Block parties

Any recent SB cruisers, are they still holding the block parties on the big sisters? There wasn't one on our last cruise, but that was 7 day port intensive.

I must admit that I find the concept rather disconcerting and have skipped them previously.

Any recent SB cruisers, are they still holding the block parties on the big sisters? There wasn't one on our last cruise, but that was 7 day port intensive.

I must admit that I find the concept rather disconcerting and have skipped them previously.

Yes I avoid them although there will probably be one on the Sojourn this Christmas.

I find that they take place just when you are in the middle of getting ready for dinner

Yes I avoid them although there will probably be one on the Sojourn this Christmas.

 

I find that they take place just when you are in the middle of getting ready for dinner

Have to agree - there is something a bit forced about them, sadly. We have usually forgotten, are getting ready for cocktails and then dare not go outside the suite in case it is still going on!! No doubt the really sociable enjoy them.

Have to agree - there is something a bit forced about them, sadly. We have usually forgotten, are getting ready for cocktails and then dare not go outside the suite in case it is still going on!! No doubt the really sociable enjoy them.

My husband and I are rolling laughing reading this post because that's exactly what happened to us on Quest!

We stayed behind the suite door, in our evening finery, listening to the frivolities out in the corridor and didn't leave until it had all been quiet for five minutes.

We didn't have one in Sojourn in June or October. Or if we did, it wasn't announced anywhere and we had no idea it was going on.

There was such a "party" on the Quest's recent crossing to Rio. For me it's silly and contrived. Something for children, possibly, but there were no under 12s on the voyage.

Nope, not for me!

Happy sailing!

Ps- I will be on the March crossing and don't intend to do the corridor thing then either.

We enjoyed it. Contrived yes, but nonetheless, a nice way to met our hall-mates. Instead of just a smile, as one passes by, we know knew their names, and a little bit about them...

We enjoyed it. Contrived yes, but nonetheless, a nice way to met our hall-mates. Instead of just a smile, as one passes by, we know knew their names, and a little bit about them...

There you have it folks.

It is enjoyed by Americans but not by the English.:)

I cannot see any fun in standing in a ships corridor with a drink and a canape in ones hand talking to your neighbours.

Much more civilised to socialise in a bar, a lounge or at the dinner table.

There you have it folks.

 

It is enjoyed by Americans but not by the English.:)

 

I cannot see any fun in standing in a ships corridor with a drink and a canape in ones hand talking to your neighbours.

 

Much more civilised to socialise in a bar, a lounge or at the dinner table.

My husband's French. He says he reluctantly concurs with his Anglo Saxon cousins on this one. :D

He's generally more sociable than I am, but he found the block party event puzzling and was a bit mortified at the thought of standing in a corridor to meet people. He's with you Mr L - he says that there are far better ways to meet fellow guests than hanging around in a corridor.

Mr Luxury...Your comments re: trans pond cultural differences are interesting & thought provoking. However, far too much is being made of this block party. It is a very low key attempt to permit [adult] neighbors to meet one another. Always friendly and relaxed. If anyone doesn't wish to attend, don't....but frankly, I cannot imagine anyone hiding behind their stateroom door untll it is finished. Wow!...that is a trans-pond difference. Just leave your stateroom and head wherever you wish to go. No one will care that you chose not to join in.

Actually, just to clarify, my initial post was simply asking IF the block parties are still happening.

I perhaps made a mistake by admitting in that first post that they aren't my thing at all, which has led us to a discussion more on whether we like them or not,rather than the original reason for my posting.

We haven't even boarded and already neighbours will be hiding behind their doors trying to avoid us!

To be fair any such activity probably won't extend to the depths of the engine room where our humble digs are located :)

Henry.

Mr Luxury...Your comments re: trans pond cultural differences are interesting & thought provoking. However, far too much is being made of this block party. It is a very low key attempt to permit [adult] neighbors to meet one another. Always friendly and relaxed. If anyone doesn't wish to attend, don't....but frankly, I cannot imagine anyone hiding behind their stateroom door untll it is finished. Wow!...that is a trans-pond difference. Just leave your stateroom and head wherever you wish to go. No one will care that you chose not to join in.

That is the problem with most Brits - they fear that people will 'care' and think badly of them!! We tend to be much too self-conscious. (speaking for myself, probably not Mr. L?) ;)

That is the problem with most Brits - they fear that people will 'care' and think badly of them!! We tend to be much too self-conscious. (speaking for myself, probably not Mr. L?) ;)

More reserved in my case,but a jolly soul in the right situation. :)

We haven't even boarded and already neighbours will be hiding behind their doors trying to avoid us!

 

To be fair any such activity probably won't extend to the depths of the engine room where our humble digs are located :)

 

Henry.

Henry,I heard that you were in the laundry with your family.

Just a light starch for my shirts please.:)

I first had exposure to a block party on another line, Voyager, I think. I think it's a nice idea to get to meet one's neighbors. We are not talking a command performance, here. On a larger ship it's tougher to meet people so I would recommend it again for the big sisters. Onr time, on disembarkation, I crept out to read the luggage tags on my neighbor's suitace. Never saw them the whole time, and I was curious. Turns out they were from Germany very close to where I had lived years ago, I saw it as a missed opportunity, not getting to meet them. Never found a need to knock on their door to borrow a cup of champagne.

There you have it folks.

 

It is enjoyed by Americans but not by the English.:)

 

So that would explain the British accents that kept us in our suite on Sojourn last week.

Henry,I heard that you were in the laundry with your family.

 

Just a light starch for my shirts please.:)

The grease from re-packing the stern glands would play merry hell in the laundry, they won't let me near the place.

Henry :)

Well my problem is that I'm self-conscious because I'm reserved. And I'm reserved because I'm self-conscious!

My husband has a theory that one of the reasons we have such a dreadful binge drinking culture in the UK is because of our reserved nature. Drinking unleashes the beast, of course, and allows people to let off the steam that they otherwise wouldn't. I'm fairly sure that's not the only reason but it could be a teeny contributing factor.

Anyway, we'll be on Sojourn again in March. If a block party is held and it's in the early evening, I'll make sure I'm already in the Observation Bar before the party starts. :)

The grease from re-packing the stern glands would play merry hell in the laundry

Not being a sailor, to my ear "stern glands" sounds like something one would buy in the butcher's :p. A bit like sweetbreads. Nice lightly fried with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Well my problem is that I'm self-conscious because I'm reserved. And I'm reserved because I'm self-conscious!

My husband has a theory that one of the reasons we have such a dreadful binge drinking culture in the UK is because of our reserved nature. Drinking unleashes the beast, of course, and allows people to let off the steam that they otherwise wouldn't. I'm fairly sure that's not the only reason but it could be a teeny contributing factor.

 

Anyway, we'll be on Sojourn again in March. If a block party is held and it's in the early evening, I'll make sure I'm already in the Observation Bar before the party starts. :)

That's the way.

Get bladdered first.

If you do get bladdered and then return to your cabin during the block party, I have a practical suggestion. You might spare yourself any and all of that self-conscious stuff and/or embarrassment by wearing a "Howdy Neighbour!" button.

The rest is up to you.

Happy sailing!

If you do get bladdered and then return to your cabin during the block party, I have a practical suggestion. You might spare yourself any and all of that self-conscious stuff and/or embarrassment by wearing a "Howdy Neighbour!" button.

 

The rest is up to you.

 

Happy sailing!

I suppose a cowboy hat would complete the ensemble and conform to the dress code for the evening.:)

Surely one of the great things about cruising is that of 500 people on board you are highly unlikely to ever see the vast majority again.

Get out there & fill your boots.

Henry :)

Surely one of the great things about cruising is that of 500 people on board you are highly unlikely to ever see the vast majority again.

 

Get out there & fill your boots.

 

Henry :)

You would be surprised who you bump into in a corridor on a ship late at night;)