why not join in roll calls?

[montana200024]

i have been cruising for many years and I was wandering why so few people join in on the roll calls, and to me it seems less and less all the time..

 

I have met some amazing friends from the roll calls, talking to them for months and then meeting them at the meet and greets, i find it so exciting to chat with other fellow cruisers that are going on the same ship as us...

[cb at sea]

Well, only the folks on Cruise Critic will even KNOW about "Roll Calls"...and Cruise Critic members are a teensy percentage of actual cruisers! Something like 2-3%...

 

Not everyone vacations to make friends...and that's what most people consider a cruise to be....just a vacation!

 

We enjoy talking to others, especially at dinner, bars, pool, etc....but that's about as far as it goes. Once in a while, we'll head to a show with our table mates, but usually, we're on our own for the majority of the time.

[snc_cam]

and it depends on the roll call. Just finished a cruise and there were about 15 different CC people frequently involved. Got to know about half very well. On two others I am involved in, one is even slower than the previous cruise, and one is VERY active. There are about 20-30 active people and others that are semi-active. I've found it to be a good way get to know people and setup private excursions.

[champagne123]

Well, only the folks on Cruise Critic will even KNOW about "Roll Calls"...and Cruise Critic members are a teensy percentage of actual cruisers! Something like 2-3%...

 

Not everyone vacations to make friends...and that's what most people consider a cruise to be....just a vacation!

 

We enjoy talking to others, especially at dinner, bars, pool, etc....but that's about as far as it goes. Once in a while, we'll head to a show with our table mates, but usually, we're on our own for the majority of the time.

 

One Hundred Percent agree with this statement. We feel the same exact way.

[winddawn]

i have been cruising for many years and I was wandering why so few people join in on the roll calls, and to me it seems less and less all the time..

 

I have met some amazing friends from the roll calls, talking to them for months and then meeting them at the meet and greets, i find it so exciting to chat with other fellow cruisers that are going on the same ship as us...

I think that is because more and more people are using social media for the same purpose instead.

[falkcor]

I think it depends on a person's circumstances.

 

some people vacation to 'relax' and meeting up with others from a web site would not be on their 'to do' list

 

others vacation with their significant other for 'alone time' and the same would be true

 

same for those vacationing with family for 'family time' etc

 

some people are shy and wouldn't see any appeal in being recognized all around the ship by a group of 'strangers'

 

others might not want to make 'virtual friends' on a cruise site, and find it 'creepy' that they'd sacrifice their anonymity on this site

 

and now a point specifically about the roll calls on this site - some might be scared off by what they see there lol! I've seen some bizarre stuff on roll calls that I wouldn't want to associate with.

 

another thing to take into consideration is that this site represents a very small amount of the cruising public, so its not like 3000 people decided not to join, maybe 1 percent of that, being perhaps generous

 

some might not want to participate as they don't want to commit to meeting up, etc on the ship - in terms of 'obligations' while on vacation. I've actually participated in a roll call and just plain forgot to go to the meet up.

 

also, when people are traveling with family, friends etc those others may have no interest in meeting up with 'strangers' from the internet

 

finally, some people would just see no need to join a roll call before a cruise, they make friends on the cruise itself. I think I'm in that camp. I have no trouble making 'cruise friends' - like minded people with similar interests are often drawn to the same venues, activities, etc. (such as say the piano bar) and end up meeting up and each other in a kind of natural manner. And just as the virtues of 'making life long friends' etc is touted of roll call participation, the same is true of these relationships. I had a splendor reunion party a few weeks ago where a few of us got together, and a few of us will be going to one couple's wedding, on a ship in ny harbor (ironic, I think not) in a few months.

 

so, just saying, it shouldn't be that incomprehensible - different strokes for different folks, I suppose. It just doesn't appeal to everybody.

[Valentine's Mom]

To tell the truth every time my husband and I join we are ignored. Seems like a group forms inside the roll call and if you aren't in that group they don't talk to you. I have had more posts ignored than I can say so I don't try anymore.

[RWolver672]

The first cruise I was involved with for a Roll Call, was a disaster. One ring leader turned out to be a PITA to put it bluntly. After our first meeting, I stayed far away from him. He was telling everybody in the group to sue Carnival because we missed two ports. Ah...ever read your contract?

 

The next two decided they wanted to meet at sailaway. We enjoy being on our balcony at sailaway. Then they decided they wanted to do cabin crawls and pub crawls. Don't want strangers going through our cabin and don't want to do a pub crawl let alone on a Sunday morning.

 

Haven't even checked on any since then.

[taillon]

I think many people join groups on facebook instead of the roll calls here. I have always joined roll calls. This time I found that everyone had moved to a facebook page so I joined that. We have made some cruising friends through the roll calls but that isn't why I joined. At first I joined because I was new to cruising and had many questions and on the later cruises I like excursion ideas and tips. Our cruise next month is extra easy because one of the girls has gotten as together for some group rate excursions. Pretty sweet!

[montana200024]

i have been cruising for many years and I was wandering why so few people join in on the roll calls, and to me it seems less and less all the time..

 

I have met some amazing friends from the roll calls, talking to them for months and then meeting them at the meet and greets, i find it so exciting to chat with other fellow cruisers that are going on the same ship as us...

 

this is so interesting, thank you for your input...

[Warm Breezes]

I join roll calls to gather and share information about our common interest...our cruise. I don't, however, participate in any meet n greets or whatever some people plan on for onboard. Like cb at sea said we don't vacation to make new friends and to socialize. We vacation to reconnect with each other....be it just DH and myself or our whole family. This is our time together and that is how we like to vacation.

[Harry and Lucille]

I have put together the roll call for a cruise in Feb. Those who want to join in, OK. Slot pull in the afternoon? Those who want to join OK. Tour on Grenada? Those who want to join? OK

 

A cruse is for each individual. Join in something or not? OK

 

Something that you don't like or want to join? OK

 

Table for 2 or a group of 8? OK

 

Just go with the roll and flow of the ship for your own experience. No need to talk down or flame anyone for their opinion. It their cruise also.

 

Just relax and enjoy your time aboard. No big deal. ;)

[ronandannette]

I must say that I join the CC Roll Call for all my cruises, just to get myself in the "swing" a bit beforehand. I enjoy a little back-and-forth with others on the boards and am happy when I can answer a question for a newbie or otherwise contribute in some way. BUT...that's where it ends. We're absolutely not interested in a meet 'n mingle, cabin crawl, gift exchange or slot-pull. We had one experience where a very zealous Roll Caller was a little put-out by our lack of participation and actually pursued us once on board. I've learned to be much more careful about the identifying information I reveal on the Roll Calls as well as being very specific about declining group activities.

 

EDITED IN RESPONSE TO HARRY & LUCILLE: I've read the entire thread before I posted and nobody is flaming anybody. I think it's nice if people who are very social can "find" one another to enhance their cruise experience even though I basically just want to be left alone.

Edited October 10, 2014 by ronandannette

[Husky61]

We never join the roll call. We don't cruise to meet people, we are happy doing our thing.:)

[navybankerteacher]

Roll calls are helpful in getting general information about the ship and ports. We often connect with people (after getting a sense of compatibility) to share rides from airport to pre-cruise city - amazing how many from one cruise can be on the same flight, also to share transport from pre-cruise hotel to port: Rome is a great example; and finally to arrange group private tours once common interest/attitude is established.

 

It is certainly worth joining a roll call to just consider the possibility of the above -

[wrigley80]

I love joining in on roll call discussions and activities. It is such a great way to meet new people.

A big part of the reason why we cruise is to meet people and make new friends

[Scrapnana]

As a solo cruiser, I love being on a roll call. It is a great way to have some ready-made friends once I get on the ship. I have been on two very active roll calls and have met some great people.

[Marie51]

I cruise to have time away with my family or friends that I am cruising with. I don't care to meet new people and make small talk. This is not why I go on vacation. If meeting new people is your thing then fine but it is not for all of us.

[Harry and Lucille]

I must say that I join the CC Roll Call for all my cruises, just to get myself in the "swing" a bit beforehand. I enjoy a little back-and-forth with others on the boards and am happy when I can answer a question for a newbie or otherwise contribute in some way. BUT...that's where it ends. We're absolutely not interested in a meet 'n mingle, cabin crawl, gift exchange or slot-pull. We had one experience where a very zealous Roll Caller was a little put-out by our lack of participation and actually pursued us once on board. I've learned to be much more careful about the identifying information I reveal on the Roll Calls as well as being very specific about declining group activities.

 

EDITED IN RESPONSE TO HARRY & LUCILLE: I've read the entire thread before I posted and nobody is flaming anybody. I think it's nice if people who are very social can "find" one another to enhance their cruise experience even though I basically just want to be left alone.

 

Did you just flame me? ;)

 

People do find each other. Or not. Their choice. All is OK. I am basically a loner too. Folks have a way of coming together in their own way. Early morning coffee. Casino. Tours. Etc. etc.

 

That is what makes it good. We just figure that it is all good in one way or another. No need to be a social butterfly or a hermit. Things just seem to work out on their own don't they.

 

Harry

[fishywood]

Most Cruise Critic members are here for the exchange of information, not socialization. That is why the roll calls seem less active by comparison to the discussion boards.

 

Some people do like going to the "meet and greets" on the few lines that formally acknowledge Cruise Critic and sponsor the event, so those roll calls will nominally have more participants--but will they be active joiners, or are just there for the freebies at the M&G?

 

And on the other lines, everyone is at the mercy of the peculiarities of the first person who starts the roll call. By that I mean someone who does things like post in an oversized non-standard font and color just to call attention to themselves...

[OCruisers]

To tell the truth every time my husband and I join we are ignored. Seems like a group forms inside the roll call and if you aren't in that group they don't talk to you. I have had more posts ignored than I can say so I don't try anymore.

 

Sadly' date=' this does happen. :(

When I'm on a roll call, I try to make sure everyone feels included by responding to their comments and questions.

If I'm feeling excluded, I chat with others on the roll call who are also being excluded. :D

LuLu [/size']

[Cruisin' Chick]

a few cruises ago I joined CC (knew about the site, not about the forums until I started poking around) and decided to ask questions about our upcoming cruise as it was a new itinerary for us and wanted to know about sea conditions. I saw the roll section and started a roll call (it was about 13 months before our cruise).

 

The next cruise, there was a roll call started (we had booked about 5 weeks or so before the sailing) but had decided to surprise someone so I emailed the lead person and said to keep me off any list before the cruise but I'll go to the meet and greet.

 

Princess had started putting roll calls on their facebook page, but when I checked them out, I noticed there was no privacy (anyone can look and see the names of people who were going on that cruise), so I decided not to take part. I did comment on their main FB page to explain my problem with their system. Some time after that, they stopped the roll calls there.

 

We don't have the need to join others for private excursions -- I do the research for my family and then we decide if we're doing it on our own or booking an excursion through Princess. I'm also not interested in pub crawls, slot pulls, etc. So if I know about a meet and greet I might go. But my hubby (who isn't a member here and has no interest) isn't interested in that. He does enjoying meeting others on a cruise, it's just for him, he just does it organically.

[ontheweb]

I love joining in on roll call discussions and activities. It is such a great way to meet new people.

A big part of the reason why we cruise is to meet people and make new friends

 

I agree 100%. In fact, I could not answer the latest poll which was about the best way to make friends because the roll call/ meet and greet was not one of the choices.

[paul929207]

I believe Cruise Critic has about 1,200,000 members. Last time I looked, about half of them have made at least one post. About one half of the posters have only posted one time. I am not sure that all of them are even aware of the Roll Calls

[Floridiana]

The roll calls I have seen were always about finding people to share private tours. I still join even if I am not interested in most of these tours.