Grumble, grumble, grumble...

[Yogi3323]

Congrats indeed ... some good karma came your way! Must have been all those trips in which you paid for your daughter's friend.

[tomandrobin]

Well done Tammy!!!

I think it will work out for everyone having their own spaces.

[lovindisney]

Glad it worked out.

[B'rer Karen]

Originally Posted by tammymacb

I decided that I was not giving up my Fantasy cruise. I told Caroline that Lauren could come if she could pay for 1/2 of her cruise fare.

Then I immediately started regretting my choice of sharing my room with 2 teens.

So, I started checking several times a day for non balcony rooms to open. Finally a batch did, and I could get 2 side by side outsides and get the girls out of my room. Except, I'd have to give up my primo location and move down to the second deck. Angus wanted to know why we had to move. Couldn't we keep our room on the 6th and just move the girls down to the 2nd...? Um, no. Anyway, I wasn't excited about moving to the second deck, but it was a viable option...so I told Angus about it and waited for him to get home from work to make a decision.

Well, he gets home and I pull up prices and there's an even cheaper option available. Exactly 3 inside rooms have opened up! Sweet!

We were booked in room 6670...one of the open rooms is 6669! I immediately booked the second room and kept my original.

To make it more affordable, I did cancel Spring Break on the Wonder, but that also opened a future booking credit. ( We'll go to HHI instead)

So...I booked 2 in an inside room ( original cost was $3000) minus 10% future booking brought us down to $2700, minus 10% ( approx ) commission- $2500, plus $200 OBC- $2300. Lauren's mother is chipping in for Lauren. I'm not paying much more for Caroline AND I don't have to share a room with her.

Very excited.

So glad this worked out for everyone.

[rdetoma]

Glad it all worked out.

[bubster]

Pixie Dust!!

Congrats!!

[Brian5581]

Originally Posted by tammymacb

So...I booked 2 in an inside room ( original cost was $3000) minus 10% future booking brought us down to $2700, minus 10% ( approx ) commission- $2500, plus $200 OBC- $2300. Lauren's mother is chipping in for Lauren. I'm not paying much more for Caroline AND I don't have to share a room with her.

Very excited.

Very well done! Congratulations!

[Miss Linda]

Originally Posted by tammymacb

My kid is killing me.

Caroline has been on 10 cruises. ( She's 15 ) and I've paid the way for a friend for many of them.

Just came home from "the best cruise EVER-Carnival" - per Caroline. I paid for her friend Lauren to come, and they had an inside room across from our extended balcony.

I'd already told her that I wasn't paying for anyone to join us on the Disney Fantasy in June of '13. Just too much money. Well, now she's begging to bring Lauren again. They do have a great time together, and keep each other amused. And as those of you with teens know, a happy teen makes for a livable life.

So, now Car's begging to bring Lauren on the next cruise. I called Disney today to see if they'd allow a 4th in my room. (Ack I can imagine the mess already ) andI can. Price additional $1100.

I also priced another Carnival ship. The Freedom. 8 nights out of Fort Lauderdale, Antigua, St Thomas, Tortola ( the Baths! ) and Nassau. $4000 total with 2 rooms.

I don't really want to go on Carnival again for the next trip and have my heart set on the dream. However, I DON'T have my heart set on 4 in a room and the joys involved with that.

I also checked Princess...no Caribbean in the Summer. Not too excited about RCCL for this trip and NCL is out.

Any comments, suggestions, or advice?

( Oh, and this year if Lauren wants to come again, I will be asking the parents for at least a $500 donation towards her upkeep as I pay for everything including excursions. )

Hi, have to say that after reading your post I am amazed that the parents have just accepted your amazingly generous offers of cruises for their child without any contributions!! Def.discuss how to alter their thinking for the future.Please let us know how you get on!Linda