Going on a cruise was something I always wanted to experience. However, raising five kids on a farm and ranch in Idaho made it a little hard to do. Sure, we took our family on some fun vacations and trips. However, it was my dream to go on a cruise. Mostly because I have always loved the ocean.

I finally convinced my husband, Frank, into taking a spring cruise vacation. After spring calving was finished, of course! Next began a nine month adventure of planning and researching our first cruise.

It started with finding a great travel agent. The agent needed to be willing to answer every question I had, which was a lot.

Interesting fact; Carole, my first travel agent, is now my Cruise Planner franchise host for my cruise travel business.

Researching cruises back then took a little more effort. There weren’t any cruise Facebook groups. My Carnival Cruising For First Timers group didn’t exist. Only the forums on Cruise Critic were available, and the internet didn’t easily provide a lot of information. But I kept digging and ended up with a 2” binder full of guides, tips and information!

One week after watching our youngest daughter graduate from college, Frank and I jumped on a plane.

We flew to Miami to board the Carnival Triumph for seven nights in the Caribbean. It was May 2006.

I was a little apprehensive because I had spent so much time planning and dreaming about this cruise. I was afraid it just couldn’t live up to all of the hype and my expectations.

I shouldn’t have worried. It was everything, and even more, than I dreamed it would be!

We loved touring the beautiful island of St Thomas. We enjoyed swimming at the gorgeous beaches of St Maarten. And walking through the streets of San Juan in Puerto Rico was delightful. I couldn’t wait to book another one!

So began our cruise addiction!

My passion for cruising eventually led me to my retired “bucket list” dream job of becoming a cruise travel advisor. Jeannette Wilding Cruise Planners!

My grandson told me, “Grandma, it’s the perfect job for you. You love to cruise and you love to talk!”