Door vs wall decorating

[Flatbush Flyer]

Has door decorating become more popular on cruise ships? Have you done it and/or been in a contest? It seems to me that wall decorating is more prevalent on today's cruise ships. When I made a comment about this very thing on a 'door decorating' site, 95% of the posters felt: 'Door decorating is fine... Wall decorating was 'too much'.

 

 

 

Though I am a door decorator, I am thinking about doing a small portion of the wall next to the door but haven't made up my mind yet for my next cruise. Thankfully, over the years, we have found ways to hang our items so that no damage is done to the walls or the doors. And I have no doubt that everyone is respectful in cleaning their space up before they disembark. None of us want to add more work for our cabin stewards or take the chance that this 'privilege' will be taken away by Carnival.

 

 

 

"What say you?"

 

 

Yet another reason to avoid Carnival.

[Keith1010]

I find that it varies by cruise line and also by time of year.

 

Keith

[MszKitty]

I decorate a little....

 

This is from last year's group cruise that we do every year for our employees...14 cabins. Just enough to make it fun, but not "out there".

[EGG]

You might be interested in this thread called thieves aboard Quantum. It is the post of a woman who found her door decorations missing and stood on line at guest services, demanded to speak to security, and when security would not help her by looking through security tapes she posted on line to trash them. Note that this was a high security cruise from Barcelona to Dubai. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2209885&highlight=decorations

 

My opinion:

If you decorate, be prepared for your crap to be torn and falling off by the end of the cruise. I have seen it too many times. Or be prepared for it to be stolen or fall off the door and end up in the trash and know that if that happens it will not bother you.

 

While you may be careful how you hang things, others not so prepared people may not be careful and may just use a piece of duct tape that they brought since some people bring duct tape for emergencies.... And the sticky stuff that they say comes off, often leaves a residue.

 

I would never be nasty to someone on a cruise. If I saw them in the hall I would smile and say hello. If they were decorating, I would smile and say hello. That does not mean I think their decorations are cute or that I appreciate the tackiness (although I would probably say so it is cute since I have to live with them for a week).

 

I would never bring additional stuff to weigh down my suitcase. We travel with one bag each and it is a pleasure.

 

Would you hang this in your house? Probably not. So why deface the ship? Save the few dollars you spend on decorations and buy your friends a drink.

 

I am sure you will enjoy your cruise with or without the decorations.

[rvsullivan]

I think the best thing to do is ask at the Guest Services desk or the Hotel Director is it's OK to decorate your door or walls surrounding it. If they give the ok, have fun. Just be aware it's great sport to find and remove these things. If you leave cheap knick knacks in the hall, they appear to be "fair game". I've never had any difficulty in locating my room even after one or two (maybe several) drinks. Usually the numbers are sequential so I just count up or down until I come to mine.;)

[cruisemom42]

I really doubt most people who decorate their doors (or heaven forbid, walls) do it in order to find their cabin. I suspect it's more of a statement: "Look at me! I'm creative! I'm an individual, not like the mindless lot behind all these other doors that are exactly the same!"

 

Whatever the reason, I wish all ships would discourage it. I don't really want to see your art project -- keep it inside your room, if you must do it.

 

I have often stayed in hotels for a week or more (and regularly cruise for 2 weeks at a time) and have never, ever felt the urge to "decorate".

[SantaFeFan]

Don't be rude.

 

Nothing rude about facts. There are many reasons why people won't cruise on certain lines. Why is it rude when someone says what those reasons are? Carnival is the cruise line you cruise almost exclusively. However, many people avoid Carnival for a whole variety of reasons, including unsightly door decorations. Nothing rude about that at all.

Edited June 19, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[MSWeddings]

How fun! I'm totally going to decorate my door now! I would love to see more photos of everyone else's doors to get inspiration. I've seen people decorate their doors on past cruises, and of course it totally makes me smile (I've even seen a Justin Bieber door! Wonder if it was yours...). I want to do something clever too! How fun!

 

I don't know if I've ever seen any go onto the wall. That does seem a bit much...

 

I'm so decorating our door!

[Flatbush Flyer]

Don't be rude.

 

 

Not rude - just true.

 

A savvy new cruiser would learn a lot about which cruise lines to consider just by reading the threads for each cruise line.

 

Step back and take a look at the big picture of the comments on Carnival and other low end cruise line threads. That's where you'll find the most discussion regarding things like how best to cheat the cruise lines (e.g., rum runners), nickel/diming, walkie-talkies, bad food, misbehaving children, art ripoffs, door decorating, overcrowding cabins, hanging junk from balcony railings (and propping balcony doors open), lounge chair hogs, trying to hide irons/hair dryers/drones/et al., booze cruises, etc.

I seem to remember that the Carnival forum even has/had a moderator's warning about the use of foul language.

Sorry - just too childish and/or uncivilized for those folks wanting a quality experience.

[BDRebel]

(Getting back to topic:D) I will not decorate my door, the walls, or the windows. I paid good money for the cruise and I expect the cruise line to take care of it for me!:D

 

Seriously, though, I do not mind others decorating their door -- it provides for interesting viewing. If I want to look at a blank door, I can look at my own.

 

As far as wall decorating, I believe that crosses the line to criminal graffiti.

[SantaFeFan]

As far as wall decorating, I believe that crosses the line to criminal graffiti.

 

"Graffiti". Thanks for that word. It pretty much sums up what this "art" actually is, even for doors. I'm surprised the cruise lines allow people to deface their ship in this way. I certainly don't find any of it attractive. It must be the "don't upset the guests" mentality that also cause them to look the other way when people dine in jeans on formal night, or not adequately enforce smoking restrictions.

Edited June 19, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[zqvol]

Has door decorating become more popular on cruise ships? Have you done it and/or been in a contest? It seems to me that wall decorating is more prevalent on today's cruise ships. When I made a comment about this very thing on a 'door decorating' site, 95% of the posters felt: 'Door decorating is fine... Wall decorating was 'too much'.

 

Though I am a door decorator, I am thinking about doing a small portion of the wall next to the door but haven't made up my mind yet for my next cruise. Thankfully, over the years, we have found ways to hang our items so that no damage is done to the walls or the doors. And I have no doubt that everyone is respectful in cleaning their space up before they disembark. None of us want to add more work for our cabin stewards or take the chance that this 'privilege' will be taken away by Carnival.

 

"What say you?"

 

First to answer your question, the incidence of posting graffiti on doors seems to be decreasing. To suggest that anyone would but such junk on a wall is beyond belief.

 

I wish all ships would ban this graffiti. You wouldn't do it if you stayed at a land based resort for a week, so why would anyone think it is OK to do on a ship. It makes you look trashy.

Edited June 19, 2015 by zqvol

[dsrdsrdsr]

Fortunately, I travel on British lines where (if decorating is done) they have the sense to keep it on the inside. Frankly, I don't see why people should be getting so drunk that they need identification for their cabins, For those who genuinely have difficulty with numbers or with eyesight, it's fair enough.

[kdinkus1]

I have been busy these last few days and only returned early this morning to find so many negative posts to my thread. It wasn't meant to 'rile' anyone up. I only wanted to find out if others had noticed an increase to popularity of door decorating and/or been in one of the door decorating contests. I was also interested in what people thought about wall decorating as well. I didn't do it to be a 'cheerleader for decorating' (as previously mentioned) or to cause such negativity towards those of us who do.

 

Unless you walk by my room, you have no idea that my door is decorated. There are many hallways and many decks that probably will have very little (if any) decorations on the cabin doors. And if you are in the same hallway as me, I don't imagine that you will be standing next to my cabin for any length of time. I'm sure you will have much better things to be doing than staring at my door.)

 

So here our my thoughts over what has been posted since my last post...

 

Door decorating seems to be a sensitive thread. Please know that:

1. Not all of us decorate for our ego's sake or because we can't find our room. Most of us do it because we just enjoy it.

2. Carnival (as well as other cruise lines) not only encourages door decorating but now have contests that results in reward medals or gifts. (last cruise - a bottle of champagne and a medal on a ribbon)

3. It is extremely unlikely that any crew member who works for any cruise line would to tear down our decorations. Inside or outside our room, anything we bring on ship belongs to us. Destroying those very things would very likely cost them their jobs. (Shame on the one that even suggested that the crew might be the ones doing this very thing!)

4. Just because I decorate my door and you think it looks tacky, does not give anyone the right to call me names. (I highly doubt that most people would say that someone who drinks on the ship is an alcoholic or the parents of unsupervised children are neglectful/or bad parents). So calling me 'trashy' is beyond ridiculous! Decorating my door has nothing to do with they type of person I am! Nor should it affect you or your cruise.

5. Most door decorations are simple. Not over-the-top. Some are more complex. I know I spend hours on mine... designing, cutting, and so much more to make it unique. Whether they are dollar store bought decorations or not, there is still thought that goes into it. Sharing that you are on a 'honeymoon', or celebrating a 'graduation', a 'family reunion', or whatever the case may be, is something exciting to let people know about. Putting it on a cabin door doesn't hurt anyone else... (please not the old 'hurts my eyesight' joke... staring at the sun I understand but at door decorations.?)

6. What people do or not do on a cruise ship has nothing to do with whether they do it back home or not. (ex: decorating a cabin door vs a hotel door). If it did, many people would never go anywhere.

7. Most everyone who decorates their door knows what to use so that it doesn't leave 'residue' behind. There are many sites that will tell them this information. Also, people are very good at taking down their decorations so that the stewards don't have to.

 

Door decorations or not - we may never agree. And that's ok. We enjoy doing things when we cruise in different ways. To 'each his own'...

Edited June 20, 2015 by gammy3gks

[margeecruiser]

Hi, Gammy

 

Please don't let the haters bother you. We decorate our door and have fun with it. I have seen many great doors and have gotten good comments from people about mine. We also take a small white board so others can leave us notes. Mostly friendly, positive comments. Once a leud cartoon, but there are immature people everywhere. We do not go over the top, but have a scrapbook page showing us at our 50th Wedding Vow Renewal and cruising theme items. We sometimes use balloons and streamers. We make sure our decorations do not stick out into the hallway or obstruct anyone passing by. We use the white board to leave messages for our group, such as, gone to the casino, gone to the pool, etc. We also use some items relating to any holidays that might be happening, such as Halloween or Valentines Day.

 

I have also decorated my door at a hotel. That really would rile up some people on this forum. I belong to an International women's group and at our conventions, door decorating contests are a big deal.

 

Please have fun and just know the negative people here do not represent all of us.

 

Margee

[kdinkus1]

Criminal graffiti? Seriously?

 

The last 2 cruises I have been on, the ship photographers have videotaped the decorated cabin doors and then put it on tapes that are shown in the cabins on the TV's as well as played on the big screen on Lido deck. I'm sure that if they felt that it was anywhere considered 'criminal', it would not be allowed. Period.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I 1. Not all of us decorate for our ego's sake or because we can't find our room. Most of us do it because we just enjoy it.

 

Out of interest, why do you decorate the outside, which you can't see, and not the inside, which you can? Or do you do both sides?

[kdinkus1]

Hi, Gammy

 

Please don't let the haters bother you. We decorate our door and have fun with it. I have seen many great doors and have gotten good comments from people about mine. We also take a small white board so others can leave us notes. Mostly friendly, positive comments. Once a leud cartoon, but there are immature people everywhere. We do not go over the top, but have a scrapbook page showing us at our 50th Wedding Vow Renewal and cruising theme items. We sometimes use balloons and streamers. We make sure our decorations do not stick out into the hallway or obstruct anyone passing by. We use the white board to leave messages for our group, such as, gone to the casino, gone to the pool, etc. We also use some items relating to any holidays that might be happening, such as Halloween or Valentines Day.

 

I have also decorated my door at a hotel. That really would rile up some people on this forum. I belong to an International women's group and at our conventions, door decorating contests are a big deal.

 

Please have fun and just know the negative people here do not represent all of us.

 

Margee

 

Thanks so much for your kind words! I really appreciated hearing this after all the negative feedback!

 

Congrats on your 50th wedding anniversary! That's wonderful!! My DH and I will be celebrating our 40th next month and to celebrate, we're taking a cruise to Hawaii in January. I'm so excited!

 

Love the idea of your group door decorating contests... do you run the whole gambit of 'anything goes' or do you have a central theme? Sounds like fun! You must be a 'professional' door decorator... Any ideas for my cabin door for our Hawaiian cruise?

 

Anyway thanks again! You have helped me to not be so discouraged after reading all of these posts and I'm ready to begin thinking about my Hawaii theme... :D

[kdinkus1]

Out of interest, why do you decorate the outside, which you can't see, and not the inside, which you can? Or do you do both sides?

 

Thank you for asking. Actually, I have done inside as well. Neither over-the-top... I guess I do it to show how excited I am to be on vacation. Sometimes there is a theme and other times... I do nothing. I guess the best reason I decorate is due to sheer 'enthusiasm'.

[cruisemom42]

Thank you for asking. Actually, I have done inside as well. Neither over-the-top... I guess I do it to show how excited I am to be on vacation. Sometimes there is a theme and other times... I do nothing. I guess the best reason I decorate is due to sheer 'enthusiasm'.

 

You are clearly a lovely person; your pleasant responses show that. But do keep in mind this is a public message board, and as enthusiastic as you are about decorating your door, there will be others (many, apparently) who are equally passionate about not thinking it's a good idea.

 

It's nice that Carnival allows it. I don't sail Carnival now and this would certainly not encourage me to do so in future. :D I'm happy that there seems to be a cruise line that appeals to everyone.

[margeecruiser]

Hi, Gammy

 

Our group always has a theme at our conventions. Last year we had a circus theme. Our group decorated our doors as the "side show" people. We had a fortune teller with table and crystal ball, a bearded lady, a trapeze artist hanging from the ceiling (spring-loaded curtain rod across the hallway with a swing hanging down; this was at the end of the hallway). With all this, we didn't even make the top ten doors. These side show people were dolls we made. It took hours. The fortune teller doll was an old Chatty Cathy doll that was dressed as a fortune teller. Believe me, these women go all out. We made sure the hotel (a Hilton) was OK with what we were doing.

 

Margee

[Jane2357]

I'm a door decorator and not ashamed to admit it. :D Last cruise we were in a suite on the aft of a Celebrity ship - so we were at the end of a pretty private hallway. It was our Anniversary and Valentine's Day. Only our closest neighbors ever saw it (we got lots of compliments) - and it made me happy every time I turned that corner. I say live and let live - as long as my decorations are not intruding on your space then I'm not hurting you.

 

So this has gotten me thinking about Alaska next May - come on past my cabin - I'm decorating with a giant moose!!!!:D:p

[TravelLots]

It's funny how things are different between cruise lines. These are our doors one day on our last DCL cruise. We actually changed the characters on a daily basis, but all the other stuff stayed up and we ended up even adding more as the week went on. We may have to curb our enthusiasm on the Vista next year.

 

[ATTACH]352483[/ATTACH][ATTACH]352485[/ATTACH]

 

 

The Minnie Mouse decorations are sooo adorable! We like to decorate our door, too. I custom make a poster online. Vista Print and Staples are two companies I've used. $10 - $20, plus a few dollar store items and I'm done. We've actually heard other passengers walk by and say how helpful the poster was in letting them know how close they were to their cabin. As long as you take everything off before you disembark, you should be fine.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Criminal graffiti? Seriously?

 

 

 

The last 2 cruises I have been on, the ship photographers have videotaped the decorated cabin doors and then put it on tapes that are shown in the cabins on the TV's as well as played on the big screen on Lido deck. I'm sure that if they felt that it was anywhere considered 'criminal', it would not be allowed. Period.

 

 

Ship photographers? Yet ANOTHER reason to avoid Carnival.

Edited June 20, 2015 by Flatbush Flyer

[GUT2407]

Ship photographers? Yet ANOTHER reason to avoid Carnival.

 

 

Which of the major lines don't have photographers?