Cruising and the economy

TexasAggieOfc · October 2, 2008

We had to back out of our cruise for next year today, it was to be our first. We'll be back, but I work for a small county, and 50% of our tax base is a Fortune 500 company that is on the brink of bankruptcy. They're already telling us to start looking for employment elsewhere, just to be safe.

zebra · October 2, 2008

TexasAggie.... sorry to hear that - hope it all turns out well for you guys!

Gregswife · October 2, 2008

TexasAggie, I am so sorry to hear that you had to cancel your cruise on the Conquest. I hope everything works out for you so you can soon book that maiden voyage. We travel thru Mount Vernon every time we go back to Texas to visit friends. We moved here to Denver from the Dallas area, which is where the friends we visit used to live also. They have since moved to Lake Whitney, up close to Crawford.

As for the economy and our cruise plans - right now I don't foresee any changes coming. When I booked the cruise last month, I wanted to pay for it all at once but our travel planner suggested I not so we could take advantage of any specials or price drops, so I paid all of it but $200 upfront. We will drive to Galveston, so don't have to worry about airline costs. Unless something really drastic happens, I do not believe it will have a lot of effect on our travel plans for the near future.

Peddler · October 2, 2008

Our Dec cruise is paid for...As for next year, I'm retireing and Soc Sec doesn't pay an overly large amount and our 401k has taken a sizeable hit ...It'll be questionable for a cruise for 2009, maybe 2010 though.

I voted with Joey.

deb1220 · October 2, 2008

We usually cruise in February but it's not going to happen in 2009....maybe 2010. My DH is a white collar worker for GM and they're not selling many cars these days :thumbdown:

zebra · October 2, 2008

Deb, saw the news today - car sales down by 30% this month! Let's hope things start looking brighter in all sectors, including the cruising sector :biggrin:

boba · October 2, 2008

This years cruise is paid for and next years is mostly paid for so they are safe. The Oasis cruise for 2010 we're looking at is in trouble, though. :angry:

Joanandjoe · October 3, 2008

We're option E. We weren't figuring on making cruise plans; but with the bad economy, we figured we ought to make some plans while I'm still employed and not retired. We can always cancel later if things look bad. If the economy were better, so I'd be sure of still having my job next year at this time, we wouldn't have booked something 13 months in advance.

As with the Caribbean, which most Crazies love and we don't, we seem to be the contrarians on the board.

MarcyandJames · October 3, 2008

Our 2009 15 day Hawaii cruise is already paid for so that is set. After that we'll see. We own our own car dealership and things are not real good right now. Hopefully by 2010 things will be better. But it is the best vacation value.

jbond · October 5, 2008

I voted "no change", but if you'd had a "So far no change", I'd have chosen that. We have a cruise in three weeks, Mexican Riviera, so that is a done deal. We also have a cruise to South America for April next year. We still have three months before final payment, so I'm looking closely at what is happening with the rescue plan, rescue sounds more positive than bailout. Unless there is a continued down trend, I'm sure we'll still complete that cruise.

...As for next year, I'm retireing and Soc Sec doesn't pay an overly large amount and our 401k has taken a sizeable hit ...

We're retired and I fully understand your concern. Our total assets that help support our retirement have taken an enormous hit. Soc Sec is very minimal and hardly covers utilities. I would really like to be assured that my pension is safe, but with the banks and Wall Street in such turmoil, I have grave concerns. I'm way too old to start over again.