This morning when we awoke it was -2 degrees on our deck. Anytime the temps are in the single digits is bad enough but throwing in that minus sign really has me dreaming of warmer climes. Fortunately we have kids who live where the temps are moderate and so far they act like they love having us visit so who are we to deny them the pleasure of our company! Note that Tammy and Ralph have out-smarted us – Tammy lives here and isn’t at risk for us descending on her and with Ralph in Des Moines, she has no worries that we’ll camp on her doorstep since they probably won’t see the ground for at least two more months, nor temps above freezing!
Since our winter plans already include time in San Diego, we started thinking about a cruise out of that port. We talked with friends Ron and Barb who are there now working on rental property and then over the weekend, pitched the idea to friends Larry and Nancy who live here. In the meantime, I’d been cruising websites for the best deals since I was dubbed the official group Travel Agent! I kept emailing information to both couples since they weren’t yet 100% sure they were going and then on Sunday night, Burl and I decided that we were going even if the others didn’t.
But lo and behold, everything fell into place yesterday. Nancy confirmed she could get away from her one-day-a-week job and they were in. Barb and Ron decided they needed a real vacation before heading home – plus I kept telling them about our weather here – and they were in! Now they were all looking at me to make it happen.
I got on the first website and found out that the cabins that were so readily available on Sunday had disappeared and only the more expensive ones were available. That wasn’t going to work for any of us because the goal was not only to take a trip but also to get a great price. On to the next discount cruise website where I found a few cabins in our price range but had to actually call and talk with a “cruise specialist” (aka salesman) in order to book it.
At that point, I had Barb on the iPhone speakerphone and my new best friend, Caleb the cruise guy, on the land line as I navigated the website. I was starting to relate to travel agents going for a deal for their customers! Caleb called Carnival and secured three cabins for us and got all our reservations linked so we’ll dine together and get cabins in fairly close proximity. And we got better cabins than expected for not much more $ – it’s still about the “deal”.
Barb and I gave him all our info and secured our cabins and then I got Nancy on the iPhone and took care of their reservations. Within 45 minutes we were done! Turns out all the travel documents will be sent via email and within 10 minutes I had electronic confirmation from Caleb.
We’ll leave San Diego on Saturday January 30th on the Carnival Spirit heading south with stops in Acapulco, Ixtapa and Manzinillo before returning on Sunday February 7th. Going from southern California we discovered there’s really no way on any cruise line to avoid 4 days at sea but with all the entertainment (casinos, spas, gift shops, running track, gym, pools, restaurants, shows, etc.) onboard, I doubt any of us will be bored. I think there’s even a driving range where Burl and Ron can sharpen their sometimes-dull golf skills.
Just booking the cruise, I already feel warmer!
BUT – I wasn’t done for the evening, I was just getting started. Our other travel adventure this winter is a family ski trip to Park City, Utah in honor of Burl’s birthday in February. He loves to ski there so we’re getting a condo for any of our kids who can join us with me as the designated non-skier in the group available for fun with grandkids, snow-shoeing, sipping lattes or going to the gym – anything as long as I don’t have to put life and limb at risk on the ski slopes.
After a couple of hours of searching, I finally narrowed our choices to 8 places and sent comparison grids to Stacey since she knows the area better than I do. Hopefully within a couple of days we’ll have booked a condo and I can go back to my lazy life and retire from this travel agent job.
Oh wait – I will always be a travel agent for guilt trips. After all, I’m a mom!
I am so excited for you. It sounds like you are going to have a warm and fun winter, except for the whole Utah thing. You must like Burl a lot to go to Utah in the winter.
How exciting!! Have fun, and enjoy the weather, while we’re FREEZING here!