Does it feel wrong to 'not' have a cruise or three on the books at any one time?

[PhilandSteff]

Admittedly, we only have 7 cruises completed in total, but it's begun to feel that if we don't have a cruise or three booked, something is 'missing.' We have a couple of nice cruises slated for Feb 24 and Nov 24, with suites, but since we're trying to make Diamond, I booked a 4-day cruise to Cozumel for Jul 23 on a whim last week, the exact points (with a suite) to get us to Diamond with RCCL. With our other next cruise being 261 days out, and the next 519 out, it was just feeling 'wrong' and over-delayed, so I found us a relatively good deal to make Diamond and get us out there. We're leaving out of Galveston as usual to Cozumel (been there several times so it's a favorite) so it's hardly new ground for us.

Is this considered "normal" among cruisers? The desire to be 'out there' and basically 'not here?' Even if it's the same places?

Just wondering.

 

Phil and Steff.

 

 

 

[Cactus527]

I totally feel you on this post. Anything less than 2-3 reserved feels naked.

[smokeybandit]

Pre-shutdown I never had more than 1 booked at a time.

 

Post-restart average has been 3-4 booked.

[WAYNO]

Yes, I can relate.  Not long ago, we had 4 cruises on the books, making a total of 7, November to November. We now are down to only two left, and the next one is not til the end of September.  I feel naked.  We had one more planned, but just one day of procrastination caused it to no longer be available.  The lesson here is book the cruise the minute you receive the offer.

[Jack805]

I feel this post greatly!

Just added two 2024 cruises so I’m up to 4 bookings upcoming (but the first two in late September are B2B so technically 4 on the books but it feels like just 3 to me). 

But I also feel you on being close enough to Diamond I can feel it, even though I’ve only got a year under my belt with 5 cruises taken (all solo so yay double points!). If I can add a 3 night solo this year I can be Diamond by end of year in time for my 2024 sailings, and if I can do so before Sept it will bump me to Emerald for those sailings. But finding one that’s not sold out or way more than I want to spend is the challenge. 

[steverk]

4 or 5? Not enough! 15 or 20? Perfect! 

[ChessE4]

Not wrong, but a little odd that we have no cruises this year. Did some last year and are booked in 24 and 25. But it seems like I should be in cruise planner or something...

[barjpoe]

We've got 8 on the books. 3 left for this year, 4 next year, & 1 for 2025. Looking to maybe do one more in '24.

[Pooch]

I’ve got……nothing!!  3 in the last year & hubby says time for a different vacation.

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, Pooch said:

I’ve got……nothing!!  3 in the last year & hubby says time for a different vacation.

has he MET us??????

this is tragic.

[Ampurp85]

I have 4 on the books. But I'm only booking with my casino comps now because I am no longer going solo, so I book when I earn a certificate now when I sail. That means it will be less and less as the years go by, in 2021/2022, I had between 5 and 6 each year.

[Kathleen]

It didn’t feel wrong until I found this blog and now I book when the new schedule of cruises is released (some 2 1/2 yrs in advance). Only thing is I miss scheduling in between all that. For us cruises are getting longer and longer. We have yet to do a B2B but I think I see that in the future !

[CrznTxn]

Since the end of the shutdown the wife an I have been going at a minimum of one per month clip. With work allowing remote work it has been a fantastic way to get out and enjoy life (and stretch the vacation days). The D+ and Casino perks are great for not having to get the UBP and we will be half way to Pinnacle after this month. Can't think of a more enjoyable way to spend our time. And we love meeting all the fellow cruisers.

[Traveling Mike]

I have 6 on the books but 4 of them are B2B cruises so I figure I only have 4 on the books.  I don't have any for 2025 so I will feel better when those are released.  

[Jill]

Had 3, now 2 but also have a Viking River booked so actually 3. 
 

Waiting for Europe or Alaska summer 2025 to be released in November to throw a deposit down. 
 

We aim for a cruise every 6 months. Sometimes we throw in a quick 4 nighter to bridge the gap between the bigger ones. Just to get our fix. 
 

We’re only 506 nights away from Pinnacle. We actually could make it by the time we’re 70. I didn’t think it was possible until I did the math this morning. 70 isn’t THAT old! 

[Last Lion]

Four on the books in 2023 and 2024. Two Royal, two Princess. 39 days worth.

Psychologically,  there is something very, very groovy about having things to look forward too.

 

 

 

[ScottD]

Funny... I have two booked,one for this October and one for the end of Next September. I keep toying with the thought of one in between, and actually just got off cruises.com where I made a full booking for June...then closed the page before I pulled the trigger. I may do it soon,though.

[VeronicaS1970]

One more this year, one for Feb 24 and Alaska in May 24. Am researching for Oct 24. Our new schedule is every Feb, May and Oct.  Looking at some other lines for Oct 24, and have found some interesting choices.  

[Montemy2419]

Pre-shutdown we would have 1 or 2 cruises a year.  Post-shutdown I have booked everything I can get my husband to say yes to !  We have 1 next month and 4 booked for next year...so far.  We are cruising on Celebrity b2b on Equinox and Apex and if we like them I think we will book with them for Alaska for next summer.  I am really in a holding pattern because if we enjoy Celebrity  then I think we will book cruises with them for us and RC for family trips.

[Pooch]

Truth be told, I am looking at a 6 day on Adventure on Dec, 2024 for us, the kids and the grands.  It’s out of PC with stops at Labadee, Jamaica and CocoCay.  Don’t tell hubby!

[Pooch]

Especially do not tell him I’m looking at a water park cabana at CocoCay.  I’ve kind of mentioned this to DD and not sure she wants to come!

[Cactus527]

11 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Especially do not tell him I’m looking at a water park cabana at CocoCay.  I’ve kind of mentioned this to DD and not sure she wants to come!

I have found that leaving out cruises-reserved information with my spouse until it's absolutely necessary to relay is the way to go.

[smokeybandit]

I'd like to book another one for October but prices are just awful. 

[steverk]

32 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I'd like to book another one for October but prices are just awful. 

@twangster found a great deal on some 6 night Celebrity Cruises out of Los Angeles in October if you're interested. We're talking $349 per person for a balcony. 

[smokeybandit]

21 minutes ago, steverk said:

@twangster found a great deal on some 6 night Celebrity Cruises out of Los Angeles in October if you're interested. We're talking $349 per person for a balcony. 

Out of curiosity I looked, but the price was more expensive than the Navigator cruise I was eyeing for that week.

[asquared17]

3 hours ago, Pooch said:

Especially do not tell him I’m looking at a water park cabana at CocoCay.  I’ve kind of mentioned this to DD and not sure she wants to come!

mr pooch: no more cruises!

pooch: *books another cruise*
also pooch: *books a cabana for pdcc*
 

… i gotta say, i like your style

[ScottD]

So our last cruise, and the next two are all booked as family cruises for the 3 of us (45,44 and 11) But I am REALLY considering an Adults only OR a Father\Son cruise in between the two family cruises. 

[RCIfan1912]

We have three booked at the same time on the upcoming cruises page and that's a first and it's awesome to see! Gonna have to keep that up because it's really awesome seeing 3 upcoming cruises.

[WAAAYTOOO]

I have always been the cruise-obsessed one in our house.  Dan loves to go, but he never cared how often we cruised, where we went or where we were on the C&A path.

That's why I find it so amusing that suddenly HE is the one who has been nudging me to find a shorty cruise for June.  I've tried to explain that there's no such thing as a good, last-minute deal anymore and that availability is almost non-existent, but again this morning he suggested that I try looking at Vacations To Go for a June cruise.  I just chuckled.  Perhaps his new-found obsession is really just a function of his "tasks to completion" gene.  June is the only month this entire calendar year that we do not have a cruise booked...and I think the giant hole in his cruise calendar is beginning to grate.  Who knows.  Anyway, I am off to V2G to see what I can find !!

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

That's why I find it so amusing that suddenly HE is the one who has been nudging me to find a shorty cruise for June.  I've tried to explain that there's no such thing as a good, last-minute deal anymore and that availability is almost non-existent, but again this morning he suggested that I try looking at Vacations To Go for a June cruise.  

dan is turning to the dark side!!!!

you’ve rubbed off on him

[teddy]

4 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

That's why I find it so amusing that suddenly HE is the one who has been nudging me to find a shorty cruise for June.

My wife and I had a similar role reversal as well.  About a year ago, she became the driving force in booking cruises.  She even booked one just so we could use airline credits that were about to expire.

When we booked our upcoming Italy cruise, she made fun of me for waking up in the middle of the night for a week to be able to book as soon as the itineraries were released.  The other day she asked me to do it again this fall when Norway itineraries are due to be released.

[sleepy425]

We usually do Disney a few times a year, but annual passes have gone up so much and it has just become a more stressful vacation with the new roll outs.  I still love it, but mostly do cheap vacations to Disney just to use our DVC now (we do RunDisney races mostly).  So instead we switched to cruises.  This year we have 5 booked, and next year we have 3 booked.  I  search the site often and when I find a good deal I book.  My husband just shrugs and laughs.  I go stir crazy if I don't go away for at least a night every month, so having all these cruises booked helps to keep my sanity.  My kids are at an age where they really enjoy cruising (9,9,11,13), and they don't need to be watched like hawks every moment of the day anymore.  So it was a good time to switch from Disney to cruising.

[Va4fam]

I have an easy solution for you....each cruise go to Nextcruise desk and book another cruise.   Maybe two or 3.   That way you always have future sailings.

Problem solved!

[Kathleen]

12 hours ago, Va4fam said:

I have an easy solution for you....each cruise go to Nextcruise desk and book another cruise.   Maybe two or 3.   That way you always have future sailings.

Problem solved!

Here here

[Jolly Ogre]

12 hours ago, Va4fam said:

I have an easy solution for you....each cruise go to Nextcruise desk and book another cruise.   Maybe two or 3.   That way you always have future sailings.

Problem solved!

That is what I do. But for next year I have 2 backup cruises booked to cover if the Freedom sailing is cancelled.

[AshleyDillo]

YES!  I had so many booked after cruising restarted that were a product of cancelations and rescheduling and also cheap cruise prices.  

Now everything is scheduled to where it's difficult to fill in the holes because the cruises I do have booked are spaced out too close together to squeeze cruises in between but still too far apart for my liking!

 

[asquared17]

… or when you have three on the books and know that you can’t book more (damn fiscal responsibility!!! *shakes fists*) and you just do a bunch of mock bookings over and over to get your cruise fix.

 

[ScottD]

4 hours ago, asquared17 said:

… or when you have three on the books and know that you can’t book more (damn fiscal responsibility!!! *shakes fists*) and you just do a bunch of mock bookings over and over to get your cruise fix.

 

We sail on the same ships next... I'll be on Oasis 2 month before you, then you do Seascape a few months before me... I'll be looking forward to that review, as it'll be my first non-Royal cruise and I see REALLY mixed reviews of that line. 

[asquared17]

4 hours ago, ScottD said:

We sail on the same ships next... I'll be on Oasis 2 month before you, then you do Seascape a few months before me... I'll be looking forward to that review, as it'll be my first non-Royal cruise and I see REALLY mixed reviews of that line. 

yay!!

prior to symphony this year, oasis held the title of favorite for me, and we’ve sailed her the most, so i am looking forward to going back. somehow i managed to get the same itinerary for our december and february sailings but a cruise is a cruise!!

haven’t been on her since the restart though so hoping she’s as wonderful as we remember! 

i am curious too about seascape because i’ve heard the mixed reviews too so we will see!! it’s a cruise, though, so i’m pretty happy about that

[octaviocloss]

Pre pandemic we used to have 1 cruise booked; but right now we have 3 haha! Explorer on September, Odyssey on January and Icon Sept24; im always counting the days for the upcoming trips.