Do you post on the cruise meets thread for your upcoming cruise?

I got started late on the meets thread for our cruise last year (6/5/04), and didn't meet anyone from the DIS group. It just didn't seem like a very friendly group, even though one family lived just 40 miles from me. No cruise meets were planned that I know of. When we booked our next cruise (5/27/06), I was surprised to find a cruise meet thread already started. I jumped in, but felt really out of place since a lot of the people had cruised together on the 10-day. It seemed too much like a clique to me, with inside jokes and comments. I lurked for awhile, then started posting again. I read through all of the daily dribble and end up with some laughs, concerns, and a feeling of making new friends. My DS is really excited to meet his new friends (about 14 kids in his age group) from the DIS group. After our first cruise, he told us that he didn't want to go on another cruise because he didn't have any friends. That won't happen this time. It has really helped that the members of this group will go out of their way to meet before the cruise. We've already met WDWLVR and her DH. I still don't post as much as the others post, but will be glad to meet every one of them. My DH has posted once or twice, but doesn't want to keep up with all of the postings, either. He gets frustrated with all of the chit chat and doesn't have time to read everything. But he is looking forward to meeting everyone.
 
Dancind said:
I know exactly how a couple of you feel here. My first cruise meets thread was for a cruise in Oct. 2002. Not a real active thread, we met a couple of people on the cruise, shared dinner at Palo with one couple, and that was about it.

Then we booked the 10 day Dec. 2004 cruise, and I posted to that thread early on, about 20 months before we actually sailed. I checked in about every other day, posted sporadically, and pretty soon I felt like an outsider too. People were chatting away about all sorts of stuff, planning meets, and joking away with each other. I quit posting, and really did feel like an outsider. I think maybe I even pouted.

Then one day, I decided "to heck with it, this is my cruise too!" So I kind of forced myself to keep up with the thread, and post at least a couple of times a day whether I felt like I had anything to say or not. Pretty soon, the folks there started to know who I was, and I was in on the jokes. It was actually a good bit of work, keeping up with that thread.

The result? Well, my DH started posting too, since I kept telling him stories about the crazy people on the thread. Now he posts more than I do. We had several pre-cruise meets, we ate dinner with people that felt like old friends, my DD had friends when she got on board. My DH and DD found dive buddies, and I found some friends to do excursions with while they were diving. We wound up making plans for many of us to cruise together again! That would be the May 27, 2006 cruise.

And guess what? We're making more new friends on that thread, folks that weren't on our cruise last year. It would seem very odd now to go to WDW, or on a cruise, and not meet up with some of our friends.

In summary, here's what it says at the top of the Cruise Meets thread:

Get to meet & chat with DIS'ers you are sailing with before you even leave home :-)
WOW!! :earseek: Great reply there Dancind!!

Most of the chat groups and boards like this have a core group of people that make the time to chat and get to know each other. If you don't participate, you WILL feel like an outsider.

Cruising is all about having fun, getting to know others with similar interests and sharing can make that experience even better all ALL involved!!
 
ITA with those of you who feel like outsiders. However, heed the advice of your former wallflower cruise meet DISers.

When I first started posting on our thread (I'm on the same one as rotary and TeaforWendy), I posted maybe once or twice a week. As others of you have mentioned, some threads are just more active. This happens to be one of those groups (which I love). I did feel a little left out; I'd comment and get very few "bites" on what I had to say. So I thought, "Hmm, they don't like me. Well, I'll keep reading, getting tips, (sound familiar anyone ;)) and occasionally posting."

Somewhere along the way, about 2 months ago, I must have kicked it in to high gear. I don't know why, but I started to post at least every other day - sometimes multiple times a day - and talked about personal stuff, like school, work, my dog - things I assumed no one cared about. Posting regularly with the belief I recited to myself that "these people DO want to get to know me" actually is what made the difference. And (not surprisingly, given my personality), I've become quit the chatterbox and someone posted the other day that they don't "post as much as Jenny (me) and Jen (our informal den mother) do, but...." I certainly didn't think that would happen, but it's so true that the reason you feel like you're walking into an invite-only, old high school buddies party is because the frequent posters get that they ahve to start somewhere to build on something that will reach its peak at cruise time.

In summary, it takes time, and it feels like you're walking up to the cool kids' table in the cafeteria. You're just sure they'll snub you because there are a ton of them already talking and laughing and you don't see any extra chairs. However, you risk it and say, "Excuse me, can I sit (aka post) here" a few times. And the popular kids (aka frequent posters) aren't ignoring you - it's just that they're having so much fun they lose track of other people. But when someone does notice you - and with persistence, someone always will - they shout out, "Hey guys, make some room. - We're just talking about our most embarressing moments. Wanna share yours?" And boom - you're "in" and the people who come after you start thinking you must be one of the original Mouseketeers. And then you get to return the favor by welcoming them in. :flower:
 

Thanks you all for asking me to try again. :flower: Very sweet of you all! I am so glad you didn't take what I said the wrong way.
I know you all are just trying to have fun and talk. I just wanted to let you know why some people may not post or post as much.
I wonder if there could be a way to have two thread sites per cruise, what I mean is if maybe one could be about whos going and talk that has to do with the cruise and another that could be about anything with people going on that cruise. That way we could read the pages that mostly have to do with the cruise andthen other which most likely would have a ton of pages LOL about everyday things and talk.
Because if their are others like me it takes alot of time trying to hunt the difference between them because I can't read that fast.LOL :teeth:
 
When I first found the board in Sept. 2003 - it was 3 weeks before the cruise (we booked at the last minute). At the time there wasn't a cruise meets board - but I found a few who happened to be going on the same cruise. We had a mini-meet on board - and all went our separate ways..... After the cruise we happened to run in to a DIS family at the airport (OhioMinnie, OhioMickey and kids). We found out that we were all going on the 10 day cruise in 2004. I jumped into the 10 day thread - even thought they had already been chatting for 3 months by the time we booked. We had a blast chatting and chatting... and chatting - getting to know each other - some great friendships were made - and it was really nice to be able to walk around the ship and always have a friend nearby. It is one of the reasons that we booked th 05/26/06 Double Scoop cruise. We have sort of overwhelmed that thread - but in a nice way. I don't chat nearly as much as I did before - work and other things in the way.... but I try and stay up - and interject a comment here or there.

Some will like it - some will hate it - but I enjoy getting to know my fellow DISers and cruisers.

Virgil
pirate: TFD
 
Disney Fans said:
Thanks you all for asking me to try again. :flower: Very sweet of you all! I am so glad you didn't take what I said the wrong way.
I know you all are just trying to have fun and talk. I just wanted to let you know why some people may not post or post as much.
I wonder if there could be a way to have two thread sites per cruise, what I mean is if maybe one could be about whos going and talk that has to do with the cruise and another that could be about anything with people going on that cruise. That way we could read the pages that mostly have to do with the cruise andthen other which most likely would have a ton of pages LOL about everyday things and talk.
Because if their are others like me it takes alot of time trying to hunt the difference between them because I can't read that fast.LOL :teeth:

Just ask any questions - and we'll respond - we'll even PM you the answer if it goes by too fast. We'll talk mostly cruise once it starts getting closer - right now we continue to just pass the time... and learn about each other....

Virgil
pirate: TFD
 
/
I see exactly what you're saying, Disney Fans...if you only scan through all the posts, you may miss something important that IS cruise related. It would be hard to have two threads, though. There have been a few that have had 2....but that ends up getting even more confusing.
Just know that it doesn't matter what we're talking about at the time, if you have a question...interrupt the "fluff". LOL, but most of us LOVE to prove what know-it-alls we are, and will be glad to stop and answer. But there is the problem of not knowing what to ask.....and, like WVMD/Virgil said up there, the closer we get to cruise time, we'll get down to the serious business of actual planning. For now, (and this applies to anyone on any cruise)...pop in whenever you are comfortable, and check back every now and then, especially as your cruise gets closer. You'll always be welcome to join in the DIS fun onboard...even if you only ever posted once, or not at all. We're DISNEY fans...fun, nice folks!
 
Notice the repo thread for August - nothing posted since this am, we do our idle chitchat over on another board. We are quite a talkative group.
I mainly lurk, occassionally post. because i am shy person. Reading the thread keeps you up to date and you can learn about your fellow cruisers. occassionally there is something cruise related in the mindless jibberish.
Looking forward to meeting the Double scooper and the August repo ers.
 
Adding my four cents worth.

I found the cruise meet threads by accident looking for additional information to make my next cruise (the 2nd) more magical. At first, I was a lurker - and looking for information only, but then saw the cruise dates.

I am posting on 2 threads and they are different, one posts lots and one seldom. But, I already know I WANT TO MEET THESE PEOPLE ON BOARD and they are more than numbers at the dining table. We share birthdays, kids activities and wish each other happy holidays.

So - with no further ado

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: ENJOY

fireworks.jpg
 
Disney Fans said:
Because if their are others like me it takes alot of time trying to hunt the difference between them because I can't read that fast.LOL :teeth:

Maybe we could use the "Title" field (that none of us ever seem to use, myself included) to denote "CRUISE INFO"??? Just a thought...

And when it gets closer, and its more info and less FLUFF, we could just denote "FLUFF" instead ???

Just trying to think outside the textbox.:confused3
 
logan1_2000 said:
Found out (too late?) that I am booked on Cruisetoberfest for 10/14/06--that thread is very full of an established community that posts about their daily trips to the grocery store, dr's visits, etc.--which just seems more appropriate for a Yahoo group, not a cruise meet board. But I am apparently in the minority for that cruise, so the thread is what it is, and I may try, closer to the cruise, to see if there is going to be a meet that will be appropriate for an "outsider" to attend.

That is exactly how I felt prior to Cruisetoberfest III. We booked the cruise in November, 2003, but knew we were going to book it in September. We saw the start of the thread and I was leary about posting there. I just thought it was a bunch of old friends chatting together and I'd never fit in. Boy was I wrong!

I finally joined the thread in August, 2004, just a couple months before the cruise. I didn't really get to know anyone and I wished I had joined sooner. With it so close to the cruise, I didn't have time to go back and read what I missed. The people there were so nice, they caught me up to date. We met a lot of really nice people on that cruise. In fact, we have become close friends with a number of them and have rebooked for Cruisetoberfest IV. DH and I both agree it was the best cruise we've ever been on. I've kept up with the thread this time and don't think that will change!

We're also going on the August Repo cruise and I don't know where I would be without the cruise meets thread. We've really gotten to know eachother, have met a few of our cruisers already in person, and have planned to join some of the others for brunch at Palo, excursions and all sorts of other events. Can't wait!!

Tracy
 
logan1_2000 said:
did have some success with a cruise meet board for the Jan 16, 2005 Wonder we went on. Found out (too late?) that I am booked on Cruisetoberfest for 10/14/06--that thread is very full of an established community that posts about their daily trips to the grocery store, dr's visits, etc.--which just seems more appropriate for a Yahoo group, not a cruise meet board. But I am apparently in the minority for that cruise, so the thread is what it is, and I may try, closer to the cruise, to see if there is going to be a meet that will be appropriate for an "outsider" to attend.

It is not too late to join our thread and actually if you join the thread and send your information to Viking you will get all the pertinent information about the rest of us including some of the meets that we are planning for the cruise. We joined the group for Cruistoberfest II and they are a wonderfully welcoming group but you do have to give it a chance. I was hesitant about joining the group at first -- I mean these are people on the internet but it turned out to be great. For Cruistoberfest II we ended up meeting a bunch of people in Baltimore for a lunch cruise before the cruise which was great. Hi Winotracy and Hygiene 99!!

The cruise is still months away so fluff helps pass the time and contrary to what it may appear -- and this goes for most of the cruise meets threads a lot of people haven't met before, it just seems that way from the fluff. Some people are talkative and some aren't and both are ok.

As the cruise gets closer there will be more cruise related info but in the meantime it's fluff which is a great way to get to know people -- how else are you going to know that my dog is terrified of thunder?? :goodvibes
 
I have to say on the cruise meet for our upcoming cruise I do not think anyone is interested in a meet. I do not know why. I have meet wonderful people this way on another board. We have become good friends and email several times a week. I have wondered if it was me...maybe I am coming on to strong. There's only 3 other families going when we go. On the thread I was the last one to post and I seem to be one of the only ones posting. Now do not get me wrong I have talked with one family on the thread and they are not sure if they are still going. I have yet to hear from the others going. I guess it must be me. Or maybe since on this cruise DH and I are going without the kids the other families do not feel like we would have a good time since they have their kids. Not so. Oh well....not sure if I should just give up or not. Heck our cruise is 2 months away.
 
Jsme said:
I have to say on the cruise meet for our upcoming cruise I do not think anyone is interested in a meet. I do not know why. I have meet wonderful people this way on another board. We have become good friends and email several times a week. I have wondered if it was me...maybe I am coming on to strong. There's only 3 other families going when we go. On the thread I was the last one to post and I seem to be one of the only ones posting. Now do not get me wrong I have talked with one family on the thread and they are not sure if they are still going. I have yet to hear from the others going. I guess it must be me. Or maybe since on this cruise DH and I are going without the kids the other families do not feel like we would have a good time since they have their kids. Not so. Oh well....not sure if I should just give up or not. Heck our cruise is 2 months away.

Don't feel bad Jsme. It's a standing joke on our long time threads, that our spouses/parents/kids etc. think we are nuts because we're planning to meet up with people from the internet! You have to actually do it a couple of times to know how fun it is, and know that it really isn't nuts! Did that make sense? Of course, the people posting to the DIS boards are a breed apart from most online chat group users. I would imagine that the folks on your thread are new to this, and just don't get it. Here's an idea, before you cruise, go over to the Meets board and pick your next cruise to book onboard! Find a group that looks like fun!
 
WDWLVR said:
I originally posted this in the May 27th thread but it was brought to my attention that it might get lost in all the mindless fluff and chatter. My DH and I have been on 6 DCL cruises with 2 more booked. For the first 4 there wasn't a cruise meets board (but we did talk about DVC Member Cruise a lot on the DVC board). For our 10 day in 2004 we had a very active thread and go to really know a lot of other posters - people who have become friends. Our next two cruises also have very active threads which I think is great. Yet I notice that for every cruise I see someone here on the main board or elsewhere on the DIS who is going on the cruise but hasn't joined the meets thread (or if they did just posted once or twice). So a question for all of you, but especially for the lurkers.

If you don't post on the cruise meets board for your cruise - why?
::MickeyMo I posted once or twice about specific things, scuba diving, for instance, with few responses and none that continued a dialog, which leads to my answer to the next questions

Is it too much fluff? ::MickeyMo For me, yes. It also seems like there are several from a repeat cruise the year before, which again, leads to my answer to the next question...

Do you feel like you don't fit in? ::MickeyMo Not yet, maybe when it gets closer to sail date. We're traveling with a group already, so we don't have to "fit in" with very many more...

Do you think we are all nuts? ::MickeyMo No more nuts than the general population. Some are more compulsive planners than I tend to be on a vacation, and here lately, I think some take certain discussion topics way too seriously, but for DCL information, this place is the best!

Is the cruise really just for you and your family and you don't want to be part of a larger group? ::MickeyMo We're traveling with two other couples and their children so we have a small group started already.

I would hope that those of us who post a lot and have gotten to know each other through posting would agree that it makes the cruise experience even better. So I'm curious why others wouldn't post. ::MickeyMo In general, I'm not someone who participates in a lot of chit chat, the idle "board filler small talk" about weight loss, dress shopping, what I did over summer vacation talk doesn't draw me in.

For those of you who do post - why? ::MickeyMo When I post, I'm usually searching for specific information about the cruise or looking for families with children my kids age.

What have you gotten out of it? Maybe if you share your experiences others will join their threads as well.[/QUOTE] ::MickeyMo I might give it another try...
 
Dancind said:
Don't feel bad Jsme. It's a standing joke on our long time threads, that our spouses/parents/kids etc. think we are nuts because we're planning to meet up with people from the internet! You have to actually do it a couple of times to know how fun it is, and know that it really isn't nuts! Did that make sense? Of course, the people posting to the DIS boards are a breed apart from most online chat group users. I would imagine that the folks on your thread are new to this, and just don't get it. Here's an idea, before you cruise, go over to the Meets board and pick your next cruise to book onboard! Find a group that looks like fun!

We have actually meet another couple at WDW in June. It was a blast. I think this is why I can not understand whay no one wants to chat on the thread. I am going ot Pm you a question.
Selena
 
This has been a really interesting thread for me to read. I got a lot of insight.

First of all, for me, cruise meet makes the vacation last all year. we are going in Sept and have been chatting since January.

I thought it was interesting:

**The thought that lurkers might feel pressure to spend a lot of time with the group if they get involved. We have a ton of meets scheduled and I can see where they might think this. I think most of us feel it is "take all you want and no more" Come only to the first meet so you have friendly faces on board, just chat all year and don't come at all, or even become life long friends. No more than works for you and noone would have any hard feelings at all.
**The talk about all the fluff. I can totally see that perspective now. Our perspective is that we have been talking for months and there is only so much you can talk about, cruise related. It will pick up again as it gets real close.
** I think I speak for all the extroverted, socialites on this board when we say, "The more the merrier!" We would LOVE for you to join us. I know how it feels to post and have it be ignored. Here is the opposite perspective....because there are soooo many posts each time you(me/anyone) checks in, it is hard to remember everything (sometimes you feel like taking notes). It is natural that you will remember things people you know said (Oh yeah, such and such went to Vegas last week). It is not that we aren't interested. You really do have to post a lot at first and I guarentee you will be embraced with open arms. Then you don't have to post as much if you can't keep up the pace.

Just remember NO RULES JUST WRITE :rotfl2: :rotfl2: It increases the fun by tenfold!!!! We want to hear from you.
By the way I am on the cruise with teaforwendy, donaldsgal and rotary(???)
AWESOME GROUP! Lucky me!
 
I am on the cruise with Jennat, Donaldsgal, TeaforWendy, and Rotary (Flip floppin' Castaways rule!) and I agree wholeheartedly with everything Jennat said. She and I (and our DH's) met on a cruise meet in 2003 and have been friends ever since. So if you take a chance and drudge through all the fluff (read: hang in there) you just might meet some great life long friends. I am so happy that I made a friend in Jennat and look forward to the possibility of new friends from our new group.
That being said, idly chatting with people on the internet is not everybody's cup of tea and I understand that. Do as much or as little as you want and I promise no one will hold it against you. :)
 

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