Final weeks Before Cruising--I've Now Become Numb

[CruisingNewb]

Only 3 weeks left to Alaska.  We have done so much planning and prep since January and now have become pretty apathetic in the last few days.

Perhaps it is all of the negative comments from Facebook Groups regarding staffing issues?

Perhaps it is just because there is nothing more for us to do in terms of planning?  

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

Has this happened to anyone else?  Am I just nuts?  BTW-I could indeed be nuts.

[LovetoCruise87]

12 minutes ago, CruisingNewb said:

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

Try counting down from over 300 days. What can I say, we really love to cruise!!!!

[LovetoCruise87]

13 minutes ago, CruisingNewb said:

Only 3 weeks left to Alaska.  We have done so much planning and prep since January and now have become pretty apathetic in the last few days.

Perhaps it is all of the negative comments from Facebook Groups regarding staffing issues?

Perhaps it is just because there is nothing more for us to do in terms of planning?  

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

Has this happened to anyone else?  Am I just nuts?  BTW-I could indeed be nuts.

Oh, and if you are nuts, then all of us on this site are nuts as well!!

[wordell1]

I'm an obsessive planner so I agree that it can almost be a letdown when all the planning is done. I think it's also hard to fully commit to getting excited when you can still have covid issues.

[CruisingNewb]

7 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

I'm an obsessive planner so I agree that it can almost be a letdown when all the planning is done. I think it's also hard to fully commit to getting excited when you can still have covid issues.

I am even apathetic to the Covid testing thing.  My family was extremely sick for about the first two weeks of May.  We tested for Covid a total of 3 times in hopes that we can get a certificate of recovery.  Nope.  So now, I am thinking even with 2 weeks of severely compromised immunity from the flu, if we didn't get Covid, then we probably won't get it in the last couple of weeks.  

Thanks for your insight...yes, its been a let down since check-in.  Nothing more to buy. Nothing more to do.  Guess I will just Netflix and chill for the next 3 weeks.

[Bob_KY]

Print maps of ports, pack, repack, get deet for mosquitoes, review spreadsheet (this could be me only), find port restaurants,  review ship deck plans for at least 15 times, no matter how tempted- do not buy uli knives, review glacier ice colors to know what it means, study lyrics of wash your hands, discipline yourself to sit by windows along the inner passage (whales), learn Alaska jokes like: while hiking put a small bell on your backpack to alert bears.  Also study up on bear scat.  Easy to ID.  It is the one with a small bell in it.....

[LovetoCruise87]

And by the way, we are down to 108 days till we cruise!!

[Ray]

11 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said:

And by the way, we are down to 108 days till we cruise!!

Only 2 days for me your 108 will pass in no time btw did i say its only 2 days for me

[Sushitex]

Have you downloaded and started to fill out the required information on the ArriveCan (Canada) app? You can enter quite a bit of info now, but there are some parts that can't be completed until 72 hours before your ship embarks. 

I downloaded and filled in what I could a few weeks ago. We're set to sail on the Quantum on Monday, so I was able to complete the rest and get the required QR code this morning. 

Apparently, everyone who sails to Canada, whether they get off the ship there or not, has to get the ArriveCan QR code - Royal will be asking for it at the terminal. At least it's free - Bermuda charges $40/person, again, whether one gets off the ship there or not. 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/05/18/how-use-the-arrivecan-app-your-alaska-cruise

[CruisingNewb]

43 minutes ago, Bob_KY said:

Print maps of ports, pack, repack, get deet for mosquitoes, review spreadsheet (this could be me only), find port restaurants,  review ship deck plans for at least 15 times, no matter how tempted- do not buy uli knives, review glacier ice colors to know what it means, study lyrics of wash your hands, discipline yourself to sit by windows along the inner passage (whales), learn Alaska jokes like: while hiking put a small bell on your backpack to alert bears.  Also study up on bear scat.  Easy to ID.  It is the one with a small bell in it.....

Spreadsheets are not just a you thing. I have at least 3. Lol

[CruisingNewb]

15 minutes ago, Sushitex said:

Have you downloaded and started to fill out the required information on the ArriveCan (Canada) app? You can enter quite a bit of info now, but there are some parts that can't be completed until 72 hours before your ship embarks. 

I downloaded and filled in what I could a few weeks ago. We're set to sail on the Quantum on Monday, so I was able to complete the rest and get the required QR code this morning. 

Apparently, everyone who sails to Canada, whether they get off the ship there or not, has to get the ArriveCan QR code - Royal will be asking for it at the terminal. At least it's free - Bermuda charges $40/person, again, whether one gets off the ship there or not. 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/05/18/how-use-the-arrivecan-app-your-alaska-cruise

Done, done, done.

[Cub]

49 days left for us... this time.  We were under 100 when we were canceled in '20 and '21.  Made all the shore excursions each time. I will believe it only when I am boarding the ship.

[Okgladgal]

@@CruisingNewbthat happened to me for my January cruise, which had been planned for-ev-er. Then things started going haywire! January Omnicrom, positive tests, excursions cancelled, Puerto Rico losing their mind just to name a few. So, enjoy this calm and hope there are no storms. 

[MadamG2U]

Thats been me.  Over planning, over thinking, over worrying.  I told myself yesterday relax, breath and take a nap!  I cruise June. 17th.

[Ampurp85]

Too much planning can make you numb. Add into that a lot of uncertainty and you aren't as excited as you would normally be. I sail, solo, in Sept and everything has been planned and taken care off. Flights are book, dinning packages, internet and my excursions are all paid for. I plan a lot but don't allow my excitement to peak until I am usually a week or less from my vacation. 

May I suggest thinking in neutrals and positives for the next few weeks? I sailed on a S2S2S in Jan during the peak of omicron. I watched as plenty of sailings before mine got cancelled, read horror stories of being denied entry into ports and was prepped for cancelled shows and entertainment. Even one of my travel companions, and eventually our original Genie, tested positive a little while before a star class sailing. So, I kept going over the positives and neutrals in my mind. I am not of the "I will take anything when it comes to the package as long as I sail mind".......I will only take any type of room as I mostly travel solo. I would think of the little things, like not cooking or cleaning. Trying new foods and experiencing something different. Getting to go somewhere to relax, etc. For the most part nothing was nearly as bad as people made things seem.

 

[Atlantix2000]

Remember to take negative comments with a grain of salt.  People are way more vocal about negative experiences than positive experiences.  And that's before you consider that social media amplifies things even more.

[BigMac3001]

4 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

Only 3 weeks left to Alaska.  We have done so much planning and prep since January and now have become pretty apathetic in the last few days.

Perhaps it is all of the negative comments from Facebook Groups regarding staffing issues?

Perhaps it is just because there is nothing more for us to do in terms of planning?  

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

Has this happened to anyone else?  Am I just nuts?  BTW-I could indeed be nuts.

Been counting down since 100+ days out and now we are less than two weeks to go. I'm so ready. Don't care about any of the negativity. It's going to be the trip of a life time! 

[Bob_KY]

Ref. Negative comments.  Alaska's beauty is breathtaking.   Born there and was stationed there while in the Army.  And did the cruise with land tour in 2014. That was our best cruise, ever. I am excited for you.  

[smokeybandit]

I've got 16 days until an Alaska cruise.  And I'm practicing by looking out my window at a freak snowstorm hitting the area today.

[WAYNO]

I also get all wound up counting the days until our next cruise.  And I try to not get sucked into or add to  the  Debbie Downer posts of how bad the food, service, or staffing issues is/are.  It is what it is, it's never as bad as professed, and my cruises always turn out marvelously.

BTW... In 16 short days, my Wife boards Harmony with her brother. (I wasn't invited), but even I am counting the days in anticipation of what I know will be a wonderful time for them.

 

And packing for an Alaskan cruise is easy.  Jeans and other outdoorsy clothes for me.  High fashion is out the window. 

 

I am excited for you!

 

[ihaoan]

7 hours ago, Bob_KY said:

"study lyrics of wash your hands"

oh boy, this made me LOL and i'm very glad I didn't have soda in my mouth!

now THAT'S funny!

[KMSP17]

11 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

 

Pffsh. 140 days is nothing. 917 days here. 

We booked our Alaska cruise November 25, 2019, originally leaving on May 31, 2021. That, of course, didn't happen, and we rebooked for May 30, 2022. 917 days from the date of the original booking.

[ChessE4]

20 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

Only 3 weeks left to Alaska.  We have done so much planning and prep since January and now have become pretty apathetic in the last few days.

Perhaps it is all of the negative comments from Facebook Groups regarding staffing issues?

Perhaps it is just because there is nothing more for us to do in terms of planning?  

Perhaps counting down the first 140 days took its toll?

Has this happened to anyone else?  Am I just nuts?  BTW-I could indeed be nuts.

I think the key is to follow Matt's guidance to be flexible as there will be unexpected events.  We just flew to Texas and 10 minutes before the taxi was due to arrive, I discovered I had forgotten my medical insurance card (just in case).  So I frantically searched for it, then realized the cab was a no-show.  Called him to find out he had us down for 11 PM instead of 10:15 AM.  So we hopped in the car even though two weeks of parking is more expensive then the cab.  My planning advice is to have a plan B for key stuff, and it sounds like you are already there.  Now you can just chill...

[Matt]

21 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

Perhaps it is all of the negative comments from Facebook Groups regarding staffing issues?

I'm obviously bias in my opinion on this, but I've really become dissatisfied with Facebook groups for sailings. They either end up in one of two situations: completely dead or toxic sources of misinformation. 

It's a shame because Facebook groups used to be a great source of pre-cruise excitement, tips, and a way to meet others. But they all seem to end up creating more problems than they solve.

[wordell1]

10 minutes ago, Matt said:

I'm obviously bias in my opinion on this, but I've really become dissatisfied with Facebook groups for sailings. They either end up in one of two situations: completely dead or toxic sources of misinformation. 

It's a shame because Facebook groups used to be a great source of pre-cruise excitement, tips, and a way to meet others. But they all seem to end up creating more problems than they solve.

It's one of the reasons that I like a moderated board!  Way too much misinformation and crazy talk on facebook and the "other board".  There is a great community here also to go along with the steady stream of information you provide.