New rules on Carnival Cruises stir controversey

Boo hoo hoo. The rules sound reasonable. Except for the rap and hip-hop ban. That is profiling.

No butt sex on the lido deck.

Hmmm I wonder why ? Just like Amtrak,and airlines that are cheap,or malls ,or state fairs or concerts, a large gathering of certain individuals always seems to create conflict. Google Orange park mall here in Jax Fl . a couple of days ago and we had 100s of feral teens running amok. Not for the 1st time. Jumping on cars,fighting,running into heavy traffic,stealing etc.

Sounds perfectly fine to me.

[quote] Strict adherence to the 15 drink daily limit

What??!!!

What R5 said. Fifteen drinks of anything is crazy yet alone stuff with alcohol.

What about crab legs? Will passengers still be able to get their crab legs?

I thought the same thing R5 & R6, but drink packages are usually per person on a cruise, so it is very possible to get a drink, give it to someone (maybe underage), and then go back and get another.

Carnival is one of the cheapest priced, so the clientele they attract necessitate these type of rules.

You won’t find a “15 drink limit” on Celebrity, because their customer base isn’t ghetto people.

What about scrimps? How many scrimps we has a day on the ship?

Fried chicken still ok though?

All HETEROSEXUAL FATTIES are required to walk on the treadmill in the fitness room for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.

If you've ever seen YouTube videos of out of control fights on cruise ships, you'd understand why Carnival has implemented these rules.

It’s NOT A Fucking Carnival Cruise™️

Ain’t we?

When I type in carni into the YouTube search box the first autofill is “carnival cruise fights” and there must be hundreds of videos. Apparently CCL is know as “section 8 of the seas” Not that it affects me. In the least. I’m more likely to blow Kim jong-un on worldwide live TV than I am to do on a carnival cruise.

The good part starts at 3:12

And another perspective

TikTok videos have put a real hurt on Carnival and forced them to deal with these issues. It’ll be interesting to see if their crowd tries other cruise lines and how they’ll deal with them.

[quote]Strict adherence to the 15 drink daily limit

Dear Lord in Heaven!

Their policies aren’t racist, they’re just targeted at the people who cause all of the problems.

The drunkest rowdiest group I ever saw in on a ship ( car ferry) were a group of young Orthodox Jewish men. Apparently on their way to a wedding. No fighting though .

I hear there are going to be new rules for the gay cruises targeting the trashy gays.

The confused white couple investigating the scene at 10:10 in R17’s video. 😂

15 drinks? Holy shit that's a lot.

r16 r17 r18 r19 r23 I wonder why you're so invested in this topic?

i’ve drank more than 15 drinks on a holiday gay pride sunday. also remember, on carnival drinks are measured pours, so much less alcohol than we gays are used to.

R16- There's a video on youtube of some American ghetto blacks in Italy writing graffiti on some historical bridge and two young Italians are chiding them for writing on the bridge and the blacks accused them of being racist.

[quote] Strict adherence to the 15 drink daily limit

This legit sounds like a Moe Szyslack line.

r29 ok?

R23 is full of shit.

R28 The one time I drank that much I was hung over for four days.

They didn’t say delta 8! You can get breath strips and put them in a regular breath strip container.

[quote] People are alleging the new rules are Anti-Black or targeted toward the line's black patrons.

Pick a capital.

The ghetto, hunny. The GHETTO!!!

World Star!

This will only drive up clientele.

Is there downlow BBC on these ghetto cruises? On men under 200lbs?

R39 You make it sound like visiting flyoverstan.

Some people had no home training.

Sad.

Mandatory dance off!

How are they going to track how much you drink in a day?

I think these Sharkeishas have learned to have one person buy a drink package, and then scam unlimited drinks for their entire entourage. Hence the new “15 drink daily limit”.

15 is around one drink an hour (not counting sleep time). That's a silly limit for a vacation.

Well, Well , Well..... I hate to say I told you so....but ...

I’ll bet Carnival’s onboard shops have a high rate of theft.

I was on one years ago and it was a MAGa shithole.

R48 Carnival is a weird mix of hot-dog eating, NASCAR-loving MAGA Bubbas and ratchet, section 8, 3 baby daddy LaToyas.

It's the Motel 6 of cruise lines - I've never been on one and never will.

But yeah - the hiphop and rap is still divisive and many people do not want to hear it. I don't care if it offends some people - it makes a lot of people's ears bleed.

You've got earbuds - you don't need to have that crap blasted everywhere.

10% of it is great - but 90% is just ghetto crap and everyone knows it. Now - equally, I'd like a ban on Country.

What about legally prescribed cannabis?

Wait, so people do the bullshit personal speakers and speakerphone media and phone calls on Cruise Ships? I guess they do, huh.

Ok, I'm not going to this either. These fucktards ruin it for everyone with their stupidity.

R49- Anotherwords RIFF RAFF

R28 = Liza.

My mom paid for my sister and her family to go on a cruise with her. My sister and her husband would get up late, eat at the buffet and drink until they passed out. Then they would get up for another dinner buffet and get blotto drunk again. I am sure they were drinking more than 15 drinks each.

The first time I went on a cruise was one of those Atlantis gay cruises.

I was chatting with one of the staff people. I joked that they must get hazard pay for this cruise. He said the staff actually enjoyed it because the people were more fun and the rules were significantly relaxed.

He also mentioned that the first Atlantis cruise that he ever worked they had stocked the bars with the regular amount of alcohol that they would for a normal cruise. They had to restock at the first port because they had already burned through about 80% of what they were carrying. He said the staff was stunned at how much liquor gay men go through.

None of these rules are outrageous nor do any appear obviously targeting any demographic.

If these basic and sensible restrictions offend you - and everyone must be offended these days - you shouldn’t be rudely encroaching on civilized people’s hard-earned vacations.

[quote] She pointed out that viral cruise fights never happen in the clubs, where the music plays. Rather, they happen in hallways and pool decks; places fueled by excessive drinking, not DJ playlists. “It is 100% the alcohol […] not the music,” she added, calling the association between rap music and violence “discriminatory.”

R55 that is the point of cruising

[quote] He said the staff was stunned at how much liquor gay men go through.

Well, wouldn’t you drink if you were gay?

Luxury problems

Here to save the day. Unlimited Henny shots, 24 hour on board dispensary and check cashing for your convenience. The Mt. Olive Covenant of the Holy Redeemer chapel with 30 person baptism pool, and a freak off deck in back.

R60 = Anita Bryant.

This is definitely…a disrespectin’.’

[quote]He said the staff actually enjoyed it because the people were more fun and the rules were significantly relaxed.

Of course the bartenders are going to love it. Talk to the housekeeping staff and the rest of the interior and I assure you, it is a different story.

Nice try though. Gay men of all stripes are every bit as uncivilized in large numbers as a black teenagers. Probably even more so.

A family friend went on a Carnival cruise once. She said a drunk guy pulled down his speedo and started shaking his dick around for the whole pool area to see.

R66 = Louis CK.

A Carnival Cruise sounds like the tenth circle of hell.

15 drinks a day? JFC. It always amazes me how much some people can drink.

Will they outlaw Kathy Lee? Let’s go!

Is Carnaval a bargain cruise line?

I can't imagine people like the folks in the video at R17 are making much more than $22 an hour.

Honest Carnival Cruise ad

Carnival is very cheap, r71. A three week Seattle-Sydney cruise is $1500 per person for an inside cabin.

R65 I was told a variation of the same thing, unsolicited, by one of the dining room serving staff on an Atlantis cruise, that the gay cruise was the one they all looked forward to—the most fun, no dealing with a lot of kids underfoot, and the one where they were treated the most respectfully by the guests. I could see where that would be true and felt proud to be gay.

They've made the film SOUL PLANE, so can SOUL SHIP be in the works?

My MAGA in-laws recently did a cheap Carnival tour and boy did we get an earful upon their return. Security guarding certain halls and lots of guests in one party under room lockup. The family, who live in a rural area, were so triggered. Mind you, these are th same people who refer to POC as Canadians so they can talk about them within earshot at a Denny's in the big city...

[quote] How are they going to track how much you drink in a day?

They swipe your card each time you order.

It's funny when these policies come out, whether at a nightclub or on a cruise ship, blacks always feel targeted.

It's basically admission of guilt.

R65 raises a point, much as we might not like to go there. Years ago, at a gay bar, I overheard a bartender and patron comparing their bar tabs on recent cruises; I'm no stranger to the bottle, but the amounts knocked me for a loop. Thing is, they were more bragging about it than pissed off "Damn! I spent all that money!"

R73: for that price, I'd expect a bowl of generic Cheerios as breakfast, and a bologna-and-American cheese sandwich as dinner.

R66: I wouldn't expect yahoo trash to wear speedos.

R73 I've heard of retirees opting to live on cruise ships. At that price, it sounds like a viable option for those on a limited income. Maybe BrendaD Ickson can consider it once she's evicted from her condo.

The new written rules are entirely reasonable.

I had no idea they allowed personal speakers before this. Sounds like a nightmare on a "relaxing" cruise.

15 drinks a day is plenty. If you think otherwise, you might be an alcoholic.

As for the "unofficial rules" and what plays in the bars/used by DJs, that's always a tough one when you have people of various backgrounds. If that's an actual "unofficial rule" now and not just social media nonsense as it often is, it's probably because they ran the numbers from surveys and other things and found that far more customers were bothered by the music than said it was a must have.

Nobody’s talking about the egregious marijuana ban?

r65, pure nonsense. Gay men are extremely good tippers. And there is not a chance in hell they are as bad as large groups of teenagers, black or otherwise.

Imagine learning that a cruise line is going to start restricting personal speakers and believing that it is a targeted slight against your race. Sort of a self own, that.

What is their policy re barefoot dancing?

One drink at your average gay bar is probably equivalent to three watered-down drinks on Carnival, so 15 drinks isn't all that much.

I wasn't sure what "personal speakers" meant. The things you learn from Datalounge! I had no idea that people would bring speakers on a cruise ship (or anywhere else, for that matter) so they can have their music blasting, thereby annoying the fuck out of everybody else within earshot, instead of doing the polite and courteous thing by wearing ear buds instead.

Yes, I'm white. But I probably didn't have to mention that.

Why dont they ban country music? I never want to hear that shit.

R66 has convinced me to go on a Carnival Cruise

Black TikTokkers complain about cruisers wearing bonnets, pajamas and slippers all over the ship. Dang, if I can’t wear my PJ’s in the dining hall I ain’t going.

Only fifteen drinks a day? That's ridiculous!

15 sounds about right for breakfast.

Remember the first rule of urban survival. If there's more than three turn around and flee!

It's funny how these rules give them the worst PR as it makes Carnival look so trashy that they have these behaviors in the first place.

They will always be for the budget traveler - and that's fine. But if I'm going to spend money on a vacation, I'm going to save up a little bit more to be on a premium line to avoid these issues.

Not everyone has the ability to do that, I understand.

But I feel like most travel companies (including airlines) need to provide a list of unacceptable behaviors and rules of conduct. Shit has gotten out of control and people clearly need guidelines - people from lower economic backgrounds would never have afforded planes and cruises 30+ years ago.

I like rules - they are there for a reason.

R94- I would suggest Holland America. The people on those ships are much nicer more respectable upper middle class crowd- No MAGA nor Ghetto RIFF RAFF.

OP linked to a right-wing site

I've heard good things about Regent Seven Seas. They have more of an "upscale" crowd who understand proper manners and correct behavior that is expected of civilized people. Read into that what you will.

[quote] There are also accusations that Carnival has unofficially banned rap and hip-hop music in its clubs and bars and has additionally prevented DJs from playing songs from that genre on the pool deck.

So, 24/7 Neil Diamond?

It's controversy, no second e.

R95 - Holland is classic but it's old people primarily unfortunately. I prefer Celebrity - modern, funky, urban, upscale, primarily adults 30-60.

R97 - true - but Regency is a luxury line, not just premium. The downside is that they are smaller ships with limited lounges and entertainment - and the PRICE. Literally costs 3-5x the amount of a premium line and 10x a budget line.

Many luxury lines can be $1000 a day for 2 people. Of course it's not going to have the riff-raff, but I can't justify a $1000/day budget for any vacation.

What’s marijuana have to do with it?

You can have it… A cruise is not a vacation.

You sound poor r100

Lots of people find the smell offensive R101. It stinks to high heaven just as cigarette smoke does. Also, like cigarettes, a fire hazard.

R103 - so witty! Such a comeback! No - anyone spending $7000 for a week cruise has more money than sense.

Actually I just checked Crystal Cruises to see prices - it's $5500 per person for 7 nights - so $11,000 before taxes, gratuities, etc.

There is no way to justify $1700 a day for food (albeit great food) and a floating hotel room. It's a matter of sense and value for money. If you've got money to burn - by all means.

But getting value for your money is smart - blowing it is stupid no matter how rich you are.

It looks like Carnival Cruises needs to significantly raise their rates

[quote]But getting value for your money is smart - blowing it is stupid no matter how rich you are.

Then by all means have fun on Carnival "where Section Eight meets the Seven Seas" Cruises so you can get "value for your money."

R103 Is that illegal around here?

One theory I read was that Carnival is trying to attract "better" clientele because they're worried about a downturn in the economy. Wealthier people will still travel, but the lower middle class and working class won't be able to take cruises in a recession.

Years ago I was shocked - shocked, I tell you - to read upscale Celebrity’s passenger guide prohibiting passengers from biting, spitting, and hair-pulling. We go on Celebrity a lot, and will be the Silhouette this summer and happily have never seen that kind of behavior. Clearly Celebrity has, or else their lawyers wouldn’t have felt it necessary to include the verbiage. They also wouldn’t let the Trinidadian reggae band by the pool play the Pokémon Song. The singer told me they’d been forbidden to sing it because of the lyrics: “Tha shit’s OK in Barbados, mon, but we can’t play it here.”

All smoking, cigarettes, cigars, and marijuana, is verboten on most ships. Some we’ve been on (QM2 last year) have a single, outdoors, cigarettes only area where you can smoke but I know of none that allow it in your cabin, on your balcony or in the public areas.

R107 - I've never taken Carnival, that's why I suggested Celebrity upthread.

Look - there's cutting witty remarks and there's just being a cunt. Your comments fully display how low-brow, unintelligent and trashy you are.

Go try to fool other people with your false "I'm rich, you're poor" insecurities. You're not fooling anyone here.

I can't believe you can't smoke on your fucking balcony.

My parents took Seabourne and among the small number of guests were Don Rickles and Bob Newhart and their wives, and DL fav Juliette Prowse. It's expensive and exclusive. Save up, bitches.

R97 Regent markets to an upper-middle class Calif., Ill. NY and Florida crowd. They host Friday Sabbath services on board.

I cruised on Crystal with Barbara Walters. More than once with Howard Fineman and his wife Amy (they were sweethearts). Another time, the couple in the next stateroom were MTM’s in-laws; she gifted them a Northern Lights/Norwegian fjord cruise because her mother-in-law was going blind. Lovely and sad to spend time with them.

I lent Alice Faye my binoculars on a whale-watching tour off Maui when we went on the old QE2. Bill Cosby (then as yet unconvicted) was the entertainer that night. On that cruise, Tony Warren (he created Coronation Street) was speaking onboard and sat next to us in the Queen’s Grill from California to Honolulu.

Dr Ruth was at our table on a Celebrity cruise. Walter Cunningham, one of the Apollo 7 astronauts, sat with us on another X cruise. I didn’t think it’d go too well because he was a pretty crusty right-winger sitting with two gay guys, but my husband’s a Texan, too, and retired Navy and they got along great.

[quote]Nobody’s talking about the egregious marijuana ban?

Marijuana is still illegal in most states and perhaps in the port where the cruise starts or ends. Not to mention the countries it visits. And any kind of smoking is VERY restricted on cruises due to the very high risk of catastrophic fires.

You could probably get away with marijuana edibles.

R105, you can’t base other people’s spending power on your wallet. The fact that you probably have a smart phone as well as a computer and a subscription to at least one streaming service and internet WiFi from home means you have more money to burn than 80% of the globe. Money is the most relative thing there is. $11000 is nothing to a great number of people in the United States - at least enough to keep those cruises afloat with hundreds of thousands more to spare. Someone making 300k a year is probably taking home 18k a month. Now how many people in the US make more than 300K? Even at 1% that’s still 3.5 million people.

Wait, there’s a gay Carnival cruise?

[quote] The fact that you probably have a smart phone as well as a computer and a subscription to at least one streaming service and internet WiFi from home means you have more money to burn than 80% of the globe.

You’re an idiot.

R120, It’s a fact silly.

R121, the fact that you can find food to eat makes you wealthier than half of the world. You’re not making the point you think you are. The majority of Americans have phones and access to wifi. It’s essential. We don’t do global. At the very least you could have narrowed it down to Westerners.

I can't afford to go on a booze cruise of Boston Harbor.

R73 $1,500 seems like a stretch for most of these people.

I legit want to go on a Carnival cruise now after reading this thread…with the right companions (I wouldn’t take my mom lol). It sounds hysterical and like you would leave with great stories.

Of all the rules, the one that ASTOUNDED me was letting unaccompanied children run around until 1 am. And that's "cracking down" on the problem!

Well, now I'm wondering - on the nicer upgrade cruises, are there mouth breathers using speaker phone there too ?

I went on a Carnival Cruise but there was no carnival!

And Tom wasn't there, either.

19 people a year fall overboard. I wonder how many of them are on Carnival ships?

15 drinks a day is a lot, and it's a reasonable limit, but it's not that hard to reach into the double digits on vacation if you start with a couple of mimosas or a bloody mary, have 2-3 drinks with meals, and spend the night partying into the wee hours. It's definitely a lot but spread out over 24 hours it's not impossible.

r131 = alcoholic

Isn’t Atlantis the big gay fuck cruise?

R132 = zero reading comprehension, probably illiterate.

r134 = drunk AF

I could do 15 drinks in a day but I would be incapable of doing that every day, let alone two days in a row.

15 drinks a day is ridiculous, no matter how spread out they are.

You start with a couple of mimosas or a bloody mary...every day?

Then 2-3 drinks with lunch, and 2-3 with dinner--then another 7 to 9 drinks when partying that night...and you would be doing this every day? Oh, that's an alcoholic.

It would take several days for me to consume 15 drinks without feeling like shit.

After drink #3 I would be snoozing into the buffet

Yes, I also live full time on a cruise ship and every single day is a vacation day. I also made it clear that this is something I personally do in my post at R131. I mean the phrase "this is what I do every day without fail" is clearly there in my post.

The dumbest and most reactionary fucking people post here, I swear to god.

Who hurt you?

I'd feel like shit after a day of 15 drinks. I'd probably puke too.before the day was over. I might have 2 much later the next day to ease out of the hangover. Then it would be at least a few days of abstinence.

Preppy dress code and only play Eurodance.

[R73]$1,500 seems like a stretch for most of these people.

These trashy Bahamas cruises are more like $300.

I hope Carnival pays their workers decently. You know they’re making zero tips on these Section 8 voyages.

R145 That makes more sense.

Well, it is called "Carnival Cruises" after all.....

Anyone been on a Virgin cruise? They’re adults-only, so no brats running around. But I’m wondering what the clientele (age, socioeconomic status) is like?

My mom went on a Caribbean cruise once, it didn't sound anything like this, the wild partying or anything. But that was probably 15 years ago. Someone had a heart attack on the ship and they had to skip some ports and come back to Florida a day or so early.

I haven't R149, but know someone who has. She's a str8 gal in her 20s, loved the drag queen bingo. They are proud of attracting all ages. Food is said to be great.

I did a 3-day Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean back in 2002. It was a free trip as part of a reward for work.

It was okay, but I wouldn't do it again. The dinners were nice, but I remember the breakfast buffet being really overcrowded and fully of trashy people stuffing their fat faces until they practically exploded.

I took a friend with me, and when we checked into our cabin, there were two single beds in the room, and the steward said he would push the two beds together for us. We told him not to do it and that we were just friends, but every day when we'd come back to the room, they had pushed the beds together and we would have to move them apart. Geez.

[quote]Who hurt you?

Who dropped you on your head and caused your intellectual disability?

*hic*

The point I was making r121 is that R105 has no place to tell other people what is and isn't stupid when it comes how they spending their money. He is complaining about other people spending $11000 on vacation when someone else much less fortunate, like 80% of the rest of the world, would think he spends his money in stupid ways. His $100 cellphone bill might swell be $11000 to them.

My mother does Carnival with a group of other elderly "divas" (the name of the group) every year. She says it's fun but they also have customized excursions and their own private activities and servers. She did say there's a lot of fat people in swimwear they should not be wearing. She took a Royal Caribbean trip a few months ago and actually said she preferred Carnival as the food and entertainment were better.

Children and women first.....but mostly children.

R150 the good ships all have morgues.

R158 The person wasn't dead.

R150 I don't remember, I wasn't there and it wasn't recent. My mom would know but she's dead now. Must have had to take him to the first available port, which was on their way home. Anyhow, they had to get back a bit earlier.

For R158^^^

Or they skipped a port and went straight back to Miami.

[quote]Or they skipped a port and went straight back to Miami.

Probably this. You wouldn’t want to be having a heart and get dropped off in Haiti.

R149- I’m going on a Virgin Voyage gay cruise . It leaves from Barcelona. They brag about there being no Cafeteria/ Buffet on the ship- I’m concerned about that. I like being able to take food from the buffet back to my room and it’s quick which is especially good when you’re in a rush to go on an excursion.

R163 Yeah I seem to recall that is what happened.

What are the nice cruise lines, where I can discuss Mahler and Thomas Mann over dry martinis?

[quote] the good ships all have morgues.

and lollipops

R163 It was a Royal Caribbean cruise. I remember it went to Coco Cay, which is their island.

r166 - they are Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The 15 drinks per day are WEAK WATERED DOWN drinks, objectively speaking - as has been said aleady on this thread, yet there seem to be a few dumb dumbs who still want to opine on whether that is too much or too little.

They're allowed to serve watered-down liquor?

So it's more like seven or eight? That's still enough to raise the eyebrows of 12 steppers

Carnival, the dollar store of cruises

R170 Neely O'Hara, dear, 15 drinks, watered down or not, is a lot of drinks.

I couldn't deal with the amount of people at R102. I recently watched the Poop Cruise video on Netflix and was amazed at how crowded the ship was. That doesn't seem like a relaxing vacation to be elbow to elbow with your fellow travelers.

With who, R166, ancient widowed Japanese war brides who hooked a GI during the Occupation who then came home to run the family business, dying and leaving her millions? Crystal Cruises.

Titanic cosplayers of every race, creed (the Captain is Muslim), color, and nationality crowd the QM2. The top deck’s not worth it any more, but with the cheap cabins and the right attitude you can have a lot of fun. Very well-behaved. Lots of Brits, obviously. Cunard Line.

Holland America: God’s Waiting Room Goes To Sea. It can be very nice depending, but it’s expensive for what you get. Lots of prunes served at breakfast. If you can afford a nice cabin/suite they do or include a lot, but it’s pricey. If you drink with the officers you learn what really goes on onboard.

Celebrity always seemed the most gay friendly mass market line. Not sure if it still is. It started as the Hyatts and the Greeks and every ship has been better than the one before it. The food, service, cleanliness are all great. Entertainment varies, they try to dazzle. It’s middle-aged, middle class, more than some swinging and sauna adventures with married men on the dl.

Norwegian. Awful. Just awful. A Greyhound bus that floats. Never again. People came onboard with their clothes in paper bags - no luggage. No manners, either. One hustle after another.

We haven’t been on Virgin.

I cannot imagine 15 drinks a day. OTOH, I had an aunt and uncle who played 36 holes of golf and drank two pourer bottles a day all winter in Florida. Screwdrivers at 7:30 in the morning, even with fresh OJ, were the eye-openers when I visited.

Canada's DOLLARAMA is so successful.it should start a cruise line, serving the canned food on its shelves. Who wants ravioli? Pea soup? Paris Paté? Swiss Rolls for dessert.

[quote] Holland America: God’s Waiting Room Goes To Sea. It can be very nice depending, but it’s expensive for what you get.

I’m on a HAL cruise next year. It will be interesting to experience a new dynamic. I’ve been seeing them lately referred to as a premium line, but I don’t think what I paid is too much, considering it includes wifi and drinks.

[quote] I cannot imagine 15 drinks a day.

I used to think that, but when drinking drinks with little alcohol in them, it wasn’t too hard to hit the limit. I keep telling myself to drink only wine, beer, cider, or shots, so that I at least will get some bang out of it.

[quote] I’m going on a Virgin Voyage gay cruise . It leaves from Barcelona. They brag about there being no Cafeteria/ Buffet on the ship- I’m concerned about that. I like being able to take food from the buffet back to my room and it’s quick which is especially good when you’re in a rush to go on an excursion.

You can take food from The Galley or any of the non-reservation eateries back to your room. No one is going to stop you. There’s also grab-and-go boxes of food available in several locations.

R169 - You missed Hapag-Lloyd and at least a dozen other lines.

[quote] when drinking drinks with little alcohol in them

I’ll add that with the ice in the glass, it’s not even a lot of liquid that you’re drinking.

You can’t water down a bottled beer. 15 beers is A LOT.

Wine too.

The 15 drink a day thing is more of an indicator of the size of these beached whales that are on the cruise.

Some of these obese people are 300 pounds or more. They can drink 6 drinks and not be legally drunk because of their body size.

A 300lb man can drink 10 beers in 3 hours and be under 0.10%. (!!)

Nobody thinks drinking 15 drinks is a great idea - but I can see how it happens - particularly if you start at noon and are up until 10pm. It's not insane for 1 day - every day is another story.

R184 Drinking that much alcohol can't be healthy for anyone, but what you are saying is true. Ethanol blood level is a function of body weight, gender and probably age. In some of those videos you can see some really HUGE people. That may be one reason they choose cruises to begin with. Lots of/unlimited food with little walking.

[quote]You missed Hapag-Lloyd and at least a dozen other lines.

Yes, but why list more - no one was listening. They're still talking about the lines for the poors...

[quote]Celebrity always seemed the most gay friendly mass market line. Not sure if it still is. It started as the Hyatts and the Greeks and every ship has been better than the one before it. The food, service, cleanliness are all great. Entertainment varies, they try to dazzle. It’s middle-aged, middle class, more than some swinging and sauna adventures with married men on the dl.

I took a Celebrity cruise and from the first night all the gays, lesbians, and straights looking for a good time congregated at the same bar. All stone-faced but very hot Eastern European dudes doing flair bartending. Had fun chatting up an extremely sportif (and clearly wealthy) lesbian couple that took cruises four times a year.

And there was NOTHING for children to do on the ship.

R187 - yep - my experience too. I think there were like 6 kids on the entire ship - that's their problem. But yes - many stone-faced Eastern Europeans.

I like the Celebrity experience.

[quote]19 people a year fall overboard. I wonder how many of them are on Carnival ships?

On Carnival, most of them probably jump. I know I would.

I guess Patti LuPone found a new job.

“What do you think of this is? Maybe if you put down tha phone and find some pants that fit….”

How come when you look on American travel sites, they don’t show cruises on foreign-foreign cruise lines? They just show the ones with operations in America. Are the cruise lines that cater to Europeans any good?

r192 Not true. I see cruises from MSC, Costa, Cunard, et al. all the time.

Just checked the Carnival website. Cheapest cruise is a 4-day from Long Beach to Baja California — $548 for two people.

So, yeah…

That’s a voyage of the damned waiting to happen…

[quote]Not true. I see cruises from MSC, Costa, Cunard, et al. all the time.

Costa and Cunard are owned by Carnival and MSC has some operations in the U.S. (as well as elsewhere). I said I don't see foreign-foreign cruise lines listed.

The ban on weed is stupid. If I would ever be forced to go on a cruise, it would be my life saver. Those floating ecological nightmares with too many people with nothing to do, mini cabins, ... A new circle of hell for me.

R194 Good grief! How can they be making money? I've only ever been on one cruise and that was to Alaska (started in Vancouver). I guess that was an OK way of seeing Alaska, but I doubt I'll go on another cruise ever. I travel a lot (internationally), but cruises are not for me.

R196 the point is that they are marketed to a different crowd. If you took a Costa cruise in the Med, you could easily be the odd one out in terms of language, entertainment, timing of meals, etc., cocktail culture (or lack of it), etc.

I took a Crystal cruise in the Med, where half the ship was Ford Mexico dealership owners and their families on an awards gig. The ship accommodated them by adding a very late dinner seating, flying in special entertainment from Latin and South America, stocking up on tequilas and mezcal’s, etc. it was like two different cruises were going on. We had a lot of fun doing the Mexican version.

There were only 800 passengers in total^

The white folks from Florida didn’t enjoy that cruise so much….

R17 dinner & a show has been updated

[quote] I cruised on Crystal with Barbara Walters. More than once with Howard Fineman and his wife Amy (they were sweethearts). Another time, the couple in the next stateroom were MTM’s in-laws; she gifted them a Northern Lights/Norwegian fjord cruise because her mother-in-law was going blind. Lovely and sad to spend time with them.

What the fuck, are you 115 years old?

This sounds like a floating nursing home.

This post should have zero replies because there’s nothing controversial stated.

Carnival is tired of being a ghetto cruise line and who can blame them after years of those vile videos of abhorrent behavior and garbage people. It’s like a Popeye’s with life preservers.

I applaud these new restrictions as should any decent individual.

R166's sarcasm aside, as we floated among the castles on the Rhine during a Viking cruise, I was able to assure a fellow passenger that she did [italic]not[/italic] need to buy a Kindle to replace her Nook in order to borrow (free) library e-books. Hardly a discussion for party animals.

I've been on Viking twice, and Windstar twice. Both featured polite, intelligent guests (of course, there'll always be a few exceptions). My trip with Tauck, using the French line Ponant, was overall fine, but I'm not looking to do that again.

R198: my first cruise was a week's curcumnavigation of Iceland on Windstar. Awesome experience, my mother and I still talk about how much we liked it years later.

r203 you must be new to Datalounge. There are posters here who were taking cruises during the Genesis Flood.

R203 we were young then, and beautiful.

R200 We had a similar experience on Crystal. There was a female televangelist and 300 of her followers onboard and - odd for 25 years ago - a full video crew to record everything they did on and off the ship, including daily shots of them doing just that: getting on and off the ship to see whatever Christians look for in Alaska. (Jewels of the Caribbean seemed to be very popular.) Jesus and his lady representative on earth weren’t getting all their money.

Versus Celebrity, where on one transatlantic crossing to move the ship from Europe in the summer and fall to the Caribbean for the winter) the cheapest cabins went for $400 pp for a 14 night cruise from Barcelona to Miami via Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Bermuda and Nassau. The empty cabins must have been pitched to airline employees because there had to be 30 or 40 trolley dollys in addition to the 50 or 60 gays who sailed, not as part of a group because as R200 mentions, X has a reputation. Anyway, God rest his soul because he must be dead by now but one old regular, Mr Bill from San Diego (we saw him on half a dozen cruises over the years) was the hostess with the mostess on the ball. He took it upon himself to organize the gay contingent, whether it was drinks, games, the sauna (no organization needed: the FA’s owned that place), trivia, and even a lunch on a sea day in the main dining room. We had a great time as a spontaneously gathered group. About 60 of us marched in to lunch together behind Mr Bill and got a hand from the rest of the room. The repositioning cruises are cheap (many still under $1000 pp for two weeks) and always get a big gay crowd.

It all depends on the ship. One of Celebrity’s older ships, the Constellation, sails from Tampa and, perhaps as a consequence, draws a lot of passengers from the South and Midwest. One friend said it sucked onboard: people ignoring the no-smoking rules, Fox News 24/7, lots of redneck racism overheard) but he’s been back three times now because there’s so much corn fed daddy dick looking for love in the right places if you’re looking for that kind of love.

I think these new rules make perfect sense, but not because I'm racist, but I think low-priced anything brings out trashy people who do trashy things. I've never been on a cruise, but I've heard enough stories about cruising, especially gay cruises, to make me never want to set foot on any cruise.

Do they have metal detectors to screen for weapons when boarding on these ships?

I didn’t know blacks go on cruises. I thought it was only for the world’s stupidest whites.

R211 = Shecky Feldman., world’s worst comedian.

R210 They do, actually.

Metal detectors to check for guns. On cruise ships.

God Bless America!

Same as at the airport or sports event.

They mostly screening to make sure you're not bringing your own liquor on board. They'd probably be okay with a gun before a bottle of liquor. That's a big no no

Now I know where all the security guards and medical office receptionists go for vacation.

I never understand why anyone wants to go on a cruise anyway. Trapped on a vessel with inconsiderate people.

R218 I've only been on cruise and will never go on one again, but I must say that there were times when I'd look out and see nothing but ocean all around me. It was both eerie and incredibly soothing.

Other than that, it was like being in a giant floating hotel, but not being able to leave it. Oh, and I was surprised to discover that the swimming pools use ocean water. So you taste salt when you swim, and when you get out, your skin is extra dry and rough.

Salt water in the middle of the ocean. Who knew🥺

R220 Talking about the pool, not the ocean, honey.

R221 Yes, it made sense once I swam in it. But when one thinks of a swimming pool at a hotel or resort, one thinks chlorinated water. It was a surprise to jump in the first time and taste salt.

[quote]So you taste salt when you swim

No telling what other horrors were mixed in with the salt ...

I swim in the local ocean pool every summer, I love it, my skin is very soft afterward. I have a hot shower with minimal body wash and am good to go.

[quote]No telling what other horrors were mixed in with the salt ...

"I'm tasting salt but also something else. It's kind of a tangy taste. I wonder what that is?"

[quote] I never understand why anyone wants to go on a cruise anyway.

I never understand why assholes like you comment on posts you purportedly couldn’t care less about.

We get it. No one likes you. Find another outlet for gratification, you piece of shit.

R226 is very upset that others don't love karaoke night in the Tiki Lounge on the Promenade Deck as much as she does.

Took one Christmas week cruise out of New Orleans 35 years ago and don't want to go on another.

“The Love Boat” made me really want to go on a cruise ship. Not because of the stupid plots or unattractive cast but the idea of it seemed so luxurious.

But these stories and videos have changed my mind over the years, especially the stories about how much everybody seems to eat.

the only way I'd take a Carnival Cruise is it was an all-Black cruise (and me). At least it would be a fun time and not a bunch of drunken suburban fraus and trailer dwellers.

[quote]Other than that, it was like being in a giant floating hotel, but not being able to leave it.

To me, this is the problem with cruises that have too many sea days. As long as you stop in a port at least every other day, it's not that bad. But I avoid cruises like the ones from the West Coast to Hawaii, which have at least five consecutive sea days in each direction. Or long repositioning cruises.

If you go on a big enough ship, there’s plenty of room to move around and enough activities or ways to entertain yourself to make it enjoyable.

In that Netflix shit boat documentary, one of the crew members said that the crews on ships all fuck each other. It's just a constant fuckfest with the crew.

R233 that seems obvious. People need sex and you’re all stuck with each other.

Any port in a storm, as they say ;)

No farting in people’s faces

[Quote] In that Netflix shit boat documentary, one of the crew members said that the crews on ships all fuck each other. It's just a constant fuckfest with the crew

It makes sense. They are all stuck on boats for weeks at a time. Of course they’re going to fuck one another

r230 if you were actually in an environment of ghetto realness, you would not like it.

Cruises can be a lot of fun. The food is usually good and plentiful. The pools are fun. The entertainment is hit or miss but making fun of it entertains the whole next day

R239 - I agree. You just need to avoid:

1) Budget cruise lines (Norwegian, Carnival) and family-based cruises (Royal Carribbean) 2) Holiday weeks 3) Old people cruise lines - Holland, Princess

Celebrity or Virgin are the hip, funky, premium lines with no kids. And here's the thing about the no kids option - there are also going to be less people on the ship by definition.

Believe it or not - a family of FOUR will book into a regular cabin with the kids sleeping on the pullout sofa. And kids on cruise lines are FERAL - the parents figure that they're fine and nothing can happen cuz they're on a ship, so explore all they want.

I've had a lot of fun on cruises - and had two major disappointments, the last being a Royal Carribbean short cruise over July 4th. Jesus Christ - people EVERYWHERE. Kids EVERYWHERE. So not worth the money for that one.

Celebrity is NOT premium.

[quote] In that Netflix shit boat documentary, one of the crew members said that the crews on ships all fuck each other. It's just a constant fuckfest with the crew.

I mean, they're all stuck at sea with one another, no surprise there.

No rap or hip hop is in fact anti-Black.

Gotta know what other new rules they have. No boots no baggy jeans no ballcaps or bandanas? What are the dog whistles here?

R242 - yeah, not sure how anyone is surprised by that. It's the same crew - they don't get breaks between cruises. You're just on that ship doing 1 or 2 routes for months at a time.

Now they're not supposed to fuck guests - and I can understand the reasoning for that.

R243 - if you bothered to read the article: Carnival has not confirmed an official ban on any specific music genre, but the absence of hip-hop and a push for DJs to play only “pre-approved” tracks has some guests raising eyebrows.

In an email to the Daily Dot, a Carnival spokesperson wrote, “Our DJs play a wide variety of music, including hip-hop.”

So yeah - some of the DJs may have been going overboard and playing their own lists and too much of it. You have to mix it up - AND some rap and hip-hop have offensive lyrics. You know that. Nobody needs to hear that on their vacation.

I've been on Holland America, Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian. Norwegian shouldn't be lumped in with Carnival, but it is lower end. Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess are all mid-level. They all have positives and negatives, and of course it all depends on what you're looking for.

In addition to the line, consider (1) the time of the year, and (2) the length of the cruise. You're not likely to find a lot of younger children on longer cruises during the school year, for example.

[quote]a push for DJs to play only “pre-approved” tracks has some guests raising eyebrows

Pics please.

The “hip hop” their DJs are playing is likely MC Hammer and Tone Loc. I think the rule applies more to guests with their personal speakers. Seems targeted imo.

R247 - personal speakers are offensive - anywhere, not just on a cruise ship.

And so what if they have an approved music list? Look - the SuperBowl Kendrick LaMarr beef with Drake was stupid and alienating to a huge demographic.

People who go to a club want upbeat music that they can dance to. Not some mumble rap - which I'm sorry, does not provide an entertaining atmosphere for everyone.

You know what else isn't played? Thrash music, heavy metal - which has the same off-putting energy and sound as most rap and hip-hop. There IS some melodic hip-hop and rap which is fine- which is probably what is approved.

But a lot of rap music also has offensive lyrics. I'm perfectly fine with this. Enjoy last year's hit by Kendrick - Like That.

Stickin' to the code, all these hoes for the streets I put it in her nose, it's gon' make her pussy leak Pussy niggas told, ain't gon' wake up out they sleep You can't hear that switch, but you can hear them niggas scream All my hoes do shrooms, nigga, all my hoes do coke 20-carat ring, I put my fingers down her throat (uh, uh, uh) If I lose a carat, she might choke (uh, uh, uh) I know she gon' swallow, she a GOAT (uh, uh, uh)

This is not for the majority of cruise passengers. No melody - just cursing to a repetitive snap.

personal speakers are offensive - anywhere, not just on a cruise ship.

Don’t come to NYC—you won’t get far with that attitude

Personal speakers are not an issue in the better neighborhoods.

[quote] Yes, I also live full time on a cruise ship

How does that work? Do you work on one? You never have to leave the ship?

[quote] No rap or hip hop is in fact anti-Black.

Oh, really? The most successful rap artist in history is a White man.

Isn't there more than one venue on these cruise ships? I would hope there would be different genres of music playing. If there are sufficient people on board that enjoy hip-hop, then that should be offered. I'm not personally into rap or hip-hop, but I'm not overly fond of country music either. If I ever went on another cruise ship (highly unlikely), I would congregate in the area that was playing the music I liked. Carrying around a boom-box shouldn't be allowed by anyone period when in a captive area like a ship.

In the bar industry it's been known forever that if you get some rowdy ghetto rats in your bar, you put country music on. It's like Kryptonite. They leave in two minutes.

R253 - People don't like to feel that a certain area is off-limits for them or that they aren't wanted. They paid to access the entire ship. I'd be pissed if I felt like there was only one place where I could go.

Yes there are always several bars on the ship - but there's usually just one club at the top of the ship.

And they still play rap and hip-hop, stop making it out like they don't. It's just approved songs - and those songs are probably crowd pleasers.

I guarantee you that you will not find any hip-hop or rap on other pricier cruise lines at all.

[quote]No rap or hip hop is in fact anti-Black.

It’s anti-noise pollution. It’s an environmental issue, not racism.

I'm no fan of hip-hop and agree with Carnival's policy of no personal speakers, but go to any lily-white suburb in this country and hip hop is all those kids listen to.

The type of music, just like the type of entertainment, would have to match the clientele of the cruise. It sounds like to me that there are various cruise lines that appeal to various markets. Some are largely elderly people. I doubt hip-hop is their thing. There are cruise lines that are definitely marketed to the young to middle aged gay crowd. Something tells me Atlantis cruises don't have a lot of activities set up for children. If cheaper carriers, like Carnival, attract largely a young and/or Black crowd, the entertainment offered should appeal to that group. I find it difficult to believe that hip-hop (or any type of music) is inciting destructive behavior. I suppose if you have a younger set of clientele, there may need to be firm rules in place for everyone's safety. It's either that, or the carrier can reassess how they market their line.

For crying out loud - it is NOT BANNED. They are just pre-approving the songs and not playing the offensive lyrics like I posted above.

Stickin' to the code, all these hoes for the streets I put it in her nose, it's gon' make her pussy leak Pussy niggas told, ain't gon' wake up out they sleep You can't hear that switch, but you can hear them niggas scream All my hoes do shrooms, nigga, all my hoes do coke 20-carat ring, I put my fingers down her throat (uh, uh, uh) If I lose a carat, she might choke (uh, uh, uh) I know she gon' swallow, she a GOAT (uh, uh, uh)

That was one of the biggest songs last year.

Rap is total garbage.

Odd fact, 83 year old Martha Stewart is a big fan of rap music.

R261 believes everything he reads.

I never believed that Martha Stewart is friends with Snoop and I don't believe she likes rap.

[quote] Odd fact, 83 year old Martha Stewart is a big fan of rap music.

Martha also did hard time.

They're just trying to clean up their reputation. Too wild and crazy. Drugs and out of control drunkenness. Fights, assaults, even rape, all kinds of trouble, all kinds of bullshit. So now they're trying "rules." All they have to do is increase prices.

I find Martha to be a stone cold bitch. Which is a very vulgar thing to be, her impeccable taste aside.

The most shocking thing here is that DL's official Black Liaison hasn't chimed in yet with his blaxpertise. Or maybe he has, but is posting incognito for some reason. Or perhaps he's on one of these trashy cruises himself as I type.

The black girl on black girl fight upthread took place to Down Under by Men At Work, sang by a Scottish-accented white Australian which contains several drug references.

Non US guy here, can somebody please tell me what section 8 means?

R269 Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937, commonly known as Section 8, provides rental housing assistance to low-income households in the United States by paying private landlords on behalf of these tenants. You basically get part of your monthly rent paid for by the government based on percentage of your income.

Yes—I think many know the basics of Section 8. I’m sure there’s a few slumlords around here ;)

Thank you R270

Ghetto behavior comes in all shapes and sizes and races. Standard rules are sadly necessary in order for all passengers to enjoy their experience.

[quote] Ghetto behavior comes in all shapes and sizes and races.

Nice try!

Awww poor American black people. Always the victims of something horrible. If they don’t like a rule, a law or a losing argument, it’s “RACIST!”, Hey, the scam has worked so far. I have no doubt Carnival Cruises will be back to their old ways and chaotic passengers in less than a month, once the NAACP and Southern Poverty Law Center start filing their bullshit lawsuits.

I suspect the ban on personal speakers is because of those who bring them would play them in their cabins?

Imagine having other people in cabins near you who play their own music at all hours?

R274 Don't have to try. See for yourself.

R276 I think it's more because they bring on deck and play them.

R277 White? They’re Italian Australians from Melbourne…and the other passengers were complaining about their drunken behavior, not about the music.

Oddly enough, Australian friends were on a Seabourn cruise in the South Pacific when that happened. He’d written to me bitching about a shore excursion, so I sent him a copy of that video saying sometimes it’s better to get off the ship than to stay onboard.

[quote] They’re Italian Australians from Melbourne

So yes, R279, they're white. Thank you for confirming.

And the comment about "ghetto behavior" mentioned nothing about music, but do continue with trying to waffle out of being fact-checked - with visuals - into oblivion. It's cute.

I would rather be around ghetto black people than white trash people. White trash are the lowest of the low.

You’re missing a DL convention R280, about Italians

And I made no comment about “ghetto behavior” nor am I trying to waffle out of being fact-checked: I’m giving you accurate information.

Sorry: if you’re going to trash me, you’re as bad as them.

R282 Keep diggin'. It's a great look on you!

[quote]Non US guy here, can somebody please tell me what section 8 means?

The ghetto. Of course, outside the US "ghetto" means something else entirely.

[quote] They’re Italian Australians from Melbourne

Omogowd mate, they are the trashiest of the trashy!

Like the descendants of English convicts can call anyone else "trashy."

Carnival Cruise Lines. Come for the deck fights, stay for the fashion shows!

[quote]Don't have to try. See for yourself.

Few and far between.

I knew the Godmother of Carnival Cruises, KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, was up to no good when she was doing these infomercials back in the late 1980s.

Where's Kathie Lee now ? Is she on Carnival Cruises poppin' her pussy and singing hip hop in the lounge ?

She’s hosting NAME THAT RAP LYRIC on the Lido deck at 3:30pm on sea days.

That's where all the fighting started on these cruises - these well-mannered men and women from 'the hood' wanted to be the first in line to get Kathie Lee's autograph.

WAIT JUST A DAMN MINUTE ~

How come this video isn't included in their TV commercials ? Why didn't Kathie Lee and he conga line show up and sing "If They Could See Me Now' ?

Can you see her doing rap this way?

I wish Sunny Hostin will speak about this on THE VIEW. Will she side with those saying they are 'singling out' a particular group of people, or will she side with Carnival saying they are enforcing their rules to make sure everyone is enjoying the cruise ?

And what will Whoopi say ?

Whoppie will side with those who want to listen to rap and smoke blunts at the pool.

I don't think so. Whoopi would say for them to do whatever they want in their own room on the ship, but on the decks and in the public spaces they should behave and let everyone enjoy their time on vacation.

R260-I agree and just put a C in front of it and we have

CRAP 💩

I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise about 20 years ago and the crowd was mostly white, straight, middle aged wedding anniversary types, and retirees. Boring as hell. But we were in the Mediterranean and took all the shore tours. Greece, Turkey and Italy. That was great. Excellent food too. But entertainment was shit and so was the company. the service was excellent. Crew were very nice. It was my first an only cruise. I never had the urge to repeat the experience. I suppose if you went on a small ship, and had a group to interact with it could be nice.

An older relative of mine whose third husband left her a few million dollars (she had no idea about his investments, and they lived rather modestly) when he died two summers ago, just returned on July 1 from a nine month cruise around the world. She left last October, never been on a cruise before, never traveled further than up and down the east coast of America. Saw her last weekend at a family reunion cookout, and she said she loved every minute of it. She'd like to do it again. (Someone said it cost around $200,000 but I didn't hear that from her).

Stay for the drug resistant clap.

I took a Carnival cruise in 2005. Even as a sheltered 14 year old, I could tell most of the other passengers were trash. They would spend the day drinking Coors by the pool in speedos.

I was on a cruise only once in my life many many years ago. Holland America. My partner was a model and appeared in their brochures and advertisements (this was before the internet). Along with his payment he was gifted a Bermuda cruise for two. So we went. It was kind of funny when the passengers saw him with me and figured out that the handsome guy pictured in the brochures, enjoying a cruise with a beautiful woman, was actually gay.

R276 the ban on personal speakers is perhaps for your reason, but more likely because people play shit on their phones and other speakers in public places, such as at the pool, in the bars and restaurants as well as in their rooms. Carnival wants you to use your earbuds.

I've seen people do the speaker bullshit on the beach and thought it was rude even there. Can't imagine doing it on a cruise Some people have no class

A few months ago, a woman came to my gym with her boombox and started playing music on it while she was working out. A man approached her and nicely asked her to turn the music off or use her earbuds.

She went from 0 to 60 in about a half a second and went postal on the guy, screaming at him, threatening him, you name it. The police ended up having to be called to take her out.

I'm on my 15th drink and it's only 9:40. Anybody got a flask?

[quote]A few months ago, a woman came to my gym with her boombox and started playing music on it while she was working out. A man approached her and nicely asked her to turn the music off or use her earbuds. She went from 0 to 60 in about a half a second and went postal on the guy, screaming at him, threatening him, you name it. The police ended up having to be called to take her out.

Uh...let me guess...

r307 you are terrible!

I'm not getting the problem with dancing with fans. I'm assuming hand-held accordion-style paper fans ? Why aren't those allowed now ? What did the women do with those ?

[quote]In that Netflix shit boat documentary, one of the crew members said that the crews on ships all fuck each other. It's just a constant fuckfest with the crew.

I've always wanted to fuck a Carnie.

R309 I see a lot of menopausal women fanning themselves with those fans in public.

Also some black women use them to cool off while dancing. I don’t know why they would be banned, they seem sensible to me and no more likely a weapon than a fork or a cocktail stick.

r311, if a person really needs a fan due to heat, battery operated, handheld rotating fans are allowed.

As opposed to Diesel powered, R312?

Third world problems.

Low Rent

[quote] R203] we were young then, and beautiful.

You’ve neverbeen beautiful. You’re old, fat and ugly and always will be.

Who takes care of all the illegitimate children when the black people are on the cruise?

[quote] I would rather be around ghetto black people than white trash people. White trash are the lowest of the low.

Sure you would.

R317 They stay with their cousins and Auuunties.

[quote]Non US guy here, can somebody please tell me what section 8 means?

They are vouchers R269, given to low-income people to use for rent at "regular" apartment buildings. I don't think landlords are required to take them, but it probably varies city to city.

I have heard of new buildings being required to take a certain amount of them in exchange for permit approvals.

Of course, not all poor people are trashy, but they can often stand out in certain higher end buildings.

Section 8 pays a portion of the rent so the tenant gets a big discount.

R312 battery operated fans are just as likely to be a weapon.

"Section 8" s a term for low income housing for people who are low income, implying that if you are poor, you are t rash, when, as someone who has family members who were raised in Section 8 housing, I can tell you this is untrue. Not all low income people are t rash. I knew plenty of meddle class people who are total shit with no class at all. And BTW: Most MAGAs are not low income.

Sounds like they're banning bad manners and bad behavior. People should know how to behave in public places. It's not your back yard or your house.

Some wealthy people are utter trash.

R325 Fuck you and your blood coming out of wherever, you horseface!

Especially those nouveau riche, R325.

I’ve heard some are even Irish.

I had no idea Carnival was the Walmart of cruise lines. I always thought of it as "the secretaries" cruise line. I thought the demographic was for the party, party crowd, and very youthful. I thought no one over 35, would ever go on a Carnival cruise. But I had no idea such mayhem was typical of Carnival. I've just returned from You Tube. Holy Shit what a mess. But honestly this was the demographic they cultivated and marketed to so they created their own mess.

If they doubled the prices and included the drink package for every adult, all inclusive they could play all the hip hop they wanted and not have issues.

R328 During the Kathie Lee "ain't we got fun" days, Carnival's target audience was the young singles.

As time went on and cruises became more affordable, Carnival's primary patrons changed.

Carnival seems to have turned into a great vacation for low income families where nobody has to cook, clean or necessarily even watch their kids.

Only because I'm old, but I remember being stunned when I started to see videos of the way people were partying in clubs at resorts. The huge crowds, the mayhem. A lot of it was created by the clubs, the streamers, the lights, the foam squirting on the crowds.

But at one time this didn't exist. People "partied" and "relaxed" in much quieter ways. A cruise was more like The Love Boat.

I guess I'm just curious why nobody is satisfied any more just to take a relaxing cruise, have conversations, dinners, strolls on the deck, whatever.

R332 We've become a society of low attention span individuals who need constant activity and stimulation to be entertained.

R333 True. Something else I notice is that people need to put on an act, almost. For each other and their friends. Everybody seems to want to be in their own movie. They have to take pictures and video of themselves doing something. They may not even enjoy it, but they want to be doing an act for the phone/camera.

[quote]I guess I'm just curious why nobody is satisfied any more just to take a relaxing cruise, have conversations, dinners, strolls on the deck, whatever.

I've been on 6 cruises R332, and it is very destination specific. Cruises to Alaska and Europe (for the most part) are usually pretty low key.

Cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico are the ones that are nuts.

R335 I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said "nobody" is satisfied to take a relaxing cruise, etc. It was an oversimplification.

I was trying to say something about how the party atmosphere for younger crowds (some of them, anyhow) has gotten wilder and wilder. Maybe it has extended to people in their 30s and 40s. I just wondered why people now feel the need to act this wild, where at one time it probably would have been considered unpleasant, or more like a riot.

Not all cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico are nuts, I'm sure. I never took one, but I knew people who did, between 20 and 30 years ago, and they seemed a lot quieter.

R335 Ugh. Yes!

This obsession with selfies, TikToks, Instas, etc., these days is maddening. I go to social media and see some of my "friends" documenting every moment of their lives, from making lunch to their 7-day sojourn to Cancun.

Yeah and I think they need to find "action" to document all the time. It promotes acting like a kid, I think.

Actually I think it probably started in discos in the '70s (where I used to go, in high school, when the drinking age was 18)...the lights, crowds, acting crazy. The rooms weren't all that physically large, then, but it was kind of a new thing in the US at the time. Then I guess people need more and more stimulation.

They no longer want to be an "urban cruise" or be seen as the Spirit Airlines of the seas.

“Stanley, you said this was going to be romantic! You’re a cheap skate!”

I’ve been on a Mexican cruise on Carnival and it was not at all rowdy. It was a great experience.

I've seen videos of a deck full of people all doing an urban dance together. That would make me uneasy regardless of what race they are. I not crazy about any form of line dancing, but the urban dances go way beyond that.

if all the fatties dance to portside at the same time, on an upper deck, does it capsize the boat?

What is an "urban dance"?

I have also never heard of an urban line dance. Can you link a video, R343?

search on Carnival dancing

There is a video at r311.

Here is another from the same dance class with more fans, but I like the other song better.

It seems like fun, but what do I know.

Those people dance everywhere they go, and they also like jumping rope.

[quote]They no longer want to be an "urban cruise" or be seen as the Spirit Airlines of the seas.

Spirit Airlines is also trying to move upscale and dump the Section 8 demographic. They are even offering a pseudo-first class product now that has the same seats as Delta or United First.

If Carnival raises prices, sets strict rules of conduct, goes at least for a middle class crowd, they'll probably make a lot more money.

When did they go from Kathie Lee Gifford's white-bread middle America crowd to Lizzo's urban dance crowd ?

Screw the cruise ship ! Give me something a little more intimate like a small canoe, snuggled with Kurts Adams Rozentals, as my canoeist. I have a nice oar for him to paddle. Now that's what I call a vacation !

'In the mornin', in the evenin', won't we have fun!'

Carnival's short cruises are also a major part of the problem.

Those three day cruises from Miami or Orlando to the Bahamas quickly become a disaster zone. When you only have three days, you start "getting loud" and getting funky real quick. The three-day cruises are now widely known as "urban cruising."

All is fine except the zero tolerance for marijuana. Weed makes people chill the fuck out. I’m guess that smell which can be strong and absorbing. Edibles and drinks should be allowed though.

R354 They’re also cheaper so they attract the non disposable income crowd. I know it’s snobby but when we you have a large paycheck to paycheck crowd especially if they my folk, black people, I don’t care I said what I said, there is going to be some aspect of ghetto ratchetness. Shit ain’t gon be all the way classy.

R356 = Sunny Hostin.

R357 Her pretentious ass would never be that real. In fact, if The View covered this, she probably was saying it’s racist, even if only subliminally making that argument.

I would assume the costlier the less raucous it's going to be. Also older. I was watching a vlogger's trans Atlantic cruise on the Queen Mary. It looked dull as anything and the activities the kind you would find in the clubhouse of my parents' retirement community. Now I may be wrong but that's exactly how this guy made it look. He wasn't old either and he said it was a wonderful trip. But it put me off the idea of ever wanting to do it.

R359 Many people of all ages find that relaxing. They don't find the loudness and all the constant energy / activity relaxing (as a matter of fact they are trying to escape that and leave it behind at home). Can't blame them.

[quote]I would assume the costlier the less raucous it's going to be. Also older. I was watching a vlogger's trans Atlantic cruise on the Queen Mary. It looked dull as anything and the activities the kind you would find in the clubhouse of my parents' retirement community. Now I may be wrong but that's exactly how this guy made it look. He wasn't old either and he said it was a wonderful trip. But it put me off the idea of ever wanting to do it.

Sounds wonderful.

[quote]All is fine except the zero tolerance for marijuana. Weed makes people chill the fuck out.

It isn't just the smell. Port facilities fall under federal laws/regulations - which marijuana is still illegal under. If any cruise line gives a pass and a wink, they could screw themselves. Same reason you can't/shouldn't bring weed to the airport no matter what states you are flying from or to.

R348 those clack fans are as annoying as hell.

Carnival owns many of the other major cruise lines (Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa, P&O, Seabourn) so it's not like they're missing out on the non-Carnival demographic.

R311 they aren’t using them to cool down while dancing 😂. It’s an aspect of the choreography, an homage to the tradition of fan carrying black church ladies, and adds a rhythm to the song that is intentional and enhancing.

“Those three day cruises from Miami or Orlando”

Orlando???? Oh, dear!

I took a 3 day Carnival Cruise from LA to Mexico once after being coerced by my other gay friends that it was not that bad just because it's cheap. Before we even left port there was some fat cow already passed out on the floor in front of the elevators. People with drinking slogans on their shirts, loud personal music devices in spite of real music on deck. Food was crap, buffet as you would imagine was crowded AF. It was pretty ghetto, sorry if that sounds racist but that includes a LOT of white trash if that makes you feel better. I basically had to stay drunk to deal with it.

R306 how old are you. You gon end up like that dude from True Blood if you don’t calm down.

R362 oh yes, very true, forgot about that.

A cruise sounds nice.

But I can't tell if I would want to be on a ship with old, silver haired, quiet elderly people driving scooters, or a rowdy party one that may break out into a fight, Royal Caribbean vs Carnival.

Holland looks nice. Maybe Virgin.

R366 Port Canaveral is the seaport closest to Orlando. People fly to Orlando to get the ship and the cruise lines often refer to it as Orlando/Port Canaveral. Like La Guaira is the seaport for Caracas or Yokohama for Tokyo.

I've done four Atlantis cruises and had similar chats with the staff as the poster from way back earlier on this thread... most of the Atlantis staff regard Atlantis cruises as the best in the industry from a crew perspective, if you have no issues with gay men acting the sloppy slut here and there. They said we are so much more fun and so much less a headache than all the complaining passengers on the straight cruises.

Gay men are always the favorite customers in industries such as cruises, restaurants and bars. We're good tippers, have a good sense of humor, don't start fights, and are generally pleasant and funny.

R373 and don’t forget we are also fresh meat for stewards working on the cruise. There is more than one way to tip…

R372 - and the tips - you can't forget the tips.

I wonder - do you think gays call out each other more often on bad behavior? Or that we were raised to be or are just more polite and understanding because we're gay?

Hell - everyone knows if you want a good time, go to a gay bar or a gay event. That's why Pride has been taken over by straights.

[quote]I wonder - do you think gays call out each other more often on bad behavior? Or that we were raised to be or are just more polite and understanding because we're gay?

I think it's a combination of all of those things.

[quote]and don’t forget we are also fresh meat for stewards working on the cruise. There is more than one way to tip…

Two very good friends of mine, both gay men, worked as bellboys at hotels in NYC when they were in college in the 90s. They were routinely hit on by male guests (quite a few of which were "straight" men) and if the men were cute enough they would exchange blowjobs.

I hooked up with an entertainer on the last night of a cruise. Between the booze, his poppers and vigorous sex I ended up with heart palpitations the next day. The Dr at urgent care in Honolulu instantly diagnosed me as having “honeymooners heart” as he put it. I didn’t even mention the poppers or sex.

R378- Sit down 🪑

We need to talk,

You’re a WHORE darling

R370 - Why would the fact that you are a virgin make you want to move to Holland?

I have some eldergay friends who LOVE Cunard and are veteran cruisers.

Personally I would consider Regent or Oceania. Also Seabourn. I want to go to interesting destinations. I don't do wild, party, party cruising, or random sex with strangers . Has anyone used Viking? The problem I have with Holland American is t heir ships seem older. I also do not like the mega ships that have rock climbing walls. Also do not want to cruise with families/children. The best thing about cruising is that you only unpack once, you go to interesting places and you aren't waking at the crack of dawn to schlepp your luggage to a bus . I think I'd enjoy a pleasant, uneventful cruise with excellent service, great food, nice dance music, and maybe a nice show, if the ports of call were interesting. I have no interest in Alaskan fisheries, but I'd love to see the Northern Lights.

Same r381. I don't want straight families and kids on a cruise, nor do I want party animal drunkeness. I just want a nice, quiet cruise and to lay around by the pool and eat.

[quote]Alaskan fisheries

WTF? That's not what where cruises in Alaska go. Most do what's called the Inside Passage of South East Alaska. Very calm water through fjords, green forests, small towns leftover from the gold rush era. And if you are lucky one clear weather day to a huge glacier where you can see ice calving into the ocean. It's a very beautiful cruse if you like nature. But it's not for you if you want to party, or sunbath all day.

It's not all blue hairs either, you would be surprised. And on the plus side, most families with kids don't do Alaska because there is not much for the kids to do like say a Disney cruise. If you are adventurous there is a lot to do on day trip shore excursions. I recommend glacier hiking.

[quote] I've done four Atlantis cruises and had similar chats with the staff as the poster from way back earlier on this thread... most of the Atlantis staff regard Atlantis cruises as the best in the industry from a crew perspective

I’ll keep that in mind in case somehow, unimaginably, I end up with a second career as cruise ship crew. As a passenger, however, it’s a hard pass.

There are now very expensive (1000pp/night)cruises on the Great Lakes. See such fascinating ports as Duluth, Thunder Bay (It’s the Duluth of Canada!!) Escanaba, MI (tour a paper mill!) Algoma, WI (experience a real Door County Fish Boil) Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo. All in the company of elderly white folks. As far from Carnival as you get and still be on the water!

R385 Sounds like American Cruise Lines. If you ever look at their ads, it's clear the cruise line is run by MAGAts. Lots of talk about patriotic values and enjoying the most beautiful place on earth - the USA.

R386 no it’s Viking. There are others m, but Viking has the biggest ships

Also, per the Jones Act, their ships are registered, staffed and crewed in the US. They pay US wages.

They’re probably MAGA, or at least appealing to them, but their costs are much higher and ships much smaller than Norwegian or Royal Caribbean or any of the major lines.

My friend who is a diva entertainer known for her hair color was hired by Brand G Vacations last year, which she reports is a dream to work for and thinks the gay-specific cruises are fun for the cruisers. Calmer, accommodating, interesting locations and smaller crowds.

The Cruise ads on PBS always entice me (not that I ever really want to go on a cruise, though). I love the older fat peasant woman showing the cruise passenger how to bake European bread. Heaven knows what that peasant woman thinks of American tourists.

R386 - I got junk mail for those. The most boring looking conservative boats and plenty of American flags and bald eagles. I know those dog whistles.

All their marketing was older white people - not a single person of color.

The itineraries were a fucking joke - there's NOTHING to see on the Mississippi River. Seriously. It's a boring wide muddy river.

PLUS - they are like $1500-$2000 per day for a couple, which is more expensive than some premium cruises. Who the fuck is going on these pieces of shit?

Viking, R390? I've been on a couple, they're not bad. The fellow cruisers were actually a fairly decent crowd. So I think it's very self loathing of you to assume that they gave a bad impression to the woman who hosts them.

R391. People who voted for Eisenhower .

R391, they will definitely find their market. MAGAs are really stupid and will spend the money if they believe it's the thing to do. The garbage that is sold online through various extreme right websites stuff that cures cancer and blindness and prevents constipation while removing wrinkles, is a multi billion dollar market.

R309:

The dangers of dancing with fans.

That looks pretty annoying. Even his mother does not look happy at all.

I was thinking more Fan Tan Fanny.

R343 Especially if they all suddenly move to one side.

R386 - feast your eyes on this American Cruise Line ship - amenities include a coffee/tea station, granola bars and a cafe where they will serve you a hamburger, hot dog or a slice of pizza!

Holy shit it's worse than I thought. Remember - this is around the same price as Crystal Cruises and ships of that caliber.

What a bunch of gullible morons. White boomer shit.

I'd rather be on a cruise with white Boomers instead of Tyrone and L'aqueefah.

If someone wants a cruise on a smaller quieter ship with good food, a nice library on board, maybe a jazz quartet in the evening, does that necessarily mean paying big bucks? I don’t need luxurious surroundings; I just want a calm and soothing experience.

We've identified the racist white boomer at R399.

Gen X actually r401. And I've spent enough time in my life around hood rats, thank you very much.

R402 - You sound poor.

(Just throwing back at you what you've said in other threads). You're just a nasty piece of work all around according to your posting history. I understand why racist Boomers have an appeal for you.

Not poor at all dear. When I went to college and for a couple years afterwards I lived ghetto- adjacent and I had more than enough of that element of society.

[quote]I'd rather be on a cruise with white Boomers instead of Tyrone and L'aqueefah.

Who wouldn't?

[quote] feast your eyes on this American Cruise Line ship - amenities include a coffee/tea station, granola bars and a cafe where they will serve you a hamburger, hot dog or a slice of pizza

That guy is way too excited by the free granola bars and cans of pop

Me, R405. I have always enjoyed being around black people. The racial profiling on this board can really be infuriating

There are black people and then there are hood rats. Just like there are middle class white people and white trash.

Like any of you princesses would ever associate with Cletus and Lurleen from the trailer park.

R407 Your Carnival Cruise is waiting!

I think what you object to is the behavior irrespective of race, however, you are applying stereotypes to explain and you are extremely offensive with it.

We hate white trash and black trash equally. We're equal opportunity haters here on DL.

As far as trash behavior on cruises go, who has the edge? These rules are obviously race specific…

[quote]I think what you object to is the behavior irrespective of race, however, you are applying stereotypes to explain and you are extremely offensive with it.

You should take your complaint to Carnival Cruises.

[quote]If someone wants a cruise on a smaller quieter ship with good food, a nice library on board, maybe a jazz quartet in the evening, does that necessarily mean paying big bucks? I don’t need luxurious surroundings; I just want a calm and soothing experience.

I took Celebrity on the Alaska Inside Passage cruise, and while it wasn't a small ship, it was everything else you're looking for. You passed through the library while ascending or descending the grand staircase and it was lovely to see people relaxing in comfy chairs and reading books.

R407 = Tyne Daly.

People who read annoy me.

I can read books in my apartment without being on a boat which seems to offer no obvious benefit to the act of reading. Unless you are on deck which if it isn't windy and/or noisy could be relaxing.

R417, I agree. People reading a book on a cruise, or even worse, watching TV in their room, seems like a huge waste of money and opportunity.

R400 it sounds like a river cruise would be more your speed. I know of someone who went on one in Europe and it sounds like what you are describing. A bit more austere and mostly elderly people. However, the couple complained that it was freezing the whole time.

Stick with Royal Caribbean or Princess if you want a decent first time curse. They are not ultra luxury like some of the others listed here but they are very nice a step way above Carnival. I have been on all 3 I know what I am talking about.

If big cruse lines were restaurant chains, think of it this way:

Royal Caribbean = Maggiano's Little Italy

Princess = Ruth's Chris Steak House

Carnival = Golden Corral

Virgin Voyages is an excellent cruise line for a first time cruise, for several reasons.

1. Carnival Cruise Line – ~8.5 million passengers/year – Avg. $550–$800 2. Royal Caribbean International – ~7.5 million passengers/year – Avg. $650–$950 3. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) – ~2.5 million passengers/year – Avg. $700–$1,000 4. MSC Cruises (USA market) – ~1.2 million passengers/year – Avg. $500–$850 5. Disney Cruise Line – ~900,000 passengers/year – Avg. $1,200–$2,000 6. Princess Cruises – ~850,000 passengers/year – Avg. $800–$1,100 7. Celebrity Cruises – ~800,000 passengers/year – Avg. $850–$1,200 8. Holland America Line – ~650,000 passengers/year – Avg. $900–$1,300 9. Virgin Voyages – ~500,000 passengers/year – Avg. $1,000–$1,400 10. Cunard Line (U.S. departures) – ~200,000 passengers/year – Avg. $1,200–$2,500

Carnival Cruise Line ~8.5 million passengers/year Average price: $550–$800

Royal Caribbean International ~7.5 million passengers/year Average price: $650–$950

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ~2.5 million passengers/year Average price: $700–$1,000

MSC Cruises (USA market) ~1.2 million passengers/year Average price: $500–$850

Disney Cruise Line ~900,000 passengers/year Average price: $1,200–$2,000

Princess Cruises ~850,000 passengers/year Average price: $800–$1,100

Celebrity Cruises ~800,000 passengers/year Average price: $850–$1,200

Holland America Line ~650,000 passengers/year Average price: $900–$1,300

Virgin Voyages ~500,000 passengers/year Average price: $1,000–$1,400

Cunard Line (U.S. departures) ~200,000 passengers/year Average price: $1,200–$2,500

I would really enjoy a 'fan dance' line if it included Oprah, Omarosa, Gayle King, Symone Sanders (she's non-negotiable), Jasmine Crockett (also non-negotiable), Whoopi, Star Jones, Sherry Shepherd, Sunny Hostin and Fani Willis (also non-negotiable).

Now THAT would be a fun dance line with those women snapping their fans like the guy in the video above. Bring it on, Carnival !

R423, those numbers would be different for solo travelers. I was looking at RC last night, and while they did have some fares under a $1000, there weren’t many. On most of their cruises it’s almost double the double occupancy rate. A lot of solo travelers on my last (NCL) cruise were raving about no or low solo supplement on NCL. Virgin’s Solo Insider cabins are also cheap.

Norwegian is supposedly the best option for solo travelers. They offer solo studio cabins with no supplemental fee. And those cabins have access to a lounge just for solos to mingle or hang out, organize dinners, excursions together, etc.

[quote] Norwegian is supposedly the best option for solo travelers. They offer solo studio cabins with no supplemental fee. And those cabins have access to a lounge just for solos to mingle or hang out,

I did that recently. I could see how that might have looked good to NCL on paper to have that lounge, and it looked nice in person (it’s a large three room space), but in practice, I couldn’t see any reason to hang out there. It’s an inside space, so presumably only appealing to people wanting to be somewhere isolated. I saw a couple people there in the morning eating the continental breakfast and one night saw a group of three playing a game together, but usually it was empty when I went there to get a beverage.

The solo cabin I was in (on the Viva) was really nice.

Margaritaville at Sea announced that the third ship they bought will be named Beachcomber. I’m looking forward to trying that. A cruise on their Islander ship was fun (and cheap).

You guys are making me want this. We can afford it no problem.

But I get seasick. The ferry to Catalina Island was pure puke hell for me.

I'd love to do the transatlantic Cunard crossing, but it seems that cabins for solo travelers are unavailable.

R429 Dramamine could be your best friend.

R428 What kind of crowd does it attract ? Is it the modern-day Kathie Lee Gifford (older) crowd ?

Makes me drowsy r431

[quote] What kind of crowd does it attract ? Is it the modern-day Kathie Lee Gifford (older) crowd ?

Middle America, working people. It certainly wasn’t an older crowd.

[quote]But I get seasick. The ferry to Catalina Island was pure puke hell for me.

A cruise ship is nothing like that unless you are crossing the Pacific Ocean which almost no one does. I have been on that Catalina ferry, it's quite bumpy at times. Most cruse ship excursions are very smooth, calm waters, stay near the coast line. Even when it does rock a little, because of it's size, it's very slow and gentle, like rocking a baby to sleep in slow motion.

Let me put it this way, imaging trying to sip a martini filled to the brim on that Catalina boat ride. NOT going to happen, you would be wearing it within 5 minutes. On a cruse ship, that would never happen, you would be dining on white table cloth in your best clothes.

[quote] A cruise ship is nothing like that unless you are crossing the Pacific Ocean which almost no one does

😔

The only cruise I have seriously considered is Sydney across the Pacific Islands to French Polynesian then yup to Hawaii.

(In the current political climate, I’m skipping Hawaii).

I once had a boyfriend who reveled in serving as a lecturer on the Queen Mary, although the accommodations they gave to the help were tiny inside cabins, and he was expected to dance each evening with the widows.

Thanks r435.

In A Majority of One they take a cruise ship to Japan. I wouldn't mind being on a boat that long with Ray Danton.

I saw a Gay murder mystery where t his Gay professor had a clandestine affair with a grad student drop out type, and the Gay professor gave lectures on Cruise ships and invited his lover to come along and then there was a murder....

The people in those videos are simply the Black version of MAGAts.

[quote]Stick with Royal Caribbean or Princess if you want a decent first time curse.

A new DL legend is born...

If you are an introvert, cruises are NOT for you. They’d be the 7th circle of hell. All that enforced jollity. Apparently all the dinner conversation is other cruises they’ve been on, comparisons good and bad, the number of cruises they’ve been on, etc etc. Just trying to one up everyone else.

But, book an outside cabin with a large balcony, bring a stack of books, order room service and pretend to read all day while staring at the horizon. Guaranteed relaxing. No it really is different than booking a cabin somewhere. Something about the motion of the ship, very soothing.

I'll go with you, r430. The Cunard transatlantic cruise is the only one that I'm interested in doing. I love old oceanliners and I think it would be fun to recreate that kind of voyage.

[quote] If you are an introvert, cruises are NOT for you. They’d be the 7th circle of hell. All that enforced jollity. Apparently all the dinner conversation is other cruises they’ve been on, comparisons good and bad, the number of cruises they’ve been on, etc etc.

I’m an introvert and so know what you stated is not correct. There is no enforced jollity. You can be as aloof and isolated as you like. There’s no dinner conversation of any kind if you eat by yourself, which you can. There’s no need to speak with anyone other than the crew.

[quote] The Cunard transatlantic cruise is the only one that I'm interested in doing. I love old oceanliners and I think it would be fun to recreate that kind of voyage.

That’s why I don’t do Cunard, with so many passengers doing that pseudo-cosplay of treating it like their passengers on an old-fashioned cruise.

Cunard is posh and formal. It's an experience. You can also try Regent and Oceania too. I think they are similar.

Can you blast your hip-hop and rap music and 'fan' dance on the Cunard ?

[quote]Can you blast your hip-hop and rap music and 'fan' dance on the Cunard ?

Only if you have a title.

You dress for dinner on Cunard. A tuxedo.

No you don’t, R450. You used to, every night at sea except the first and last nights on crossings, but now it’s wear what you like. You won’t be turned away from the dining room unless you’re wearing flip flops and a wife beater or similar. And if you are turned away there are multiple alternatives onboard.

We were on QM2 last year. It’s not like that these days.

Do select guests still get invited to the captains table for dinner?

Just the cute ones, r452.

[quote]If you are an introvert, cruises are NOT for you. They’d be the 7th circle of hell. All that enforced jollity.

I would not say that. A cruise is what you make of it, no one forces you to go the the tiny disco at night or some deck party. There are plenty of quite places to hang out, some with live music like a grand piano, the outside decks are very peaceful to sit in a lounge chair and watch the world go by. And these days, no one forces you to sit at a table with strangers, unless you want to.

R452 Sadly, it’s usually the rich, loyal, frequent passengers who get invited.

Others console themselves thinking “who wants to eat with the crew?”

[quote]Do select guests still get invited to the captains table for dinner?

Only if you present hole when you check in.

[quote]Only if you have a title

I don't think Duke Of Earl qualifies.

Are cruises on Carnival paid for with gubmint chex?

White Trash prolly avoids cruises because they think going to Branson Missouri to attend a seance with Bobby Vinton's ghost is the absolute best shit possible. And with coupons for Outback, hell, it don't git better than this.

I get emails from Holland America and they promote their Caribbean cruises. Why would old people go to the Caribbean?

For cheap, watered down drinks in coconut shells or pineapples, r460.

R459 Is Branson known for brawls? I think not.

Viking sends me brochures for river cruises. I have no intention to sail down a riveer big enough for a boat, and look at industrial smokestacks. Fuck that.

Bobby Vinton is still alive, r459. 90 years old, but apparently still kickin'. He asked me to play this for you and your Polish grandma.

[quote] Viking sends me brochures for river cruises.

River cruises are intriguing, but they are so expensive for a solo traveler compared to ocean cruises.

[quote]Why would old people go to the Caribbean?

Why would any one go? Nice people, but otherwise dull as dishwater

[quote]White Trash prolly avoids cruises because

White Trash PROBABLY spell that word the same way you do.

R466: the Caribbean locals, or the older passengers?

R395, the mom or auntie aint having it. And he can't dance. 😵‍💫🤡

The modern cruise ship industry began in the 60s and 70s. Before that people were going somewhere on big ships, and it was a different dynamic. Luxury travel. This isn't travel, this is essential people going to a floating resort. There are classy resorts and trashy resorts.

*essentially

I've sailed NCL solo multiple times R426 & R427 and I enjoyed it. The lounge was a nice place to just get coffee & a snack without going to a restaurant. You can chat (or not) with people if you want. I met a few nice people while having coffee and that was it.

I will say, being gay (at least on NCL) worked out really well for me as kind of a shy person. They have a "Friends of Dorthy"/"LGBQT" meet up every night at a bar, and it attracts all kinds. Young/old/loud/quiet.

My last cruise to Alaska there were 20-30 people there on some nights. It was not an Atlantis cruise vibe - just people chatting/drinking like any gay bar. I really enjoyed it.

Just make sure if you go to a meetup on the ship it's Friends of Dorthy not Friends of Bill W.

There is a cruise vlogger who for the first and only time does a 'crossing.' From NY to England. She said by the 4th day of the 8 day cruise she really really wanted to get off. She did say the library was great. Can you imagine?

It's not really smart to cross the Atlantic or Pacific in a cruse ship. That's open sea and even if it's a huge ship, it can get rocky. Besides that, there is nothing to see for days at a time except open water. The idea of most cruises it you pack your stuff up once, board the ship, every day or other day you arrive at a new fantastic port where you can get off the ship and explore the city. You come back, have dinner, do whatever, go to sleep, wake up in a totally different port without ever having to pack up and hall your stuff from place to place. It's a new adventure every day without all the bother of plains, trains, Uber and checking in and out of hotels every day.

[quote]My bedroom is full of books I haven't gotten to yet.

But they're so decorative!

That's our little Glory!