Election cruise

[merryecho]

Our Rotterdam cruise sails 11/2. I am afraid the ship will be half full of very happy people and half full of really unhappy people, no matter what the outcome of our presidential election. Even worse, we are a group of 6 couples, half dem and half republicans, all of whom believe fervently that the other parties candidate is a disaster. Should be interesting- if you are onboard on election day, don't forget to order your absentee ballot!

[ekerr19]

I feel your pain! We are cruising with my MIL and we have VERY differing views on politics. We also sail 11/3/04... I plan to avoid the topic completely!

[localady]

Maybe HAL should ban the discussion of politics on that cruise, make it an "election-free zone", as you all are right, some will be ectastic, others furious.:eek: It's amazing how truly divided our Nation is with regard to this particular election!:cool:

[RuthC]

Now aren't 'ya sorry that cruise ships ever added televisions, telephones, internet, etc, etc, etc!
Once upon a time you sailed off and totally left the news of the world behind.

It was wonderful.

[RevNeal]

Ruth, I was thinking exactly the same thing! It would be lovely just to bar all information from coming into the ship and leave everybody out of the loop. By the time the ship docked at the end of the Cruise it would all be over.

We hope.

[jazzsea]

I would like to cruise during that time and also would like to cruise while the parties are having their conventions. I'm really sick of hearing about it and hearing people argue. I'd be glad to miss all the media reports leading up to election day and all through the week..... I'm on Rotterdam October 20 - 30 and wish I had been able to take the later cruise so that I could miss it all.

[HeatherInFlorida]

At least you won't have to listen to the blah blah blah rhetoric of the talking heads on Election Day. Lucky you! Vote before you go and forget it. What's done is done by then:D

And no matter who becomes President, we will trudge on no matter what anyone tells us. This is still the best country in the world. That's what I believe and I'm sticking with it:D

[dakrewser]

Ruth, I was thinking exactly the same thing! It would be lovely just to bar all information from coming into the ship and leave everybody out of the loop. By the time the ship docked at the end of the Cruise it would all be over.

We hope.
That's what we thought in 2000, so we headed for the Loire valley in France for a barge cruise followed by a few days in Paris. No phone, no TV, no radio - it should have been great. Well, it was great, but out of 16 people on the barge there were two guys who hopped over the side whenever we neared a town, grabbed a bike and tried to find an enflish-language newspaper. They managed to thrive for a couple of days on a week-old International Herald Tribune (with no actual information in it).

We were gone for over two weeks, and the election was still the big news when we got back!

We can't get away this year, as one son is gaining a new wife and the other is gaining a new daughter so we need to be around in November. But in 2008, I think a month in Tahiti might work!:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have already sent in our forms to have our absentee ballots sent to us before we leave as we will also be on a cruise when the election is held.

[HeatherInFlorida]

But in 2008, I think a month in Tahiti might work!:)Yes, Tahiti will work. But you will have to go over to Bora Bora, Moorea, or one of the other smaller islands. Tahiti itself is way too civilized!!:D

I want to tell you that I so enjoy all your posts. They are wonderful each and every time. Thank you for your brilliant contributions!

[jhannah]

We all should just realize that no matter who gets elected, it's the congress that will continue to muddy the water by deficit spending and passage of insane legislation. The president has very little power over that, regardless of what they say. What will be, will be. Go on with life and live within your environment as best you can. Fretting and obsessing over who got elected only serves one purpose ... selling acid reducers and anxiety medications!

[dakrewser]

I want to tell you that I so enjoy all your posts. They are wonderful each and every time. Thank you for your brilliant contributions!
:o :o :eek: :o

[imsulin]

I was in Ireland during the 2000 elections, and we both did absentee ballots before we left (except that SO lives in FL...not sure his vote even counted!). It was very interesting, to say the least! We were having breakfast (which would have been very late the previous night in the States)., when it was announced that Candidate XXX had won, there were cheers and jubilations from the hotel staff...as well as many in our tour group. About an hour later, as we were getting ready to board the bus, it was announced that Candidate ZZZ had won. Talk about unbelief and dismay from our Irish hosts...as well as a number of our group!! Unbelievable! Fiirst time I've ever been out of the US for a Presidential election...hopefully not the last!!

[HeatherInFlorida]

Is there any possibility that we can keep this non-partisan? Probably not, but can we at least give it a try?

I thought this thread was about escaping political banter yet I detect a distinct strain here even though no one candidate has been mentioned.

It would be so nice not to have a political diatribe at least out here in happy cruiseland:o . Please?

[imsulin]

Sorry, Heather. I was only relating my experience, but you're right. Again, I apologize.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Sorry, Heather. I was only relating my experience, but you're right. Again, I apologize.It wasn't just you. Absolutely no need to apologize, but I certainly accept it anyway:o . I could just see the writing on the wall and what started out to be a thread about getting away from it all appeared to be going in the direction of the religion threads where it is all I can do to hold my tongue.

You cannot know how difficult that is:D;) .

[merryecho]

As the person who started the thread, I didn't intend it to be about getting away from the election at all. In fact, I consider this to be the most important election of my life, and hope to celebrate with like minded people if our candidate wins.

[HeatherInFlorida]

As the person who started the thread, I didn't intend it to be about getting away from the election at all. In fact, I consider this to be the most important election of my life, and hope to celebrate with like minded people if our candidate wins.Whether or not an endless discussion of politics on a cruise was your original intent, it was the direction the thread took.

There is a thread about religion that has become very heated and quite nasty and if this thread becomes partisan, it will end up the same way. Of that there is no question in my mind.

Believe me, very few people are more politically motivated and involved than I am, and I'm sure I feel as strongly about my candidate as you do about yours, but this is a cruise board. Walt pointed out some time back that there are plenty of political boards to choose from where we can argue our personal political views.

This is not one of them.

[dakrewser]

As the person who started the thread, I didn't intend it to be about getting away from the election at all. In fact, I consider this to be the most important election of my life, and hope to celebrate with like minded people if our candidate wins.
But can we still vote for 2 entrees?

How 'bout if we elect one guy, find he's not to our taste - can we send him back and choose another one?

Can we all join hands and vote out loud?

If you cast your vote in a verandah cabin next to the glass elevator - can everyone read your ballot?

If cruise lines were voting machines, what kind would HAL be?

:)

[sail7seas]

So....

We have the thread re: Religion on-going.

Now we have a thread re: Politics on-going.

Who is going to start the one re: Money?

Then we will be covering all of the subjects many folks avoid discussing with folks they don't know personally and know well.

For once, I shall keep my rather wordy mouth shut. :D

[localady]

I've learned enough around here by now to also keep my mouth shut!!!!:eek:

It took awhile but now I will stay away from religion, politics and class systems here on the CC board. I also will refrain from comments on other cruise lines ( esp. Carnival!!!!):rolleyes: :cool:

I am a slow learner, but eventually it sinks into my thick skull;) :cool:

[merryecho]

Gosh Heather, nothing was the least bit heated until you took it on yourself to tell the rest if us what we are allowed to discuss. If you read my previous posts I was very careful to not endorse any party or candidate. The point of my thread was that ALL of us who care deeply about this election will want to celebrate if our candidate wins. It will be a thrilling night for some of us, as this year almost no one seems to be sitting on the fence. I respect your right to support the candidate of your choice, and wouldn't dream of arguing about politics here. What I am discussing is being away from the election celebration (or commiseration) while on a cruise.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Good one, Dave, ... you never disappoint:)

Sail, you are so so wise. Would that I were so wise. Sometimes my fingers just can't stay off the keys;) .

[HeatherInFlorida]

Gosh Heather, nothing was the least bit heated until you took it on yourself to tell the rest if us what we are allowed to discuss. If you read my previous posts I was very careful to not endorse any party or candidate. The point of my thread was that ALL of us who care deeply about this election will want to celebrate if our candidate wins. It will be a thrilling night for some of us, as this year almost no one seems to be sitting on the fence. I respect your right to support the candidate of your choice, and wouldn't dream of arguing about politics here. What I am discussing is being away from the election celebration (or commiseration) while on a cruise.Okay. Now I've had it. I never told you what to discuss. My first post I said this was a great country. My second post talked about Tahiti. My third post suggested that we not be partisan. I can't think of anything less confrontational than that.

You do not get to decide the direction this thread or any other takes. You started it but you don't own it. It took the direction of people discussing (before I posted) how much they enjoyed getting away from the banter. And I echoed that sentiment.

Then a couple of posts clearly stated their views and all I did was suggest we not be partisan. If that bothers you, so be it. But for the life of me I cannot figure out what got your knickers in a knot.

[dakrewser]

Gosh Heather, nothing was the least bit heated until you took it on yourself to tell the rest if us what we are allowed to discuss. If you read my previous posts I was very careful to not endorse any party or candidate. The point of my thread was that ALL of us who care deeply about this election will want to celebrate if our candidate wins. It will be a thrilling night for some of us, as this year almost no one seems to be sitting on the fence. I respect your right to support the candidate of your choice, and wouldn't dream of arguing about politics here. What I am discussing is being away from the election celebration (or commiseration) while on a cruise.
What you seem to be missing is that most of us who sail at that time of year do so, at least in part, to get away from the elction hoopla. Personally, I'm already tired of the media coverage since absolutely nothing new has happened in over a month - but Mr. Murdoch and his ilk still have to make us think there's "news".

-dave

[sail7seas]

Heather..........:) You give me way too much credit. :o

I have put pushed those keyboard keys a GREAT many times and have been pounced on enough times to say to myself:

"Self: Stay out of it. "

There are no winners in this sort of conversation. I feel it a far too personal subject to discuss either on a BB or at a cruise ship dining table with people one has just met.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather..........:) You give me way too much credit. :o

I have put pushed those keyboard keys a GREAT many times and have been pounced on enough times to say to myself:

"Self: Stay out of it. "

There are no winners in this sort of conversation. I feel it a far too personal subject to discuss either on a BB or at a cruise ship dining table with people one has just met.Sail, you are right and I am tired and quite done with it. Sometimes it's hard. At least that other horrifying thread got shut down. Just got emailed a post about where a guy likes his breakfast ... on the verandah, in the Lido or in the dining room ... and I thought to myself "Oh that's right! This is about cruising!":)

Enjoy the day, Sail.