mom2mybugs

Sadly, pet care complicates long cruises during retirement. If you anticipate extensive travel, avoid getting a new pet. Or move next to a family with responsible kids...

we are right there at 4 years. But we have been lucky enough to have good vacation benefits. So have done a lot of cruises the last couple of years. 

We lost our fur baby back in June. Six months on and I'm still devastated. We won't be getting another. It's just too painful when you have to say goodbye. 🥺
But I agree that we would never be away for more than two weeks at a time when we had her.

Six years to go.  Just moved to Margaritaville in anticipation.  

8 still for me, but being under 10 is a win!!

Retired 2 years ago.  I highly recommend it 

I echo your thoughts! Just under 4 years for me. The countdown is on! 😂

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

Oh I hate but am so glad to see this thread. Our vet is sending emails and cancelling pets with Santa over this illness.  I am panicking!   We have covered our weekend in Jan with a friend but I'm totally freaking over March and June!  Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

I have at least 5 years to go, maybe 10, but it is so fun to see 15-29 day cruises offered!!!   Gotta have something to get us through the long Midwest winter!!!!!   Jane

The forgotten new Royal Caribbean cruise ship: Why Odyssey of the Seas is worth your attention

I've had 16 cruises on Q class and they remain a favorite of mine.  There is a lot I like about them but also they tend to have more memorable itineraries, at least some times.  Alaska, Hawaii, New Zealand, Greece, Norway, etc.  
I think they can be less in the forethought for US cruisers because this class spends a lot of time outside of the US. 
Most fly-to-cruise guests wouldn't think about flying to Bayonne to take a Caribbean cruise so the only almost permanent US market for a Q class ship are drive-to-cruise guests in the Northeast.   Odyssey has been partially based in Fort Lauderdale now for a few years but until that occurred it was really only Anthem in Bayonne for a Caribbean cruise on a Q class ship.  They started sailing in Alaska in 2019 but then in 2020 the Alaska season was lost due to the government shutdown.  That has since made a comeback but its not like Q class has a long tenure in Alaska and if Alaska isn't on your radar screen then it's a moot point.  The point is there isn't a lot of Q class opportunity for the decades in the US like other classes.
Personally I like they are different and I like many features about this class.  Just as Icon and even Oasis can be too big for some, so goes Q class.  If every ship was a scaled up or down version of another class that would get boring quickly.  

It's an Alaska thing.

I loved Ovation for Alaska! 
 

With all the hype surrounding the Icon class it made me think how seldom the Quantum class is mentioned or even recommended to  people looking for suggestions. There are folks who are big Oasis class fans (myself included), lots of folks who prefer the size and amenities (and price point) of the Voyager/Freedom class, and even a lot who prefer the relaxed atmosphere of the Radiance class. Obviously the Quantum class fill up and lots of people still sail on them and enjoy them (myself included) but I'm not sure there are many people who profess the Quantum class to be there favorite class. 
Just my Wednesday morning musing..........

Totally subjective.  We loved Jamie's so much on Harmony in January that we convinced our daughter to go on her honeymoon on Harmony and they loved it to.  I liked it better than Giovanni's, but it's been a long time since I did Giovanni's.  Maybe I need to book another cruise... Just for testing purposes of course 🤣.  Jane

I know, but don't want to lug it on! I think we've decided that I may just stress less if I just get the drink pkg 🤣. Jane

I have done 3 gty cabins and never had any trouble.  In fact the locations have been great.  We are doing another in June and I'm not at all worried.  I think this was a fluke and things happen.  We get insurance every time (and now cancel for any reason since Allianz screwed our family out of over $10000 but that's a whole other thread) and assume the best because frankly, the gty cabins save us a ton of money.  Until it goes way South on location or we get turned away, I'm just not gonna worry.  Mai Tai anyone?  Jane