Bon voyage streamers?

Does anyone know if you can throw confetti streamers off the side of the ship in Galveston??? People were doing it in Miami last spring but I heard people grumbling about it...

Thanks!

I didn't think they allowed that anymore...it is an enviromental thing plus creates a hazzard for water mammals.

You can by environmentally sound confetti online somewhere...I don't know where though!

I just took my first cruise since I did trans-Atlantic crossings with my family when I was younger. (O.K., much younger). One of the things that struck me was that there were no people on the dock to see us off, so of course no one to catch the streamers if you threw them. The point was that you would hold one end while the friends seeing you off held the other until the streamer broke. I suppose because of security they don't allow visitors but those bon voyage parties were a lot of fun.

I just took my first cruise since I did trans-Atlantic crossings with my family when I was younger. (O.K., much younger). One of the things that struck me was that there were no people on the dock to see us off, so of course no one to catch the streamers if you threw them. The point was that you would hold one end while the friends seeing you off held the other until the streamer broke. I suppose because of security they don't allow visitors but those bon voyage parties were a lot of fun.

Yes, that was how I always imagined it would be the first time I cruised.

I dont know, maybe it was that loveboat show.... The first cruise I went on many years ago, I expected the streamers and this great send off.... Instead it was a lifeboat drill.... Was so dissapointed...

They dont do streamers on the cruise lines... OK, I understand may not be the best thing for the evnvoirment, but still, wish it was like it was on the Love boat show!!

Anyway, even if you cant do this, do go to the sailaway parties, as you leave port, it is fun.....

Me too! I still like the sailaway party, but I want the crowd of people at the pier!!!

I think our most dramatic departure was in 1975 on the last sailing of the Italian Line's Michelangelo. As the ship got under way, every other ship in New York harbor including the Staten Island ferry issued salutes with their horns and of course the Michelangelo responded in kind. The crew and the passengers were in tears.

When I went on my first cruise in 2000 I too thought there would be some kind of send off. I remember looking at the pier and seeing it was deserted. (first cruise out of drydock) But the best time was our last cruise, we sailed out of Tampa and there were people everywhere along the route out to the ocean and they were waving and blowing horns. It was great.

Never had a send off on all the cruises I have been on... But my son went on a cruise with Carnival, and it was on a ship that was doing her first sailing... He told me that the whole pier was lined up with people waving and horn beeping.... He said it was incredible... Was his honeymoon cruise,,, all the better!!!

There are a variety of reasons it does not happen anymore. I remember my first cruises, when I was 4-5-6, in the mid 60s, we always threw streamers. And whether or not they were your friends, people caught them and we each held on to an end, until they broke as the ship pulled away.

Back then, cruising was a luxury. You got dressed up to fly....I have pics of my Mother in hat and gloves boarding a plane, and I was a gabber lil' kid. Today, simply said, cruising has become more common. There are more and more of us on board ship every year. It does not hold the cachet it used to.

The ships today are larger. The open balconies are higher. I'm not sure streamers would reach the pier. (Maybe from some of the private balconies.)

More often than not, back then, friends and family escorted us to the pier and waited around the see the ship leave. Today, we fly across country to depart......and arrive a day or two early in the departure city. Friends are seldom with us....or with anyone else.

Lastly, security........few ports allow visitors to the pier.

On a few ships, especially on special itineraries (think World Cruise on QE2 or QM2, or inaugural cruises for a new ship), the cruise line will provide streamers and confetti to passengers. We've received entire gift bags of things on some recent major cruises. While we had fun tossing them overboard (yes, Cunard says they are eco-friendly streamers), there were few people watching us on the pier.

The times.....they are a'changing.

Back "in the day" we did toss streamers as we sailed away. These days, we bring those small bottles of bubbles you get at weddings and blow bubbles to celebrate. We also bring a little "bubbly" to drink! :cool:

I think the bubbles are a cute idea - however, just be careful and don't spill any of the liquid on the deck. I saw a lady slip in some that a little boy had spilled, and the poor soul sprained her ankle! What a way to start a cruise.:o

Never had a send off on all the cruises I have been on... But my son went on a cruise with Carnival, and it was on a ship that was doing her first sailing... He told me that the whole pier was lined up with people waving and horn beeping.... He said it was incredible... Was his honeymoon cruise,,, all the better!!!

How fun!

I think the bubbles are a cute idea - however, just be careful and don't spill any of the liquid on the deck. I saw a lady slip in some that a little boy had spilled, and the poor soul sprained her ankle! What a way to start a cruise.:o

You are SO RIGHT, I never thought about that. Thank's for the caution!

When we left out of Miami, the cars stopped along the highway and people got out and waved and honked their horns. When we left from Ft. Lauderdale, they sat out on their balconies and some people were barbequeing and waving to us. From NYC....nothing! LOL! On one of our cruises, I took mardi gras beads, noisemakers, and leis and we had our own mini Bon Voyage party.

Tammy

I've always thought leaving out of Fort Lauderdale was lots of fun. The people who live along the route out to sea have always been in their backyards or balconies waving, flashing their lights or blowing horns. Makes it feel more special and fun.