I don't know what's happened to me.  I booked a cruise on the Legend, sailing 9/28/08.  For the first two month it was all I could think about.  It's all I talked about, its all I dreamed about... now with only 16 days to go... I am kinda feeling "Bla" about it! 

Does that every happen to any of you?  Do we get so excited that we blow a fuse?  I am sure I will feel exicited once its time to get on the boat... but right now I can't even work up the energy to even think about packing.. I keep shrugging off picking shore excursions... its like all of a sudden I don't want to be bothered with it...

Someone remind me why I should be excited...

"Cheer up sad clown turn that frown upside down" LOL!!   I sometime get that way also, most of my fun is the excitement of planning the trip and all the build up that goes along with it. When I leave work on that last day before leaving it hit's me.."I'M ON VACATION...YAA  HOOOO!!!  

 Excitement overload.  It will come back - right on schedule.

WhenD:

 but right now I can't even work up the energy to even think about packing.. I keep shrugging off picking shore excursions... its like all of a sudden I don't want to be bothered with it...

Of couse you are feeling this way!  Packing STINKS!  It's a whole lot of WORK and ohmygoodness, what if you forget something??!!  It is so much nicer to sit and think about being on the Lido deck with the sun in your face.  But like most things that are worthwhile (like a GREAT cruise), there is a bit of effort that goes along with it (like packing, choosing the "right" shore excursion, hauling luggage, getting to the airport and/or cruiseport on time....)! 

Don't worry! You'll find that last burst of enthusiasm that will get you through the packing and get you to the ship.  After all your planning, you will get to breathe a big sigh of relieft (right after taking off that smelly life jacket following the muster drill)!!

Happy packing!  Just keep telling yourself, "the next time I see this article of clothing, I'll be on my CRUISE!!!"

Is this your first cruise?  Been here a lot, looking and reading and asking questions?

If I may play junior psychologist for a moment, I think there may be not only excitement overload going on, but also an information glut.  Part of the thrill of doing something new is experiencing the newness of it.  If it doesn't feel new because you believe you know what to expect from an experience you haven't had yet ... it may seem uninspiring or even trivial.

There's a lot to be said for going into something wide-eyed and naive, completely clueless about what's going on around you.  It makes you feel like a kid on Christmas again.  Yes, you may miss something because you were spending so much time just looking around and the sparkly objects, but that's a large part of what makes me take more cruises: finding all those things I missed the first 6 times.

And there's lots of them. 

I really have to totally agree here. I was soooo excited before our first cruise in 06! Scared too but mostly excited I think. I did not even find these boards until we came back from our second cruise last year and in a way I think it was probably better for me. On the other hand, if I was on these boards before we cruised the 1st time, maybe I would not have SOOOO overpacked!! LOLOLOL. I think if I had read these boards I would have been on overload without a doubt. Once you start reading it is hard to stop but the things that you read over and over must be the most truthful ones (that is how I look at it anyways).

I would stay off of the boards until you leave and maybe in a few days from now, just take the time to look over the excursions to see if there is something that pops out at you. If not, you can still book them onboard, just remember that the really popular ones can fill up.

I am sure you will get excited/nervous very soon. Maybe just get your luggage out and look at it to see if that gets you in the mood...lol

Have a great time!

Deb

Glory - 2006

Liberty - 2007

Pride - 9/28/08 - 30th anniversary cruise

Miracle - 12/7/08

This is actually my second cruise.  My first cruise being February of this year.  Thanks for all the words of encouragement...

Deb - how do you not over pack?  When I mentally run through all the stuff I am bringing, I begin to scare myself.  I got all my cute clothes... but inside of the boat is cold... so I need warm clothes... then my beach clothes.... and what if by the middle of the cruise I lose my motivation to look cute and just want to be comfortable??  So you gotta bring the comfy clothes... bathing suits and formal wear, shoes and accessories, bungy cords and zip locks, power cords and sticky notes...AHHHhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

WhenD:

 

This is actually my second cruise.  My first cruise being February of this year.  Thanks for all the words of encouragement...

Deb - how do you not over pack?  When I mentally run through all the stuff I am bringing, I begin to scare myself.  I got all my cute clothes... but inside of the boat is cold... so I need warm clothes... then my beach clothes.... and what if by the middle of the cruise I lose my motivation to look cute and just want to be comfortable??  So you gotta bring the comfy clothes... bathing suits and formal wear, shoes and accessories, bungy cords and zip locks, power cords and sticky notes...AHHHhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don't worry about overpacking.  That's what porters are for!  

The dreaming about the good times you're going to have on the upcoming cruise has now turned to the practical .... the huge amount of work involved in getting ready.

Here's what I suggest.  Get all your papers in order today.  Tomorrow start packing....just the stuff that you don't care if it wrinkles.  (Underware etc.)  Do everything you can in little bits.  On the last night pack the stuff that can wrinkle.  By that time everything else should be done.

I think once the practical gets underway and then especially once it's done the excitement will return.

Have a wonderful time.

I haven't calmed down yet! We sail the 27th out of Tampa! I like the packing little at a time though. It gives me an excuse to start earlier

Well, for the most part I know what you mean so what I did this year was I hung all of the clothes I wanted to take in our spare room on a shelf (so they stared back at me all the time) and the more I looked at them, it looked like I was packing for a 3 week cruise. I would have had to change dresses 3 times in one day to wear all of them! I slowly removed things but still have more than I know I need. I will probably never break that habit but I try a little at a time. I did learn that I never wear my gym shoes so I can do without taking socks except maybe for on the way home if the weather is cold here.

For me, I pick comfy clothes all the way but can't they be cute AND comfy???? LOL

 Deb

Thought I was the only one who felt this way, Cold feet,it can't be, I'm not married to Carnival am I ? Maybe so number 8 cruise for us. Just love cruising and being waited on and treated like a King. Wait ! My wife treats me this way, I don't deserve her what a great wife and friend I have. But then Carnival has been a great companion to me also. Oh God whats happing to me? Am I falling in love with ship. Can't be. But every time I board her I get a sense of Ecstasy, My head is spinning, My thoughts are confused! Oh! My God I'm falling in love with a ship, Must not tell my wife. Please help me.

Just having a little, Relax it will be okay, I get like that also every time we prepare for our cruise. Have Fun!

I know what you  mean. I leave in 17 days for mine and I've not done a thing. This is not like me. The last cruise I took I was packed and ready to go a month before. LOL.

Hey, WhenD!  Only a few more weeks to go!!! 

 Now, about the packing...  You can always combine cute and comfortable.  I strongly recommend packing a few extra pair of underwear and socks, though.  About two days more than you think you'll need.  And there ARE a few coin laundromats (and ironing boards) aboard ship.  So, don't hang up the suits/tuxes or dresses for formal nights.  Just roll them up like a jelly roll, and iron out the kinks before dinner.  :)  Beats a hanging suitcase.

Also, they have nice soap, shampoo, razors, and body wash already in the state rooms.  So, don't bother bringing a lot of toiletries.  (REMEMBER SUNSCREEN!!!!!!!!!!)

Once you're aboard, unpack, hang stuff up, and use an empty suitcase for dirty clothes.  Helps when you're about to disembark as well.  One suitcase already packed! 

^.^ 

Don't worry about the excitement fuse blowing.  Just like a few others said... it'll come back once you actually start the journey to the ship.  Relax, don't force yourself to do everything and anything... that's what repeat vacations are for!

Have fun!!!!!

OMG!  WhenD, I feel your pain.  I cruise on 9/27/08 and I have been eating, sleeping, drinking this cruise for the last two months.  I have been on these message boards religiously for the last month or so, every day!  These message boards are like crack, I am totally addicted.  As it stands right now, I am so dead tired, but I HAVE to see what has been posted.  And I have been more active in cruise critic?!  Holly cow!  I am pretty burned out too.  And when someone asks if I am excited about my cruise,  I am super blah about it.  I cruise in 10 days and I know I need to start to think about packing soon, but I just don't have it in my to get started!  I like to pack everything but the kitchen sink so I know there is a lot to organize and I actually feel a little overwhelmed.  I got to get to it though because I do not want to be up late the night before my flight to Miami running around like a chicken with my head cut off because I didn't finish packing.  I know I will feel better once I am on the Lido deck just chillin with my first ever Monkey Head.