Can't even to tell you how upset I am with our Inspiration cruise.....

[We_R_Cruisin]

When I told them I was a CC member and was concerned with a recent post about a "swingers" invasion on Carnival......his EXACT words were "Yes, I am reading that post right now, you're talking about JOSIE1968 right?". :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Doesn't it strike you as strange that the Carnival Rep heard this by reading the ONLY post on Cruise Critic? And not by an influx of calls to them? I think I'll start a thread that says I heard there was teenagers smoking weed in the arcade and them throwing fireworks into Camp Carnival. Hey, I heard it, it MUST be true!

[GeekyMom]

The bottom line is that Carnival advertises itself as a FAMILY cruise line.

There is a law against open pornagraphy around children. Swingers openly demonstrating their "talents" in front of children is against the law.

 

If someone is going to condone open sex in front of children, then they better not say one word when it goes further and some adult is trying to have sex with your child....because once that line is blurred....there is no going back.

 

This isn't about wearing a thong. This isn't about straight or gay. This isn't about any group reserving a meeting room. It is about a group that has demonstrated that they are completely void of any moral fiber. They are not just "enjoying a lifestyle" ... they are demanding "center stage" to fill some black hole where their self respect and diginity used to be.

And they are putting this center stage in the direct path of children.

 

When it is done publicly for the shock factor...it is no longer a lifestyle...it is a freak show. And it is freak show that Carnival had better get a handle on, no matter how difficult.

Well said.

[Sandgnat]

Cruise ships don't advertise for groups, groups advertise their group going on cruises. Carnival did not codone a swingers group, they let a group book rooms and meeting places. I have received many fliers about classes being taught on cruises for nursing CEUs. I have been on cruises with Kiwanas, church groups, family reunions, Flirt clothing group and many more. Some cruises are booked just for cruise groups like the upcoming Gimme 3 days for Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. Carnival does not supprot any of these groups but sells groups of cabins or lets them charter the whole boat. On my very first cruise on the Big Red Boat we were scheduled one week and then called about two months in advance and told the boat was chartered for the time we were booked and needed to pick another week. They upgraded us to a suite to do this. While on this cruise we found out the boat was chartered for a nude cruising group. The staff told some stories of stuff they saw. Remember CC has many group cruises and I am sure that sometimes others are upset that they have rooms reserved for private parties. The cruise lines don't sponser these cruises they just sell rooms and sometimes give special gifts due to the amount of rooms reserved for groups. I am someday going to join a CC cruise because most people on this board seem like fun cruisers and I do enjoy myself on cruises. Please report unlawful activity, take pictures if needed but don't react to hearsay. Remember you get more done with being calm than being hostile.

[PLAYDATE]

This is the third year in a row that we have taken a Carnival Cruise. The two previous years we took the kids on Disney, NCL, and Royal Carribean before that.

 

We saw the people with the purple wristbands. We talked to them and had dinner with them. These people were not only polite and respectful, but fun too. We didn't see anything illegal or inappropriate happening in the hallways, clubs, or restaurants. There was certainly no pornography or people having sex in the hallways that we saw. If there had been people demonstrating any "talents" in public, we (and our friends) would have seen or heard about it. There was some sexy people wearing some sexy clothes in the evenings but not unlike nightclubs in any big city.

 

The original OP is way off-base when describing the events onboard this ship. Rumors and speculation is not an appropriate foundation on which to write a post like this one.

 

Gays, Swingers, different races, and religions are all around us. Just because you find out someone or group is different that you, doesn't give one the right or "moral obligation" to burn the 'monster in the village'. :eek:

 

We were there on the cruise in question. The week was fun, the weather was nice, and we will certainly choose Carnival again. We have no problem with our kids being on that particular ship, on those dates, with that group.

 

The nonsense posted earlier in this thread is exactly that--- nonsense.

[SwingerBlonde]

I am sure I will get blasted for this (May we borrow that asbestos suit mentioned earlier?) but here goes...

 

We were on this ship, and proudly wore our purple armbands.

 

When you weed out the "Oh my Gawd we were not there, but how horrible.. posts" there are only a small handful of posters with actual first hand knowledge of this group.

 

I cannot speak to every accusation / rumor as clearly we were not everywhere at all times, so we will not say some of the things mentioned did not happen but that is NOT, repeat NOT normal with our group.

 

Most of us (the evil purple arm band people) are parents, and business people. MANY of us own our own businesses and participate in the PTA. Yes, SOME ruin the reputation for the many, and for that we apologize.

 

We police ourselves a HUGE amount. Our group as a whole does not WISH to OFFEND anyone. (OK yes there is the occasional time when a red hatter walks up to us and tells how immoral we are, and how we are going to hell and that will occasionally evoke a reply such as our wives liplocking each other just for shock, but for the most part we keep our "private activities private")

 

I will be happy to entertain specific questions.

 

Swingerblonde.

Still all sMiles!

[rvrgirl]

Here come the one hit wonders:cool:

[Guest Renee0137]

This past week on the Inspiration was our 15th Carnival cruise. Probably the WORST GROUP experience we have encountered was a "Class Reunion" from a large city high school. We saw everything from the LEWD to the CRUDE and the open use of illegal drugs. This all went on in the regular dance club and NOT in a sealed off lounge requiring special admittance. As far as the "lounge being closed" the Candlelight is actually a show club, not one of the regular nite clubs. If there's not a comedian or an act planned then it would have been sitting there empty. So the OP didn't MISS ANYTHING.

 

I've never been on ANY cruises that didn't have a few thongs just as in ANY PUBLIC beaches I've been on. I can't comment on the erections since I don't normally scan crotches as part of my schedules cruise activities. I wasn't aware there were 100's of swingers on the ship until I was listening to one of the comedians telling jokes and realized I was apparently on the outside looking in. There was nothing about this group that would have identified them as "swingers" from what I saw other than the purple arm bands. I'm also willing to bet these people had children of their own and were not out on a mission to offend anyone.

 

I didn't complain to Carnival about the "Lack of Class Reunion" group we had to endure but I might write a letter to Carnival and comment on this group of well behaved people.

[OldMilwuakee]

I WAS ALSO A PASSENGER 10/14 ON INSPIRATION... My husband and I witnessed inappropriate attire and/or lack of any attire in the public places, such as the main swimming pool and the lounges. I felt badly for any parents who had children playing in the pool, and there were children, midday, when the blue thonged woman appeared (we do have photos). We also saw first hand, naked bottoms sitting on the same bar stools in the public lounges that I'd sat on the night before. That was gross. One woman who actually got up and sang for a crowd in the Piano Bar had no underwear or thong visible with her bare bottom facing everyone. She walked around the ship like that in the public halls in order to get to this bar, where children were certainly allowed, and would have had a great view. Their open lifestyle and behavior was obvious with the flirting I saw, and we were actually approached by a couple who were somewhat RECRUITING us! I heard about the signs on the doors on their (Swingers) cabins, and I heard that the staff asked them to remove them because they were inappropriate for public display. I can only guess that was only after someone complained that their children had seen them. The full nudity my husband saw on the "Topless Only" sunbathing deck is gated with an "Adults Only" sign, so that protected the children from that scenery. My husband and I agreed we'd be quite irate if we had brought our 14-year old son. I feel badly for all who had children aboard, and getting off the ship would not have been a practical option. Making them stay in their cabins, again, not an option. These families paid the same money for their luxury vacation, and should be able to enjoy their family cruise together in all the public areas without concerns like public nudity.

[loungelizard]

This reminds me of my last singles group cruise on the Liberty back in January. Turns out there were 3 singles groups onboard, which is a real rarity, but there were probably only about 300 of us total. We had colored wrist bands to ID the members in our particular group and it didn't take long for people to start recognizing us as those "wild, swinging singles". We had a good time but we were never lewd, rude or offensive. We we hearing from passengers of all the crazy, wild things we were doing but all we could do was shake our heads in disbelief. With the exception of a handful of people who couldn't hold their booze, we were all very civilized and outgoing. Truth was, we were a bunch of single, professional people who were just on vacation. Yes there were a few who were trying to hook-up, but most of just wanted to relax and enjoy ourselves just like everyone else onboard. It was amazing how we were portrayed by people who never even met or had contact with any of us. Our group, as well as the others, had our own cruise directors that organized our cruise and took care of all the details such as dining, receptions, reservations etc... They made all the arrangements directly with Carnival. I'm sure this swingers group had there own cruise directors as well, and if there was a problem within this group, Carnival could or should have dealt with them directly. I'd also be willing to bet that the group members ( no pun intended ) policed there own. Obviously alcohol played a big part as well...Carnival owns a piece of that. I think Carnival should provide extra security whenever there is a large group onboard to be paid for by the groups themselves. I know in the catering business we have to provide police presence for larger events and the cost is passed on to the event people. If I was booked on this cruise with my kids I'd be upset as well. At least now I'll think to check for large groups before booking. Maybe Hedonism should start their own cruiseline?

[crazycruzer68]

To the OP, you have every right to be upset. You don't have to prove to anyone what your experience was. If anything...thank you for your post. We had no idea that the cruiselines would actually book these kinds of group cruises. And having 400 hundred swingers on board, I hardly think it was just a few people walking around in thongs and sheer clothing not making spectacles of themselves.

A actual swinger posted on here earlier, and they admitted that they would not participate in a swingers group cruise because they know what kind of behavior goes on at these functions.....and they know there are children aboard.

Just amazes me that someone will actually take time to post a thread of great information in my opinion, and it gets turned into a name throwing fest.

Bigotry? Give me a break. And some of you talk about the media:rolleyes:

Thank you OP, I now know I need to google for my next cruise.

 

 

 

For those they may be interested my PVP contacted us this morning she had heard of several complaints coming into the office about the things that happend on this cruise, she did a search and had several families booked on this cruise. She was very sorry that she didn't know about this ahead of time because she wouldn't have pointed us in a different direction had she did. She took my comments and was taking it up with her supervisor and will follow up eith me next week.

 

Sorry if my post offened someone, it was not meant to be that way. I did not run on here and rant, I ran on here to simply WARN other parents who might fall into want we did, if my post helps one of them then great. In the time I have been on this board I have heard people camplain about far less than this, perhaps I hit a little close to home for some of you!

 

By the was in case anyone in wondering everything else was great! I am not a Carnival basher!!!!!!!!

[hstrybuf]

Here come the one hit wonders:cool:

 

Noticed that too eh? ;)

 

I have no reason to disbelieve any of the posters who actually were on the ship. Different people see things differently and have varying experiences. I can only surmise that each of them saw exactly what they reported although I take all of them with a grain of salt.

[PLAYDATE]

Why was the Mr up there by himself? Why were you taking pics of the "thong-clad" women in you were offended by these things? :confused:

 

You can see thongs on ANY cruise ship and I believe all the Carnival ships we've been on have a topless deck. The only difference between this cruise and other cruises is the swingers were wearing a wrist band and someone told you who they were. :D

[Jumbiecruiser]

Here come the one hit wonders:cool:

 

Makes one wonder too. My bet is if they were on the ship they were part of the entertainment. Playdate??? Good screen name. Fits the swingers role perfect.

[Jumbiecruiser]

Here come the one hit wonders:cool:

 

Double post

[PLAYDATE]

LOL.. We run a Daycare and Child Sitter service. See what happens when you assume things!

[rvrgirl]

For those they may be interested my PVP contacted us this morning she had heard of several complaints coming into the office about the things that happend on this cruise, she did a search and had several families booked on this cruise. She was very sorry that she didn't know about this ahead of time because she wouldn't have pointed us in a different direction had she did. She took my comments and was taking it up with her supervisor and will follow up eith me next week.

 

Sorry if my post offened someone, it was not meant to be that way. I did not run on here and rant, I ran on here to simply WARN other parents who might fall into want we did, if my post helps one of them then great. In the time I have been on this board I have heard people camplain about far less than this, perhaps I hit a little close to home for some of you!

 

By the was in case anyone in wondering everything else was great! I am not a Carnival basher!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks again, and please keep us posted:)

I am sure many others who have read your thread appreciates the info.

Sadly they will just read and not post because of some of these reactions......if you know what I mean;)

[Jumbiecruiser]

Just go to Google and type in the word "swingers". Sorry but this is a lifestyle where folks have no regard for one another or themselves. Sad that one enjoys passing their partners around from one person to another. Glorified orgy is all it is.

[Jumbiecruiser]

For those they may be interested my PVP contacted us this morning she had heard of several complaints coming into the office about the things that happened on this cruise, she did a search and had several families booked on this cruise. She was very sorry that she didn't know about this ahead of time because she wouldn't have pointed us in a different direction had she did. She took my comments and was taking it up with her supervisor and will follow up eith me next week.

 

Sorry if my post offened someone, it was not meant to be that way. I did not run on here and rant, I ran on here to simply WARN other parents who might fall into want we did, if my post helps one of them then great. In the time I have been on this board I have heard people complain about far less than this, perhaps I hit a little close to home for some of you!

 

By the was in case anyone in wondering everything else was great! I am not a Carnival basher!!!!!!!!

 

Don't worry as you did nothing wrong. Thanks for passing along the info. It seems that this may open the eyes of Carnival to start watching who books their ships a little more and react to situations that should not be happening. The people should have been put off the ship in the next port if they were caught doing anything that was not appropriate. Maybe some lessons were learned. Also I don't put all the blame on Carnival. It starts with the folks that have no self worth that would do something like this.

[OldMilwuakee]

PLAYDATE... We did not intentionally take a photo of the blue thonged woman - she was a surprise in the background when Old Mil' was taking a photo of ME. And he is welcome to watch nude sunbathers on the Topless Deck, I made no note of being offended there, I simply was glad that area was gated, for children's sake. And for what I saw firsthand, myself, multiple times, regarding inappropriate behavior - I know what I saw. Apparantly there are many others writing in this column who saw similiar sights. Are we all lying?

[MrDeeds]

We were on the cruise and I am still wondering if this discussion is really about the same voyage. The Inspiration, Oct 14-19, right? Here is a recount of our experience. Throughout the entire cruise, I never saw any nudity in public, except for one woman sunbathing on a deck chair by the main pool. She was not wearing a purple band. I did, however, see some t-shirts with some phrases on them that may upset people who are easily offended ("I only support gay marriages if both chicks are hot", etc.) These shirts are sold and worn in your neighborhood. We saw some girls walking down the deck holding hands. By the swimming pool, there were bikinis and thongs, but nothing you wouldn't see at any swimming pool anywhere in the country.

It was generally known that the purple bands meant swingers, but it looked like they were hanging out in groups of 4-6 people, sitting around tables, laughing, drinking, and having a generally good time like everyone else. Except, they seemed to be having more fun than everyone else. Instead of reading a book, they were talking and laughing. A lot. When I travel I find it rare that people ever talk in the elevator, but these people were always joking around and friendly. I felt very comfortable around them, besides knowing what they liked to do.

I heard about posters on the doors, and so I took a walk down the U-deck just to see them. Disappointingly, most of the cabin doors were blank without any signs on them at all, but many were decorated. It was a party environment, no doubt, but they were pretty tame, mostly just introducing themselves. For photographs, one did in fact show a woman in bikini. The only truly inappropriate one I saw involved a cartoonish silhouette of two women, with one on her back and the other on her hands and knees. The picture was no larger than a business card. Some were funny, like the pirate flags (with skull and crossbones) that were sold in the Cayman Islands, which were hung on the doors. "Prepare to surrender the booty", and "Prepare to be boarded". In the given context, I couldn't help but laugh.

As for The Rhapsody in Blues lounge, we were not there and so I cannot comment on the original poster's claim that it was "a popular place for meeting as well as doing oral and hand things in." However, if it was anywhere near as bad as people seem to be suggesting, we think we would have seen SOMETHING, somewhere, no?

Naked erect men walking down the hall? Never. Not only did we never see this, we never even heard a rumor about it. Sex in the hot tub? Maybe, but we didn't see it. Maybe we were just in the wrong places at the wrong time, but completely missed any events resembling what the people complaining said. If anything did happen, (and out of a group of 400 it's hard to imagine something didn't), it had to have been isolated events. It certainly was not widespread pornography, indecency in front of children, harassing other passengers, or any kind of "look at us" situation. It felt like any other cruise to me, except with a more lively group than normal.

As for the complaint about dirty dancing at the night club, I only wonder how many night clubs the poster has been to recently. That's just how dancing is these days. It's not a swinger thing, it's just a dance club thing.

I'd be upset as anyone if the complaints had merit. Perhaps in isolated cases there is some. However, I simply cannot believe it was as bad as it is being portrayed by people who were not even on the cruise. It wasn't anything upsetting or offensive to us.

[RD9000]

First of all we were not on this cruise. People are responsible for their own actions. We can not believe that all of the "swingers" acted inappropriately on the cruise. For any of you to lump all of them together is irresponsible on your part. One "swinger" is no more responsible for another than one "church member" is responsible for all the others. We know many "swingers" and most are very respectful of others and are very careful not to offend others. IF and this is a BIG IF, any of what the Op says happened, actually did in plain view of all to see, then that was an unfortunate incident and disrespectful to everyone else on the cruise. The OP actually comes across from what we read as a person who is disgusted with the idea of swingers and now must give his/her opinion onwhat he/she might have heard.

 

We've got news for you, swingers are possibly your neighbors, your Doctor, your dentist, and the list goes on.

 

We were on last years cruise with swingers and had no problems. Sure there we a select few who behaved badly, but that is always the case with any group. We slept most of the time anyway LOL. Are we swingers? Possibly, but that really doesn't matter. The fact is we are almost positive most of what has been said did not happen.

 

Don't put all people of any group together. No one can control anyone else's actions. Without those wristbands we are sure you wouldn't be able to tell 99% of swingers from anyone else.

 

If anyone did perform any actions in public view, they should be ashamed of themselves. As far as sex in the pool, we doubt that very much. Carnival would never allow that and they would be thrown off at the next port.

 

Swinging doesnt always mean sex, there is a certain non judgemental view. it is a friendly group of people, we for the most part get along with each other and like to have a good time, and that doesnt mean sex 24/7.

 

Maybe some research could help, before you attack a whole group of people with "HEARSAY" due to being prejudice.

[Guest Renee0137]

Oh I forgot we took a trip down the hallway to see the offending doors, what we found was just as the last post described. The scariest door we saw was a photo of a gorilla on the door, I would have paid money to peek inside that room!

[RandRs]

We cruise several times a year with our children and have never been on a cruise that did not have at least one large group on board. We also went on this cruise (without our children) and wore the purple wrist band, yes we are swingers and I must say that we look at things from a perspective of respect for fellow passengers. As one of the previous posts stated the group does police itself and overall does not want to offend other passengers but have a great vacation.

 

As for all the so called public nudity and sex acts in the pool - come on folks Carnival does not tolerate such acts. Although we could not be at every location on the ship at all times I will say that Carnival had plenty of security by the pools and at the entrance to the lounges (public and private parties). If we as swingers witnessed sex in the public pools or for that matter any public location we would have not only told the offending party to leave but would have called security ourselves. This is not the reputation that this group wants.

 

The private parties for the group were held in the lounge at the back of the ship at midnight and had security at the door checking writsbands, anything that took place inside the party was behind closed doors and was done so in order to not offend anyone and to ensure children would not be subjected to anything offensive. If your kids were outside the entrance at that time of night shame on you.

 

The topless desk was standing room only and I will agree with the previous poster that stated some of the women stood along the rail topless, this was on the first day and quickly policed by the swingers group themselves - most of them have kids and would not want thier children subjected to that as well.

 

As for the door signs - a few were inappropriate (and removed by Carnival in the first 24 hours). As for the Upper deck - the group had all but 6 cabins on that deck, with the exception of a handful of rooms the deck was quite, however if you happened to have been placed on that deck in one of the 6 open cabins I can understand your frustration, the travel agent booking this cruise had asked Carnival to block the entire floor but was unable to do so even though the group had people on other floors who would have gladly switched with the people in the 6 cabins.

 

Prior to departure for this cruise this group had dozens of postings on their own site discussing clothing and the concensus was to wear clothing that you could wear at any dance bar. I witnessed many of the women walking to and from the private parties in sweaters, robes and jackets to cover up the more revealing outfits. However a few people will always try to shock people, and this cruise was no exception a few people did walk the ship in inappropriate clothing, unfortunately these are the type of people who would do that regardless of the location or group they are with.

 

Lastly one of the previous posters said that some of the women could be seen at the regular pool with thongs on - well I hate to break this news to you but you will find women by the pool on most if not all cruises. We have been on more than 15 cruises (only 2 swinger cruises) and always see at least a dozen women with thongs. Sorry folks thongs are not illegal in most places and commonplace in Europe and South Florida. The only problem with a thong is that some of the people wearing them probably shouldn't :eek:.

 

I guess we have been on our soap box long enough, happy cruising.

 

RandR

[PLAYDATE]

Maybe the women on the topless deck had a problem being oogled by OldMil??? I doubt those women go on the topless deck so they can be "entertainment" for your husband (even if you are OK with it)

 

It seems to me that a "peeping Tom" is a bigger problem than a few people in thongs and wristbands.

:p

 

Are you lying? No. Is you point of view different from my wife's an mine? Yes. I see inappropriate stuff everyday. It has nothing to do with skimpy dresses, thongs, or wristbands. Congressman Foley, Catholic Priests, and rotten parents come to mind. (and bad cheese... I hate bad cheese, eh?)

[GottaLuvCruising]

Hmmmm...highly suspicious that we suddenly have multiple new members who claim first hand knowledge of and / or experience with this group. If any one of the posts is legitimate, my response is directed to the author.

 

There is not a snowball's chance in hell that you can convince me that your group activities are healthy, wholesome or moral. What you do in private is your business, but I prefer not to hear about it. But your activities, even your group, have no business being on a family cruise. I would absolutely raise the devil with the cruise line if I had the same experience as the OP.

 

Your attempts to defend, legitimize or qualify your behavior are a complete waste of time.

 

But it's a free country.