruises, etc.
I agree this has helped us, I even booked a mini cruise to help me feel better hehehehe

[the2ofus]

Get those pictures from your cruise on disc and then use them as wallpaper on your computer. Every few days change the picture. I do this and it is amazing what a lift it is when that pic comes on the screen. It's fun to surprise my non-computer-savvy spouse with the magic of those changing scenes. We often comment about what we enjoyed best about the particular port or scene.

Then, start planning that next cruise. You don't need to have money to dream. When the budget says there is money available down the road, get that down-payment paid even a year or more ahead.

Remember, the three keys to longevity..something to look forward to is a biggie. The other two are someone/something to care about (can be people, pets or a cause) and something meaningful to do. May you live long and cruise often!

[barefootguy]

Of course you can plan or book the next cruise... But, until then have your spouse bring you breakfast in bed on the weekends, if you have kids, hang a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the bdrm. door. Do the boards, but then, put a blanket on the floor & watch the cruises on the Travel Channel with some snacks. If you really miss the islands, sprinkle sand on the blanket!:cool:

[ekerr19]

Booking another is the only cure for me! We have two bookings right now, we leave for our next on 11/1/04 - then we have our 3/20/05 waiting in the wings - we have always managed to save enough cash, then book right away before something else interferes.

You might want to look at one of those 0% cards for the first 6-12 months... gives you time to pay it off without interest. :)

[Orcrone]

And Finally, Remember the old (but true) saying....."When you get old and look back, it's the things you did NOT do that you regret, not the things you did do."That may be true when you're old, but not when you're sitting in the back of a police car. But that's a story for another day.:D

[dexter]

Thank you all for the help, except for the "back of the police car" thing. You all apparently have experienced the same malady that I am going through now. Every morning when I arise, my first inclination is to head to the Neptune Lounge for a strong cup of coffee and a warm roll. But, you are all correct... the only cure for the after cruise blues is to book another one. I didn't tell my wife I saw her, but last night she was on the internet looking at cruises. She wants to do a New England/Canada cruise. I could give up the sand and the rum drinks once...maybe.

[Nliedel]

Sell the kids! Pawn the jewels! Rob your mother-in-law! and BOOK ANOTHER CRUISE!

In the meantime, start planning, looking at brochures, talking about your next cruise, cut back on things you don't really need, and finally scrape, beg, borrow, or steal enough for the initialy payment. Then replace breakfast, lunch and dinner with peanut butter sandwiches until you get the final payment.

And Finally, Remember the old (but true) saying....."When you get old and look back, it's the things you did NOT do that you regret, not the things you did do."

Best to you both. DFD
That's the best idea I have heard all day.. Better sell the dog (mine just ate one of my kids toys)..

[RevNeal]

I'm sorry to say this, but the ONLY true cure to the post-cruise blues is the process of searching for, planning, booking, and anticipating the next cruise. It can be a year off, and it still cures the blues knowing that you've got another one on the radar. I last cruised a year ago ... about to go NUTS the last 11 months, but it's been worth it ... I'm not less than 2 weeks away from departure, and am flying HIGH. :)

[dakrewser]

Dexter -


You're in Atlanta, aren't you? This weekend drive to Savannah. Watch the ships go cruising by. More importantly, have your wife watch.

And remember, it only takes $100 down to book a cruise.....

:)

[RuthC]

There's only one sure-cure for the post-cruise blues---you must book another cruise. It can be set to sail a long time from now, but it must be under deposit.
Booster shots are researching ports and planning shore excursions.
(And an occasional shot of your favorite libation.)

[DFD1]

I like the idea of goin' down to Savannah and watchin' the ships go by. I think I might do that myself. If you can't go cruisin' right now, Savannah is a great place to be landlocked.

[kryos]

It has been only a week since we got off the Zuiderdam, but both my wife and I are suffering bad withdrawal pains. Can anyone suggest a remedy short of cruising year-round. I have already been on websites looking at cruise prices and my wife keeps shouting at me and reminding me that our credit cards are loaded. God help us.
Check the websites of the cruise discounters and see if you can afford to book some cheap "quickie" cruises ... 3 or 4-day affairs that won't bust the budget. A few of these spaced out over time could be just the thing to scratch your itch.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

It has been only a week since we got off the Zuiderdam, but both my wife and I are suffering bad withdrawal pains. Can anyone suggest a remedy short of cruising year-round. I have already been on websites looking at cruise prices and my wife keeps shouting at me and reminding me that our credit cards are loaded. God help us.
At least you have a wife to nag you and force you back to reality in terms of finances. My problem is no one to rein me in.

I just found out from my TA that I will definitely qualify for the 25% towards a future cruise that people getting on the Zuiderdam on 9-6 got ... and my lips immediately began smacking. :(

My pocketbook is not in the greatest shape right now either. :(

My work schedule since my return has also gone straight to hell.

No time ... no money. Great combination, huh?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[EbayCruiser]

I thought I was the only one feeling that way! Been back home less than 2 weeks and just can't get back into the swing of things - real bummer! :( Reading the cruise critic boards has helped but it just makes me want to plan another one! :) Anyone want to go to Hawaii????:cool:

[dexter]

Dexter -


You're in Atlanta, aren't you? This weekend drive to Savannah. Watch the ships go cruising by. More importantly, have your wife watch.

And remember, it only takes $100 down to book a cruise.....

:)
Nope... I am in Augusta. The forgotten Georgia city (even though we're the 2nd largest). Watching the ships come in in Savannah isn't really that exciting. Just a few old tankers and freighters...no cruise ships. I love Savannah but I hate the drive down there. So, thanks but that won't work.

[Candy]

You can still book onboard, but there's no agent on board the shorter cruises (less than 10, I think). There is a toll-free number you can call from your cabin to book your next cruise with the usual discounts.

I wish HAL would do the $100 open booking while on board. It would make getting off the ship a little easier.

[CaptData]

Another way to help is book an imaginary cruise. Go looking for a cruise you want in 2006. Put the down payment of the cruise down on your credit card. Every month put more down on the cruise (this is over and above what you normally pay). Soon the cards are paid off. You can then start saving towards your real cruise and not hurt. In a year to 18 months you will have enough to pay for a cruise. Then go look for one and put the real down payment on and go.

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

Although I recall a friend paying for our first cruisehttp://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/redface.gif, as they did not want to go alone,http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/wink.gif (paid him back on shore) and not quite having the money to afford the second one either, we waited several years before cruising again, this time after retiring early. Now we look for the best destination for the next year and purchase early.http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Don't despair, set a date in the future and plan and save to make it happen.http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[HeatherInFlorida]

Once you've got the pictures in your computer, besides using them as wallpaper, you can have them as your screen saver. Sit back and watch the slide show and just dream.