I want you're lovin' and I want it right now...

**BSB Cruise 2011 Updates**

I paid off my BSB Cruise 2011 this week!  Woohoo!  There are still other things that need to be figured out but I have the most important part taken care of.

Originally, I had wanted to fly down to Florida on November 30th so that I would have two days in Miami.  Last year, I did not get to explore Miami at all because as soon as I got into Miami, we headed straight to the venue where the Backstreet Boys were having their Acoustic Show event since it was general admission.  However, I recently received a promotion at work in which I will now be the Site Coordinator of the after school program that I work for.  This means I am in charge of the program at my site.  While I have an assistant that could run the program while I am gone, I hate giving someone else that responsibility.  Plus, she is currently pregnant and her due date is only weeks after the Cruise.  There is a possibility that she could go into labor early while I am on the Cruise.  So now I want to make sure that I miss as little work as possible.  Plus, I don't get paid for time off and, let's face it, we all need money.  Now the plan is to fly in the day before the cruise.  This is mainly because it has been confirmed that the Backstreet Boys will be having some type of event the evening before the Cruise again.  I hope that it is not General Admission once again so that I might be able to explore Miami a bit this time.

My plan is to fly into Ft. Lauderdale, even though the cruise leaves out of Miami.  I did this same thing last year.  I had several reasons for this.  1) I knew I was going to have to check luggage and Southwest does not charge for checked luggage.  But, they do not fly into Miami.  2)  It is cheaper in general to fly into Ft. Lauderdale.  3) The transportation costs from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami was still cheaper than what it would have cost me to check my luggage with another flight that flies into Miami.  4) Southwest's Wanna Get Away fare is just cheaper in general than other airlines.  These are all the reasons I am looking at doing this once again.  Last year, I had to fly by myself because I was coming from Chicago but my roommate was coming from Nashville.  This year, I know two people who are also flying from Chicago so this year I will actually have some travel companions.  I am checking the Southwest website every day and waiting for the flight prices to go down.  The next time the prices are decreased, I will be purchasing my flight.

The hotel in Miami is already booked.  I will be rooming with at least my two cruise roommates and possibly the two that are flying with me.  We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown.  This is where I stayed last year with Tammy, my roommate from last year, and my two roommates for this year, Laura and Cory.  I actually met Laura and Cory last year on the Fan Club when I was looking for someone in which to share a hotel.  We liked the location of the hotel last year, the price, and the quality of the hotel.  I know there are also some other BSB fans that will be staying there again.  I think the coolest thing about this hotel was that we saw the Carnival Destiny from our window when we awoke the morning of the cruise.  Hopefully, the same will happen this year with the Carnival Imagination.

Carnival Destiny from hotel room - BSB Cruise 2010

Last Year's Cruise Roommates - Me, Cory, Tammy, and Laura

BSB Cruise 2011 Roommates - Chrissy, Cory, and Laura

Not only did I pay the cruise off this week, but the themes for the cruise were also released.  I have mixed reviews about them but I am sure that once I get to shopping for them, I will be much more excited.  I think the reason I have mixed feelings is because I was really wanting to dress up a little more for this year's themes.  However, I don't think these themes lend to this as much as last years.  Plus, I liked how the themes were more BSB related last year.

1)  Sphynkter 80s Night - While, I was born in the 80s, I only spent my first 6 years in it...a bit to young to actually take part in the fashion of the time.  I have done my research and have some ideas.  I already have one component of the outfit, tried it on the other day, and it does fit.  So that is a plus.  However, there are many more components I have to buy.

2)  PDA Pajama Jam - Usually, I just wear shorts and a t-shirt when I sleep.  I know many girls may go the lingerie route but not me.  I am going to go comfy and have some ideas.  I just need to find the perfect components.  I may actually relate it to one of the outfits I wore last year.

3)  The Perfect Fan Prom Night - I have four options for this.  I can wear one of the three dresses I have from my sorority formals or I can go buy a new dress.  I am actually leaning towards one dress in particular but am wondering how I am going to transport it there and if it is actually too much.  I would much rather use a dress I already have so I don't have to spent more than I have to.

So right now that is all the information I have for my BSB Cruise 2011 plans.  As I continue to make my plans, I will continue to update.  We are getting very close to being in double digits for our countdown and that makes me very happy!

For more specific information about BSB Cruise 2010 and 2011, check out Laura's Blog:  Backstreet Boys Cruise.