Cruise

[peacock2121]

It is apparent that my mom will not be 'my mom' for much longer. We are still not clear if it is just dementia or alzheimer's. Doesn't really matter at this point.

Anyway, we had a 50th wedding anniversary family trip back in 2002. We all had a great time and my folks loved it. I arranged that one and planned on arranging another in 2012 for their 60th. She won't make it until then, I am pretty sure. Her body might, but not her mind.

So..... I opened a conversation with them about doing a family thing this year - they were married in August. Neither of them poo-pooed it, which leaves me to believe they are on the same thought train as I am about the whole thing.

My mom wants to do a cruise. My dad said he wants to do what my mom wants to do. (Who is this man and what did he do with my dad?)

It will be the 4 children, their spouses, maybe Michelle's sons and one wife and another girlfriend, plus my folks, of course. Making 7 cabins at most, 5 for sure.

My folks live in the Tampa area, so I was thinking we would sail from there. 2 kids will come from NY, one from Californis and one from Jacksonville.

Am I being short-sighted by not considering going out of Miami or another port? Will there be things available that I would want if I look outside of Tampa?

Thanks you for whatever you can contribute to this conversation.

[mrkelley23]

There are a pretty good number of ships going out of Tampa, and if you go elsewhere, you add transportation issues to the mix. Since there is no way to tell how fast or slow her progression will be, I think you're on target wiht trying to minimize the possible complications.

[silverscreenselect]

Am I being short-sighted by not considering going out of Miami or another port? Will there be things available that I would want if I look outside of Tampa?

Thanks you for whatever you can contribute to this conversation.

Cruises from Tampa go pretty much exclusively to Mexico (Cozumel), Central America, Grand Cayman, possibly Jamaica and the Western Caribbean due to geography. There's lots of cruises from Miami and Fort Lauderdale that go east, to Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, etc.

If your itinerary isn't a problem, then there's plenty of other activities do do both in and around Tampa and Miami. The longer you have to drive the day of the cruise, the more you run the risk of something bad happening.

One thing that Tampa cruises offer is a rather spectacular view when the ship goes under the Sunshine Skyway and out into the open sea (about an hour after sailing). That's a definite photo opportunity you won't get out of Miami.

Also, with that many people, book as early as you can if you want to get cabins close together.

[T_Bone0806]

I think it is not so much the destination as it is the journey itself.

Treasure it and record each moment in your memory. I speak from experience, my friend.