This interview is based on a conversation with Faith Colletti, 63, a retired CPA from Orlando. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My family and I couldn’t wait until my grandson, Elias, turned 6 months old last December.
It cleared us to go on one of our most recent Disney cruises with our second grandchild. There’s a strict policy requiring passengers to be at least that age.
So Elias joined my husband, Pete, and me, his parents, Courtney and Derek, his 4-year-old sister, Madelyn, my son, Peter, and Peter’s girlfriend, Macey, on a Christmas-themed trip from Fort Lauderdale.
We’re headed to Alaska in the summer
We live and breathe Disney cruises. Our first was in 1998, on the maiden voyage of the line’s very first ship off the coast of Florida. Our latest was in March, when we sailed from Singapore.
People always gasp when they hear how many cruises we’ve been on. Our number to date is 98; our 99th is in July.
Most exciting of all, we’re going to Alaska in August to celebrate our 100th — another multi-generational vacation. For that, we’re splurging and shelling out around $30,000 on the Royal Suite.
It will be the most expensive one we’ve ever taken. It will be worth it. There’s nothing like seeing your grandkids’ faces light up when they meet the Disney characters.
My favorite has always been Sorcerer Mickey, with his pointy, blue hat and mischievous side. My granddaughter Madelyn — who has been on 10 cruises so far — loves Pluto the most.
She has plenty of time to change her mind. If I had my way, she’d accompany us on as many cruises as we can afford.
We spent our honeymoon on a cruise
Peter and I had always loved Disney and started a club in Chicago, where we used to live. In 1998, we arranged for members to sail on that inaugural ship, Magic, which toured the Bahamas and docked at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
Courtney and Peter were 7 and 10 at the time. I’d never seen them so thrilled. They loved the games they played with the wait staff.
Pete and I, who’d only been on one cruise before, for our honeymoon in 1984, found the ship to be spacious and luxurious. From that moment on, we were hooked.
Since then, we’ve made a point of joining the maiden voyage of every one of Disney’s fleet. Before Singapore, our travels took us as far afield as Alaska (three times), Norway, and the Mediterranean.
It’s impossible to say which cruise has been the best. One of the contenders was our trip to Italy when the kids were teens. We went to cities including Rome, Piazza, Florence, and Sorrento.
Back then, they allowed liners to pass by St. Mark’s Square. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it looked — like something out of a history book.
Three-day Disney cruises tend to be the most reasonably priced
Peter (68 cruises so far) and Courtney (46 cruises so far) joined us in adulthood. Now that Courtney and Derek have their own children, they’ve been keen to come again. We’ve helped them financially by covering the kids’ expenses.
I’ve found that some of the most reasonably priced trips included our three-day “Very Merrytime” cruise. Last Christmas, we paid $2,600 for balcony-connecting rooms for Pete and me, and Peter and Macey.
I’ve been asked for my advice about these cruises many times. My biggest suggestion is to book early. Prices go up as the ship fills, so it’s cheaper to book as soon as an itinerary is released, usually a year or so beforehand.
I also tell people to take a lot of photographs: not always a big group of you in formal dress. It’s nice to have individual pictures of Pete and me together, or with the little ones.
The simplest things bring joy
Most of all, be in the moment. Do as many activities as you can. Treasure the memories.
The simplest things bring joy. I’ll watch Madelyn as she runs around the themed splash pads, like Nemo’s Reef. I wish I could bottle the happiness I feel.
Do you travel with multiple generations in your family? Please email Jane Ridley at jridley@insider.com if you’d like to share your experiences with Business Insider.
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