why not join in roll calls?

[I_heart_vaca]

I can imagine that those travelling with pre-set groups (large families, reunions, weddings, etc) don't feel the need as they have enough friends going. I LOVED joing the three I have joined. Even if people are looking for tour partners -- its great to read what some experienced people have found and know. You SUPER CRUISERS are always part of my research. Most all of my questions get answered and everyone is gracious about sharing knowledge. There are a few who are only interested in finding new friends to tour with, or book other things with - and that's ok. I am open to meeting everyone, and have some new friends, even if its only for 7 - 10 days at a time.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I join roll calls mainly for port and cruise information and sometimes to share private tours. We have gone to some meet and greets, cabin crawls, etc., but it's not a priority with us and making friends via roll calls isn't either. We do enjoy our alone time together, and while not anti-social, we're not into lots and lots of social interaction.

 

Some roll calls do get 'taken over' by a few prolific posters who mostly talk back and forth among themselves and sometimes seem to form a clique. A couple of roll calls have had some pretty insensitive/nasty vibes.

 

And, of course, as mentioned, not every cruiser is on Cruise Critic, or if they are even know about or wants to join a roll call for various reasons.

[mtwingcpa]

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.

 

I've often encountered the same thing. Too much like high school...an "in" crowd and an "out" crowd. ;-)

[RJ2002]

We will generally join the roll call now, but back in the day when we were still working, we looked forward to our cruises for complete relaxation. As a result often times would not join the roll so, if for no other reason, as to have a completely flexible vacation where we didn't have ANY commitments, such as going to the M&G. On the same token, we'd generally dine by ourselves rather than join a larger table. Not being antisocial, just want to completely jell out. :)

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I love Cruise Critic It is a great tool for cruising ..

[Zach1213]

Yeah to be honest my wife and I have no desire to make new friends on a cruise. I travel so much for work that vacations are a chance for us to relax together, which is rare. We don't want to miss out on that by spending time with people we may or may not ever see again. I know that can sound ridiculous to many but that's how we roll.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Zach1213

[herbanrenewal]

My experience is that participation on roll calls is dependent on the kind of cruise. Sometimes I am active in roll calls; some cruises, not so much.

Though I may be more likely to look at the Ports of Call threads for some Caribbean ports.

 

I find the longer the cruise the more likely I will actively participate in a roll call. the most active roll calls were TAs. Cruises to any area other than the Caribbean usually mean ports that I want to explore and it takes more planning. For me, I'm not likely to be an active participant on a Caribbean roll call since I know we can find a beach on our own.

 

I like to see what others are planning, share info I've gleaned about some ports, and join a group tour if the group is limited to around 12-15 people - the reason i dont like ship tours is the large number of people on the same bus, some of whom feel no obligation to keep to the time scheduled for each stop. Since economy is an issue, I like to find less expensive ways to do the things I want to do, and see what I want to see. If I can share the expense with a few others on the roll call, that is to my advantage.

Edited October 11, 2014 by herbanrenewal

[Talisker92]

The first M&G I went to was on a 10 day Panama Canal cruise. About 5 people showed up.

But on our 32 day B2B from Buenos Aires, the RC's were very active. There were actually 3 RC's BA to Val, Val to LA, and the B2B. They started a year before the cruise and there were 100's of posts.

Fletch1 (Russell) put the 2 M&G's together up in Skywalkers and they were both well attended. There were a number of private tours that were organized, and the people got together to get the final info.

I even bit the bullet and organized a fantastic culinary tour of Lima for 8 of us.

[sgttami]

I'll sometimes register on a roll call but do prefer meeting others on ship at my leisure....pools, bars, casino etc.

 

Mostly I check out to see where people are from and how many others are from nearby.

 

It seems that everyone is enthusiastic pre-cruise but I've been on some trips where the meet and greet never took place (50 were involved....4 showed up) so I just don't do it anymore.

 

I love to meet new people regardless of whether it's a cruise or not, but just prefer the spur of the moment meetings, rather than the organized ones!

[cruisead]

Used to be more active in roll calls, but it just seems that there are a few who tend to take over everything and they decide who to befriend. If you're not part of the group, forget it. You're treated like you have cooties or something.

[iheartbda]

Why not join? When there are no discussions whatsoever about things to do in any of the ports and the main focus is talking about the gift exchange at the M&M, organizing a slot pull or cabin crawl and a luncheon on the last day.

[wwcruisers]

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.

 

:( Well, that's a shame -- you certainly have a lot of cruise experience to share! I see from your signature that you were on the Carnivale, in the early 90's. One of our very first cruises was on that ship -- back in the late 80's. Those old converted ocean-liners were fascinating to cruise on, weren't they? :cool:

Edited October 11, 2014 by wwcruisers

[wwcruisers]

Why not join? When there are no discussions whatsoever about things to do in any of the ports and the main focus is talking about the gift exchange at the M&M, organizing a slot pull or cabin crawl and a luncheon on the last day.

 

At least your r/c is active -- and, they are clearly "planners". So, maybe it's just a matter of timing. Once the onboard activities (slot pulls, cabin crawls, etc) are nailed down, jump in there and talk about port activities. I would start out by keeping the discussion general: "So, what's everyone doing in X,Y, or Z port?"

Good luck! :)

[JimAOk1945]

We joined once. The group was small but friendly until someone brought up the subject of staterooms during a conversation. We were treated rather coldly after I was asked for our room number and someone recognized it as a full suite.

 

We found out later in the cruise that there had been several "roll call" activities that we had been uninformed of, even though our room number was known and written down with everyone else's. We took it in stride and didn't let it bother us.

 

We cruise to spend quality time together and enjoy the sites. We choose our cruise based on the itinerary, not the on-board activities.

 

Happy sailing everyone.

Edited October 11, 2014 by JimAOk1945

[Krazy Kruizers]

Years ago I joined in the Roll Calls.

But then they changed. People wanted to bring gifts, play games, do cabin crawls. I am not interested in those things.

No more Roll Calls for me.

[iheartbda]

At least your r/c is active -- and, they are clearly "planners". So, maybe it's just a matter of timing. Once the onboard activities (slot pulls, cabin crawls, etc) are nailed down, jump in there and talk about port activities. I would start out by keeping the discussion general: "So, what's everyone doing in X,Y, or Z port?"

Good luck! :)

Tried that and there were no bites. I really think done with roll calls and Meet and Greets especially after that last bizarre Meet and Greet.

[CPT Trips]

We joined once. The group was small but friendly until someone brought up the subject of staterooms during a conversation. We were treated rather coldly after I was asked for our room number and someone recognized it as a full suite.

 

We found out later in the cruise that there had been several "roll call" activities that we had been uninformed of, even though our room number was known and written down with everyone else's. We took it in stride and didn't let it bother us.

 

We cruise to spend quality time together and enjoy the sites. We choose our cruise based on the itinerary, not the on-board activities.

 

Happy sailing everyone.

 

It seems like more and more "roll calls" on the lines that arrange their own CC meet and mingles are just places to find out about Facebook pages or some other site that has "roll call" activities. That can become exclusionary . . . A traveling friend was called out" for sharing information on the roll call that, according to a clique leader, " only belonged" on the Facebook page. Needless to say, friends were shunned . . .

 

That said, we have found the roll calls great places to set up small group excursions and the meet and greats good for finalizing arrangements. We met some really terrific people and I always hope one of them will turn up on our cruise. After one bad experience, we only share our cabin number with a shorex organizer with a request that they not share it. Sometimes the OCD list makers and keepers need to just suck it up and have blanks on their spreadsheets and quit the nagging.

Edited October 11, 2014 by CPT Trips

[sgttami]

That was another negative about Roll Calls...everyone wants your cabin number.

 

I don't share that EVER unless I meet someone and want them to have it sometime during the cruise.

 

Wouldn't do a cabin crawl either as I don't want anyone nosing around my "space."

[Kartgv]

The roll call for our next cruise, a week from today, is huge - over 200 members signed up, about 6500 posts, and almost 122,000 views. It may be because it's such a long cruise - 28 days round trip from LA to Hawaii and the South Pacific. Because we have so many sea days, many people want to be involved in more onboard activities than they might on a shorter cruise. People are also less likely to be traveling with a family group on this type of cruise. There's plenty of time for us to spend with others and still have time for just the two of us.

 

A wonderful variety of port tours and all the usual activities, plus some less common ones (craft sessions, all kinds of game teams, photography classes), are being planned and everyone is free to sign up for all or none of them. We've signed up for a few of the tours and activities, declined others, and are quite happy with the expanded choices this gives us. Yes, there is a core group of about 20 people who are the 'organizers' and most frequent posters, but it's very inclusive and everyone's comments are welcome. Amazingly, there has been no friction or snarky comments, just a lot of good humored banter and very helpful information sharing.

 

On the other hand - we're going on a 6 day coastal cruise next May and have no interest in joining the roll call. It's one of those very "closed" ones, mostly people who have cruised together before, even going so far as ridiculing someone who mentioned that there was very little discussion of onboard or port activities.

 

We'll always check out the roll call for cruises we book, and decide whether to join in or not based on the cruise circumstances and the general tone of the roll call.

[vacation luvver]

We were treated rather coldly after I was asked for our room number and someone recognized it as a full suite.

Do you know why? Because I can't understand what difference it makes whatever kind of cabin someone has.

 

I joined a Roll Call after I booked an eleven-night solo cruise less than two weeks ahead of time. At the Meet & Greet, it was announced that someone in the group would be celebrating a birthday during the cruise, and a paper was passed around so that we could write down our names and cabin numbers so that we could be contacted to join the birthday dinner. I wrote down my name and cabin number, but I never heard from anyone.

 

I joined the Roll Call on my next cruise, but unfortunately, I slept too late on the first morning of the cruise and missed the M & G. I felt terrible, because there was no way I would have been able to find the other members of the Roll Call. After the cruise, I checked the Roll Call, and I saw that people complained about the horribly rude people who did not show up for the M & G. I have not signed up for a Roll Call since then.

[nhsails]

For us, cruising is a time to get away,decompress and spend time with each other. I see several hundred people every week, DH and I are often apart for weeks on end due to our careers. Cruising is a way for us to reconnect, no phones, tablets, laptops. Shoot, we have even done a cruise where we both were so fried we barely left our stateroom. an occasional time in the pool, several needed hours in the spa and dinner on our balcony. Never left the ship and may be the best cruise ever:)

We have also met some terrific people over the years. Tablemates, waiting in line, caught in an elevator together. It all is so varied. For us, just keep it simple.

[Talisker92]

:( Well, that's a shame -- you certainly have a lot of cruise experience to share! I see from your signature that you were on the Carnivale, in the early 90's. One of our very first cruises was on that ship -- back in the late 80's. Those old converted ocean-liners were fascinating to cruise on, weren't they? :cool:

Sorry-slightly off topic-before I knew about CC-sailed on the Regent Sea and Sun and the Bermuda Star-they were old ocean liners-quite a different experience!

Edited October 11, 2014 by Talisker92

[Harry and Lucille]

I only started it last year to see if there was any interest. It grew. Suggestions were given, such as a name for our gang. Not my decision so, we listed names the folks sent in and then took a vote. The winner? Don't know if it was the gamblers or the older folks. We are the "Royal Flushers". There was an interest in a slot pull so, I started that. There was an interest in an excursion. I bunched up the names and contacted the tour operator on everyones behalf.

So far, we have 18 folks signed on. I contacted Princess and let them know and they are providing a space for us. We have Club 6. Holds 130 and we are half way to filling it up.

 

Our first day will be on Princess Cay. Swim, sunburn, BBQ, etc. Next day is recovery day at sea and M&G in the morning and slot pull in the afternoon. (all in the AC and shade).

 

Next comes 5 islands in 5 days then, 2 sea days for everyone to try to get down to the level of our civilized lives. Any group activities are everyones choice. This is not my party. It is the Royal Flushers and others are finding each other for other things.

 

What everyone does is for them to decide. Not up to me. I just help out the best that I can for others. My rate is cheap too. I only work for beer. ;)

[beachbum53]

There are other cruise forums besides Cruise Critic. I looked into just about all of them before joining C.C. Although the roll call participation on here seems to be sporadic at times, it's still more active than what I've seen on other sites. It would be great if the roll call(s) on here could be more interactive like they are on FB.

[montana200024]

Years ago I joined in the Roll Calls.

 

But then they changed. People wanted to bring gifts, play games, do cabin crawls. I am not interested in those things.

 

No more Roll Calls for me.

 

I am also not interested in Pub Crawls, gift exchanges, playing games..i just like to see what others do , where they have been, where they are going, how they get there, Over the years I have collected so much information about different things ..amazing, and CC is the place to get all the answers...

 

thanks again everyone for sharing?