Vacation Anticipation...no it is not a disease (although it is the result of addictive behavior to having great vacation experiences, cruising is highly addictive).
Vacation Anticipation starts with your first glimpse of where you want to go and the experience you dream of being in.
It could start with the television ad you just watched with the suddenly emancipated from everyday life Dad dancing like never before seen by his kids in the cruise ship dance club, the couple taking a romantic walk down a deserted tropical beach or even the sight of Mom jet-skiing through the water. you know the ads, you remember the jingles and you catch yourself humming the theme song as you walk up the gangway to embark on your voyage, (ok, when you get to the top of the gangway you buy your first tropical drink, then you feel that theme song ...you have arrived, let the games begin). You have thought about this moment for a long time...it's here, what to do first!
That's where it all starts, then you make that call or reach out to someone like my wife or I to share your enthusiasm and your vision of your perfect vacation, sometimes with a little trepidation of course..."it has to be expensive right?" Not necessarily of course, it depends on what you want to do, where you want to go and when but we help map that all out for you and come up with some options. You're anticipation hits a bit of a lull but it comes back when we help you decide on your final choice. because we did all the legwork for you , you can go back to dreaming and your vacation anticipation.
I have to admit, I have never even heard of this phrase until i read one of those boxed surveys in USA Today that showed results to the question, "Which part of your vacation do you most look forward to?". The answer choices were , anticipation of your trip, leaving for your trip, being on the trip or returning home from your trip.
Not surprisingly coming home had the least votes but to my surprise VACATION ANTICIPATION had the most!
Really? What is going on here? People have more fun anticipating their vacation than actually being on it? How can that be?
Like many other things the journey seems to be more of an experience than the destination. i would not have voted that way I happen to like the vacation experience...live in the moment an all that kind of stuff.
It makes me kind of glad to hear that about people, that means when we help clients plan their vacation, we are part of their experience. That makes it all the more important that we do a good job in finding vacation options to match their dream vacation....we are actually taking the lead in their experience....the will build memories that will last a lifetime (especially if traveling with a family group or close friends), we get to be a part of that. OK, I'll admit it, would I like to be on that ship to see them off and take part of that first toast of that tropical drink...of course, would we like to be there when they first set foot in the lobby of that beautiful all-inclusive resort, when they are handed a glass of champagne and a hot towel ...of course, those scenarios would be fun, it would certainly keep us busy but just knowing we are starting them off on the right path for an experience they may have been dreaming about for a lifetime is satisfaction enough.
So as I write this I am enjoying my own period of Vacation Anticipation, (yes , just like the ballplayer that admits to still having butterflies before he gets to play for the 1000th time in front of thousands of people, that feeling envelopes those of us that have traveled often and deal with it daily).
In a couple of days we embark on a family reunion cruise with all we could round up this time out, it doesn't matter how many of us will be there, there will be more next time, but the anticipation of this vacation has been festering for about 9 months now....will it be better than the actual voyage...probably not, but it has given us 9 months to get closer, talk excitedly about our vacation together and I am sure it will be a memorable trip.
How do you rank VACATION ANTICIPATION?
Let us know, if you don't get it, give us a call and let us start planning your vacation with you....it's contagious, you'll come down with the symptoms of Vacation Anticipation, you know daydreaming, smiling and counting the days on the calendar until it arrives. (don't even get me started with how the kids handle this)
I'll be back with pictures and experiences of our first family reunion cruise in a week or so, but for now, I have to anticipate packing!
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