How soon do you start planning

Pinkgurlshubby

Has not been blessed by the TF
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
So my DW mentioned it would be fun to do another cruise while casually mentioning our anniversary was coming up...in July. So the cruise is booked and now the rest of the planning starts. We always start early and we've pretty much narrowed down the pre cruise hotel, the restaurant, the transfers. Anyone else start this early?
 
I don't think that's early at all!! We plan at least a year in advance, often more. Our upcoming trip in January has been discussed for close to 2 years and we actually booked a trip to a resort in Mexico, got cold feet about that and switched to WDW again. When i added a countdown to my phone it was over 350 days :crazy2:

I love the planning stages, helps the dreary days move faster.
 
We booked Symphony of the Seas about 18 months in advance... which unfortunately was a wee bit too early to book flights. But once I book a cruise I'm all in on the planning. Figuring out what we want to do in ports, how many other ships are in port with us, etc. Also ensuring our passports are up to date.
 
Oh my gosh I am bad for that. My husband and a friend talked last week about an Alaska cruise in a few years.

Three days later i now have a spreadsheet figuring out costs and how many air miles and PC Optimum points to earn. The cruise, flights, drink package, insurance, taxi, hotel, gratuities, etc.

Then another bit for 4 or 5 days in Vancouver after the cruise.

I figure I should have the neccessary miles in 3 years max. Maybe 5 years before we go though. Depends on the kids.

Then a word doc on current excursions we'd be interested in and sights to see in Vancouver.

I have a problem... but it's also my happy place.
 


We booked Symphony of the Seas about 18 months in advance... which unfortunately was a wee bit too early to book flights. But once I book a cruise I'm all in on the planning. Figuring out what we want to do in ports, how many other ships are in port with us, etc. Also ensuring our passports are up to date.

Ohh passports! I need to make sure they are valid for next year! So glad you mentioned them.
 
I start planning for the next one when I am still on the current cruise! I take mental notes of what I like, what's worth repeating and what can be skipped the next time. I do the same when at WDW, as in, "Oh maybe it would be nice to stay _______ here next time."
 
First and second cruises were about 18 months out. The third was a spur of the moment. We like to plan out about 18 months out and around a year out start paying everything off so we use our card to transfer and pay but we never holiday on credit. Funny Disney Addicted, we use our Air Miles to get car rentals, we found it was the best deal for us. I try to keep anywhere from 2500 to 4000 miles for holidays and we are well past that so we decided this time to use some for our pre cruise hotel.
 


I'm always planning, pricing, dreaming etc etc etc. Life is full of ups and downs and it makes me happy to plan whether we go or not. It makes our craptastically cold and dark winters go a little faster when I'm dreaming or planning. So plan away. Nothing wrong with all the preplanning. That is half the fun. And once it's actually booked!!!!!! Imo that's part of the trip is the anticipation and planning of what you want to do!!!!!
 
First and second cruises were about 18 months out. The third was a spur of the moment. We like to plan out about 18 months out and around a year out start paying everything off so we use our card to transfer and pay but we never holiday on credit. Funny Disney Addicted, we use our Air Miles to get car rentals, we found it was the best deal for us. I try to keep anywhere from 2500 to 4000 miles for holidays and we are well past that so we decided this time to use some for our pre cruise hotel.

A friend down the road from me used her miles recently for just over a week long car rental. It only cost her 2,000 miles. Cheaper than I expected!

We do so much research I think both my DW and I could have been TA's
LOL - I have friends tell me that should have been my career as well.
 
A friend down the road from me used her miles recently for just over a week long car rental. It only cost her 2,000 miles. Cheaper than I expected!


LOL - I have friends tell me that should have been my career as well.
For sure. We found that out a while back when looking to see what we could use for the holidays. A hotel room costs anywhere between 1000 and 2000 miles and a car rental for the week like you said about 2000 miles. Plus the 11 dollars and change for the convenience of booking through air miles. Can't go wrong.
 
As soon as the travel dates are confirmed, which is often close to 1 year in advance. Frequently planning 2 trips at any one time.
 
A friend down the road from me used her miles recently for just over a week long car rental. It only cost her 2,000 miles. Cheaper than I expected!


LOL - I have friends tell me that should have been my career as well.

I used to be a travel agent. and I love planning trips but it turns out it's not nearly as much fun when it's someone else's trip! ;)
 
@starvenger How did you enjoy SOTS? I'm undecided on her or her sister Harmony (slightly cheaper). I know they are pretty much the same...
I'm actually going on her in August.

Personally I prefer Allure over Harmony. There's a couple of areas where Harmony is better (ex: Allure has a spiral staircase from Promenade down to the casino, and smoke travels upward) but no Abyss (for now) is a huge plus for me.
 
Yea that Abyss don't really appeal to me, heard stories of people getting burns on their skin from it.

I have a DD11 so water slides are a big plus for her. Allure will be getting refurbed next year, so it might be worth checking her out as well.
 
So my DW mentioned it would be fun to do another cruise while casually mentioning our anniversary was coming up...in July. So the cruise is booked and now the rest of the planning starts. We always start early and we've pretty much narrowed down the pre cruise hotel, the restaurant, the transfers. Anyone else start this early?
I usually start when it's getting close to the end of my vacation. When can I come back?
 

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