NCL Jewel NYC to Miami repo Oct 30, 2009

[CanCruzer]

I'm seeing tons of activity on this cruise over in the NCL roll calls, but nothing on the GLBT forum. We went on the same repo last year and had a very active pre-cruise GLBT roll call group and met so many wonderful people aboard.

 

Anyone planning on going?

[FJS0974]

Hi there my partner and I will be on this cruise (35&39) we love cruising especially out of NYC since we live there. We are hoping for a decent group as well. We took a Hawaii cruise this same time last year and met a great group of guys and had a blast over the 2 week period!

 

Let’s hope we start to get some activity going, as you mentioned the Board for this trip is really active!

 

 

Fred

[CanCruzer]

Hi there my partner and I will be on this cruise (35&39) we love cruising especially out of NYC since we live there. We are hoping for a decent group as well. We took a Hawaii cruise this same time last year and met a great group of guys and had a blast over the 2 week period!

 

Let’s hope we start to get some activity going, as you mentioned the Board for this trip is really active!

 

 

Fred

 

Hi Fred. OK there are 5 of us :). We are 3 guys (40ish).

 

Most of our cruises have been out of NYC: partly convenience (somewhat close and one of the few ports we can get a direct flight to), but just as much that happened to be the embarkation port for our chosen itinerary. Not to mention it is a great place to visit for a couple of days prior to the start of the cruise!

 

I'm the cruise addict, but I don't seem to have too much trouble convincing the others to come. I love these longer cruises and particularly ones with a nice mix of sea days.

 

I think we had about a half dozen participants on our GLBT board last year, but our group on the ship was around 50 or 60 ... so lots of folks and most don't seem to know about these boards. I'm sure we'll have a good crowd on the ship.

 

Jonathan

[FJS0974]

We are traveling with some other people who are not part of our "group" so to speak, but are a great deal of fun, and enjoy going to the GLBT mixers.

 

I am the addict in my family as well, although my partner of 5 years, Ray is going on #7 and seems to really love them too, and he also enjoys the longer ones, I really love a sea day by the pool. This looks like a nice itinerary, and we are really just excited to be getting away, its especially nice when you can meet people before you even get on board! Seems like there are going to be a lot of nice people on board! (Lets Hope)

 

Fred

[sourpatch326]

hey Jonathan!

 

It's Dina...(suzie and Dina) from last years cruise!! Have a great time on this years cruise...it looks great! we would have done it again, but 12 days was stretching it last year.....so 14 isn't doable for us!! Say hi to the guys for us and I hope you're all doing well!!!

 

we just booked the january 3rd cruise to the carribean on the gem.....we are starting our countdown :D

[CanCruzer]

hey Jonathan!

 

It's Dina...(suzie and Dina) from last years cruise!! Have a great time on this years cruise...it looks great! we would have done it again, but 12 days was stretching it last year.....so 14 isn't doable for us!! Say hi to the guys for us and I hope you're all doing well!!!

 

we just booked the january 3rd cruise to the carribean on the gem.....we are starting our countdown :D

 

Hi Dina. Nice to hear from you guys. I was going to send an email to all of the gang from last year to see if I could drum up any interest. Do you have the list of email addresses of everyone? I know one was collected, but I can't seem to find it in my email archive.

 

We didn't think we could do 14 days but plans changed and it has worked out for us after all, so we just booked it. This will be our longest cruise and I'm looking forward to it, but we'll miss you guys :(

 

Say hi to Suzie for us. I hope you enjoy your cruise on the 3rd! I'll have to check it out.

 

Jonathan

[sourpatch326]

Jonathan

 

I don't think we have anyone's email....I wish I could help you. Maybe ronhow has some??? I know he contacted you on a thread here....

 

good luck!

Dina

[CruisinMaterial]

Hey Gang!

 

Make sure you get the Jewel down to Miami in one piece ok?! Just booked her again today for January 3, 2010!! :D It'll be a nice return to a ship that I called home for 12 days (my longest cruise ever) in the Med. Saw the roll call here and thought I would just spread my enthusiasm! :)

[CanCruzer]

Hey Gang!

 

Make sure you get the Jewel down to Miami in one piece ok?! Just booked her again today for January 3, 2010!! :D It'll be a nice return to a ship that I called home for 12 days (my longest cruise ever) in the Med. Saw the roll call here and thought I would just spread my enthusiasm! :)

 

Lucky you to be able to do so many cruises! I've looked at the Med cruises on the Jewel, but haven't done one yet.

 

We'll be nice to the Jewel on our voyage but can't speak for anything anyone does to her between when we leave her and you pick her up!

 

Jonathan

[FJS0974]

We will do our best to keep it in "Good Shape", but from the looks of the Board, there is some group going, we make no promises!

 

Fred & Ray

[FJS0974]

This ship is very full, I cannot imagine that for all the passengers on board there are only 5 of us!!!!

 

C'mon where are our fellow cruisers!

[CruisinMaterial]

They're hiding... just like they are on the Jewel sailing for January 3rd 2010! :D:p:D

[FJS0974]

Its funny, becuase thats what happened on our last cruise, then we went to the LGBT mixer and there were quite a few of us on board, so maybe we will mee them there, although they have some time before we go, maybe they will speak up before then!

[CanCruzer]

Its funny, becuase thats what happened on our last cruise, then we went to the LGBT mixer and there were quite a few of us on board, so maybe we will mee them there, although they have some time before we go, maybe they will speak up before then!

I've found that a lot of people that I meet on the ship don't know about these boards.

 

On Carnival, we didn't meet any family, but Carnival wasn't very helpful with useful gathering schedules: booking them during late seating dinner didn't allow folks to show up (including us). Never again will I go on Carnival.

 

We've found NCL always has large gatherings, at sensible times, on its large ships.

 

It is interesting in general how some cruises have huge roll calls and others non-existant. Don't know why that is either.

 

 

Jonathan

[FJS0974]

I agree tottaly, we just got off a Carnival cruise a few weeks ago, we traveled with a group of straight people, and we were able to go right out of NYC so it was nice and easy departure, but the mixer was at a horrible time, at the Wine Bar and it was just terrible, we went one night, and never went again, and its funny we met more "Family" at the Piano Bar, which were filled with very rude straight people, that openly made fun of the Gay people, in a PIANO BAR of all places, so I agree I don't think I will ever take Carnival again as well, and its ironic, we took a Carnival cruise for our Honemoon a few years ago and had an amazing time, so I guess you never know, but we will stick to NCL and Celebrity, our lines of choice!

[CruisinMaterial]

Its funny, becuase thats what happened on our last cruise, then we went to the LGBT mixer and there were quite a few of us on board, so maybe we will mee them there, although they have some time before we go, maybe they will speak up before then!

 

Funny story... one time I didn't have anyone on the CC roll call and when I got onboard there was a gay group cruise with a small TA company out of Miami. That was quite funny and it turned out to be a blast with over 60 of us onboard the Norwegian Sun. That cruise was great and very gay friendly hetero crowd too! :)

 

NCL and Celebrity do a better job attracting GLB customers I think than any other lines out there. Princess has slipped quite a bit since Carnival took them over.

[CanCruzer]

NCL and Celebrity do a better job attracting GLB customers I think than any other lines out there. Princess has slipped quite a bit since Carnival took them over.

My cruise history to date has mostly been NCL, which I've been 100% happy with, and Carnival, that was horrible in many ways, one of which was how *not* GLB friendly is was.

 

I'm booked on HAL this Christmas/New Years. Although I am a bit concerned about it being a Carnival line :eek: and wondering if there will apt to be many/any other gay folks on board :confused:, it was too much of a smokin' hot deal to turn down :). And it gives me an opportunity to see if other cruise lines are better in any ways than NCL.

 

There will be at least 5 of us and I'm starting to recruit others from my circle of friends so that at least we'll have our own crowd if nobody else shows up :D

[CruisinMaterial]

CanCruzer - The only good thing about Carnival was the food presentation and quality. Otherwise, the trip for me was a nightmare. The pax were very unruly and there was only one other gay guy and the location of the FOD was during dinner time in a busy bar next to the casino. Not the brightest of ideas. I really didn't find anyone else on my own either. I actually was concerned for my safety in the disco with the pax onboard. It was not a great experience at all for me (and I'm not flamboyant).

 

I don't want to scare you about your cruise but only share the reasoning behind why I would NEVER sail with them again unless in a group of people I know are going that are cool to hang out with. Always better to travel in numbers if you KWIM? :)

~Jake

[FJS0974]

Jake,

 

Its sad, but I totally agree with you, and this past experience was not good at all, we only went into the Disco with our “Straight” group, and one night I felt uncomfortable to the point, that we had someone in the group walk back with us to the cabin, unfortunately we had a Balcony (deck 7-aft) and the rest of the group outside (Deck3-Fwd) ant there was no way I was going up there alone, not with the Cruise lines crime statistics lately, and I have been on 33 Cruises, and I never feel “unsafe” but there was an Unsavory clientele on board, and sadly I have noticed you always get that on Carnival, they are like the Jet Blue of cruise lines!! You get what you pay for, and we all know how inexpensive Carnival can be! So we are making all our arrangements for 2010/2011 on NCL, we love them and Celebrity the best, they are the best GLBT friendly and we always have a great time and meet the best people and NEVER have a problem or feel unsafe. On this past trip we were sitting in the Piano Bar and ordered a beer and we were sitting there bothering nobody and keeping to ourselves and some Jack ass, looked at us and said he look its Beers and Queers! That was a very small taste of what we put up with, it was a HORRIBLE experience and I have to tell you it really will keep me away form Carnival and probably for good!

[CanCruzer]

CanCruzer - The only good thing about Carnival was the food presentation and quality. Otherwise, the trip for me was a nightmare. The pax were very unruly and there was only one other gay guy and the location of the FOD was during dinner time in a busy bar next to the casino. Not the brightest of ideas. I really didn't find anyone else on my own either. I actually was concerned for my safety in the disco with the pax onboard. It was not a great experience at all for me (and I'm not flamboyant).

 

I don't want to scare you about your cruise but only share the reasoning behind why I would NEVER sail with them again unless in a group of people I know are going that are cool to hang out with. Always better to travel in numbers if you KWIM? :)

~Jake

At least you had good food. We didn't get that much. The best food we had was *off* the ship in Roatan! The only good thing about the trip for me was that I was on a cruise, so I was getting away from the routine grind. The ship was full of drunken college kids. I've never felt unsafe on a cruise ship and there have never been any homophobic remarks. I asked Carnival if they would move the FOD time (as I have done with NCL and they have always happily obliged) and perhaps be willing to add something like "GLB" to the name (as NCL does) since many young folks don't even know what FOD is! Their reply was along the lines of "but then others would know it is a gay event"! Duh. I mentioned we are in the 21st century now :rolleyes:. They ignored my requests.

 

My upcoming cruise is with HAL, which, while a Carnival-owned cruise line, has a very different clientele and way of operating (from everything I've read). I think it will be the other end of the extreme from college kids...perhaps too much so. While we are in between the 2 age extremes, I'm adaptable...just looking for nice folks to meet, enjoy conversations and hang out with.

 

We'll be fine with some of our best friends along...and after all, I will be on a cruise ship for 18 glorious nights escaping from the cold winter reality that Canada has to offer at that time of year :D

[CanCruzer]

Jake,

On this past trip we were sitting in the Piano Bar and ordered a beer and we were sitting there bothering nobody and keeping to ourselves and some Jack ass, looked at us and said he look its Beers and Queers! That was a very small taste of what we put up with, it was a HORRIBLE experience and I have to tell you it really will keep me away form Carnival and probably for good!

 

When I read of these kinds of idiots, it makes my blood boil. I've been on the end of a homophobic death threat. Luckily these types are few and far between (at least in my experience). Most people on cruises are just friendly folk. The worst I've experienced are chronic complainers: people that are just not happy with anything...probably live their whole life that way. I just ignore them, but those throwing homophobic slurs do get me hot around the collar and I'm never quick enough to come up with something to put them in their place :mad:

[FJS0974]

Yes I agree with you completely, it made me so mad I could have ripped someone’s face off! I was so angry that I told the guy that I could always get married but you would always be a *****! LOL We had justice thought, turns out they had there eye on one of the single young ladies in our group and we were unaware of this. We told her the story and she said oh God I want to punch that guy out and she went on and on! So later that night at the Casino we ran into the young lady in the group she was at the bar having a drink with them, she says Fred, come and meet these cool guys, and I said really you like these guys and I played it cool, as the young man slowly watched his chances go away! I said hey FYI- these were the guys that made that comment! She went ballistic! And they were so pissed, and she walked off with us and I just laughed! So in this instance we got revenge so I was happy about that!!!

[CanCruzer]

Yes I agree with you completely, it made me so mad I could have ripped someone’s face off! I was so angry that I told the guy that I could always get married but you would always be a *****! LOL We had justice thought, turns out they had there eye on one of the single young ladies in our group and we were unaware of this. We told her the story and she said oh God I want to punch that guy out and she went on and on! So later that night at the Casino we ran into the young lady in the group she was at the bar having a drink with them, she says Fred, come and meet these cool guys, and I said really you like these guys and I played it cool, as the young man slowly watched his chances go away! I said hey FYI- these were the guys that made that comment! She went ballistic! And they were so pissed, and she walked off with us and I just laughed! So in this instance we got revenge so I was happy about that!!!

I hope they learned something, but somehow I doubt it.

[FJS0974]

I am sure they didn't but I was happy that i wqas able to ruin his night as significant as he ruined ours! So althought it be no victory, it made me happy to know he didn't get any that night!

[CruisinMaterial]

Jake,

On this past trip we were sitting in the Piano Bar and ordered a beer and we were sitting there bothering nobody and keeping to ourselves and some Jack ass, looked at us and said he look its Beers and Queers! That was a very small taste of what we put up with, it was a HORRIBLE experience and I have to tell you it really will keep me away form Carnival and probably for good!

 

Sorry for the delay. Had to study for the mid-term that was on last Friday and finish up clinical paperwork for Saturday. Anyway, that's just a nasty experience. I didn't have anything like that at all. The clientele was enough for me to say never again. I couldn't imagine someone doing that and right to your face. I had someone on Princess complain about the door decorations that I had up. It was a Pirates of the Caribbean theme and it wasn't to my face. Yes there was a picture of Orlando Bloom without his shirt on but hey... it wasn't racy!! :):eek::D

 

Anyway, sorry to hear you had that bad of an experience. I wouldn't sail them if it was a free cruise being offered either if I had one as bad as that. People are so stupid nowadays... a lot more friendly people but there's still some real winners out there. :mad: