Meeting people ☺️

[BklynBoy8]

26 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

We have met and become friends with people now living in Maryland,Pa,NJ,Mo and Long Island .One couple actually moved into the condo that we live in.

 

Don't know if you ever thought of it, we do periodical Zooms with those people.

 

Even have a upcoming one with the UK. We stay on so long, we don't keep track of the time.

 

Fun to talk about other things than cruising. Means a good friendship of mixed subjects.

[lenquixote66]

5 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

Don't know if you ever thought of it, we do periodical Zooms with those people.

 

Even have a upcoming one with the UK. We stay on so long, we don't keep track of the time.

 

Fun to talk about other things than cruising. Means a good friendship of mixed subjects.

We never thought of doing a zoom .Interesting idea

[Canuker]

OP: book a table for 6 or 8 people for supper in the main dining room, with seating at the same time each night. You'll soon make friends, who will be dying to know what you did all day! Should someone at your table not be to your liking, just ask the maitre d'hotel to move you to another table - do it sooner, rather than later- it's your vacation. After a couple of nights, invite your table-mates to join you in one of the bars before supper for drinks. Have fun.

[navybankerteacher]

20 minutes ago, Canuker said:

OP: book a table for 6 or 8 people for supper in the main dining room, with seating at the same time each night. You'll soon make friends, who will be dying to know what you did all day! Should someone at your table not be to your liking, just ask the maitre d'hotel to move you to another table - do it sooner, rather than later- it's your vacation. After a couple of nights, invite your table-mates to join you in one of the bars before supper for drinks. Have fun.

Right -- and with the wide use of "any-time, any-body, any-where dining", folks who are uncomfortable with, or afraid of, dining with others will be at their own places - with the result that you have pretty good chances of being seated with people who know how to, and are happy to, dine with others.  

[K32682]

While you are seeking new companionship on your cruise please keep in mind some people are fully satisfied with their current circle of friends, prefer their own company to that of strangers and have no interest in expanding their social circle to include you. Read the room, know the signals and don't be intrusive.

[BklynBoy8]

1 hour ago, K32682 said:

While you are seeking new companionship on your cruise please keep in mind some people are fully satisfied with their current circle of friends, prefer their own company to that of strangers and have no interest in expanding their social circle to include you. Read the room, know the signals and don't be intrusive.

 

I believe passengers make the contacts that they feel at the moment.

[Hlitner]

We have been cruising for over 50 years and made some lifelong friends along with many other shorter-term relationships.  How?  Simply by sharing large tables at the MDR and joining others at cocktail lounges.  For folks who still know how to "dine" and socialize, a dinner or lunch table is a perfect environment for making new friends.  Of course, this does depend on being able to comfortably converse with strangers and trying to find some common ground (part of socializing).  

 

Once upon a time, an important facet of cruising was one's tablemates who were part of the cruise process where everyone was assigned to a seating and table.  Two tops were very rare, and folks simply accepted that sharing tables was part of the cruise game.  When one got a bad table, they would quietly talk to the Maitre'd and get reassigned.  On long HAL cruises, there always was some movement during the first couple of nights as folks tried to find a table of folks that worked!  

 

These days, the same thing can be achieved by taking advantage of open dining schemes.  Folks will often find new friends during the first few dinners and may form their own little groups (and tables).  Others, enjoy dining with different folks, on most nights, and expanding their opportunity to meet many fellow cruisers.  

 

This is not an issue of right or wrong but simply personal preference.  Folks not interested in socializing or prefer to be alone can also find their niche on a ship.

 

Hank

[ontheweb]

Is there an activity onboard that you particularly like? For instance, if you like dancing, the chances are you will meet many of the same people over and over and can get to know them. The same goes for playing trivia.

[Canuker]

PO: some more ideas:

1. is there a "Roll Call" on this website for your cruise? You can "meet" people there even before you sail! People are keen to share their interests there in order to link up with others

2. If so, are there plans in the roll call for a "Meet & Greet" (aka Meet & Mingle) get-together once on board? This is a great way to meet fellow passengers, as you all have something in common: Cruise Critic, and you will already "know" one-another.

3. If there's no mention of an M&M, perhaps you might organize one. Or some other event, like a casino slot-pull. Do something like that and you'll be amazed how many people will stop and say hello afterwards.

 

Best,

Canuker.

[lenquixote66]

50 minutes ago, Canuker said:

PO: some more ideas:

1. is there a "Roll Call" on this website for your cruise? You can "meet" people there even before you sail! People are keen to share their interests there in order to link up with others

2. If so, are there plans in the roll call for a "Meet & Greet" (aka Meet & Mingle) get-together once on board? This is a great way to meet fellow passengers, as you all have something in common: Cruise Critic, and you will already "know" one-another.

3. If there's no mention of an M&M, perhaps you might organize one. Or some other event, like a casino slot-pull. Do something like that and you'll be amazed how many people will stop and say hello afterwards.

 

Best,

Canuker.

We often meet people from the roll call prior to cruising .

[ontheweb]

10 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

We often meet people from the roll call prior to cruising .

We have done that once. A couple from our roll call lived one town over on Long Island from DW's family. We met them when visiting for the holidays.

[K32682]

23 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

I believe passengers make the contacts that they feel at the moment.

 

The "moment" has to be reciprocal. Sometimes the "friend seekers" can be overbearing and oblivious to signals that their friendship attempts are not welcome. Know the signs. 

[lenquixote66]

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

We have done that once. A couple from our roll call lived one town over on Long Island from DW's family. We met them when visiting for the holidays.

I suggested more than once that you might be interested in dining in Baccaros when you are in Long Island .It is in Massapequa.The owners are two cousins.They have very good live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.The food is delicious.

[navybankerteacher]

On 1/17/2023 at 8:59 AM, K32682 said:

While you are seeking new companionship on your cruise please keep in mind some people are fully satisfied with their current circle of friends, prefer their own company to that of strangers and have no interest in expanding their social circle to include you. Read the room, know the signals and don't be intrusive.

 

3 hours ago, K32682 said:

 

The "moment" has to be reciprocal. Sometimes the "friend seekers" can be overbearing and oblivious to signals that their friendship attempts are not welcome. Know the signs. 

It is probably easier for an anti-social individual to ignore/reject  an approach as it is for the initiator to make it.

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

I suggested more than once that you might be interested in dining in Baccaros when you are in Long Island .It is in Massapequa.The owners are two cousins.They have very good live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.The food is delicious.

And tell him Cousin Lenny from the Quixote branch of the family sent us?

 

Also, tell him to send the bill to you? 😊

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

And tell him Cousin Lenny from the Quixote branch of the family sent us?

 

Also, tell him to send the bill to you? 😊

I know one of the owners.I also know a guy who is in a band that played there recently.If you like Italian cuisine it is one of the best restaurants on 

Long Island in my opinion.

[Ferry_Watcher]

Be careful when some one from NY/NJ tells you that they "know a guy"     ;  )

[lenquixote66]

11 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Be careful when some one from NY/NJ tells you that they "know a guy"     ;  )

That might be why my cousin Ron relocated from NYC to Seattle.