Ever see anything totally shocking and unexpected on a cruise?

[twindaddy]

I think I find it astonishing because I think of Disney as "milk and cookies" - the cruise is mostly filled with families or other people not looking for a 24 hour party cruise persay, travelling with kids and grandparents, etc. But I guess they must get some customers otherwise they wouldnt be there selling, which in itself is sad.

Thansk to twinprincessmermaids for the tip about the beaches. We rarely go to the beaches in port for those same reasons, but I will now have to rethink that.

On another note, something shocking or distrubing we witnessed ... We were travelling with my older parents last November out of Miami on the wonder. My parents ended up with the incredible room attendant. She went out of her way to make sure that they had everything they needed all the time, and always recognized myself or my DH, DD, or DS in the hlls and went out of her way to say hello. On day one my parents asked if they could get two navigators in the room each night. No problem. So on about day 3 we were heading down the hall to visit my folks when we came up to a passenger tearing a strip off her. He called her every racial slur he could think of loudly and proudly in any and every way he could to demean this wonderful lady. And why ?? Because he wanted an extra navigator right then but she didnt have enough to accomodate. She just stood there calmly waiting for a break to explain to him that as soon as she finished with her turn down service she would hand deliver an extra navigator. She offered to call guest services to being one down immediately. She asked if moving forward he would like two sent to his room each night. Nothing. He didnt care. He decided that the two old people ( in the room next to him being my parents) didnt need an extra navigator and that he only wanted that one off the cart. She was so polite to him while he ranted. He finally stormed off and when i approached her it was like nothing had happened, just rolled off her back. I immediately went to guest services to let them know just in case that joker tried to file a complaint. And knowing he would not tip her, we gave her a tip at the end of the trip to say thanks for the great treatment my parents received.

I think we all encounter some rudeness in our lives or witness some behavior that we may ourselves think is inconsiderrate, but this was beyond that, just so mean.

I have worked in a call center, so I know what it is like to have to roll things right off your back like that....but trust me, it still bothers you. Good for you for going to guest services and letting them know.

This is one case where being a big guy helps, I would have stood between them and hand some kind words for him myself. What a jerk.

 

[sambycat]

just off the wonder 9 night to alaska. first time doing laundry on the ship - actually did laundry twice and the time change worked to my advantage as far as being able to get up early and get out of there quickly....

didn’t expect to see the very rotund, older gentleman dressed only in black sweatpants, pulled to the exact maximum circumferential point of his “waist” rummaging through a suitcase trying to do laundry early one morning..... i mean wedged into the narrow line of washers as well. i guess he had run out of clean shirts?

 

[MAJPLO]

Was on my honeymoon in 2011, saw 2 parents crushing up multiple benadryl tabs on the table next to us with a butter knife. They swept it into 3 chocolate milk glasses and gave it to their kids! "who wants chocolate milk!"

I was amazed, inspired, and appalled at the same time.

We also use a small dose of children's benedryl for my daughter's severe motion sickness.

 

[sftnslky]

Last September on the Fantasy there was these "parents" at the table next to us with 2 kids... probably 5 & 3. Well to say the kids were WILD would be an understatement, but nevertheless. On pirate night the parents gave each child two steak knives from the table to play double swords..one in each hand and lunging for the other. The waiter finally came over with "swords" made out of napkins and exchanged the napkin for the knives...after he left the parents said "It's not like they were really going to hurt themselves" The following night they only had the 5 year old with them and he was a handful his parents were talking/drinking and ignoring him...so I guess he got tired of it because he stood up in his chair and....wait for it... SLAPPED his Mother across her face and SCREAMED "I was trying to tell you something" The head waiter came over, chatted with them for a few minutes promised to have their meals delivered to their rooms with a free bottle of wine. We never saw them for the rest of the cruise. Don't know what really happened to them

 

[DWGal210]

Honestly the worst port for us was Key West. I don't embarrass easy, but the naked man swimming next to my daughter was the last straw in a very disturbing day there. My dad wanted to have a drink at Original Joes and couldn't finish it due to the illegally lewd behavior of the couple next to him (and he's no prude). I'm from New Orleans and I think the French Quarter was less raunchy

We stopped at Key West in January and honestly, I have no desire to go back. I'm no prude either but the whole place felt very trashy to me. I was expecting it to be nicer, I don't know why, but it wasn't anything special.

 

[Ikaikalani]

On our first Dis cruise, a New Years Eve cruise aboard the Magic in 2008, our first port was Key West. I’d lived in Key West a few years previous to this visit, so was excited about returnin’ to my ol’ stompin’ grounds. Well, by noon we were already tippin’ back our first drink at Bull n Whistle (yes, the stories of ‘party city’ Key West are very true). Over the course of the afternoon and into the early evening, we ran into many people/friends and had way too much fun (i.e. drinks). Ever diligent, I was able to pull us away from the bar in order for us to have enough time to make it back to the ship on time. BUT, I didn’t account for the ‘pit stops’ along the way into other bars for ‘one more last one’ or a 'quick shot'. We'd made it about half of the way to the ship , and just as we were ducking out of another bar and onto Duval street, we got a call from the Disney ship….they were wondering where we were , and reminded us that the ship was leaving in 15 minutes, with or without us. Laughing and running we sort of made our way to port, but upon arrival, were too ‘happy’ to figure out how to get to the actual ship! I could see the Magic’s funnel towering over the tops of some buildings, but getting to it was a different story. Wrong turn after wrong turn, and a near miss of popping into another bar for yet another ‘last one’, we made it to the ship with only 2 minutes to spare. We ran across the gangplank to the cheers of the waiting CM’s and a bunch of passengers on the upper decks, who all seemed to be enjoying the show! We learned later that most everyone aboard knew of our plight and heard about our near miss, including our MDR servers, who were more than happy to keep the jokes commin’ for the rest of the cruise!

On our next cruise a year or so later, we were just leaving one of the ports and looking out over the bow, when we caught sight of a couple running after the ship……but it was too late for them and they were left behind. I couldn’t help but think to myself… There but for the grace of God go I...the only difference is that they both looked sober

 

[BonnieF]

Joining in - I'm really enjoying these stories - a good way to pass some time while on the couch with a bad back! The posts are bringing back great memories of my cruises! Nothing particularly awful comes to mind, but I still laugh when I remember the dad wheeling his double stroller into Quiet Cove on the Fantasy, and beIng told the kids could not stay while he and his wife had their coffee. He put up a fight, but ultimately lost the battle. It was comical to see him try to storm off, balancing the drinks and maneuvering the giant stroller. I said to my husband that in ten years, he would totally understand "adults only" areas!

 

[jcota]

I have a similar story in regards to drugs. While on my honeymoon, the wife and I had gone on another cruise line. While in Cancun, we had paid for a "shopping tour" of the city. While at the downtown city market, I was pulled into a shop by some little dude who said, come in my store. It was nothing but drug paraphernalia. Then he offered Coke, and some MJ. I declined, and then I told him I couldn't do it because of my job. He then went ballistic by saying you cop out of my store... I had to chuckle about this dudes selling techniques.

It is sad to be approached by some person while you have your family right next to you asking if you want drugs.

 

[Ikaikalani]

I have a similar story in regards to drugs. While on my honeymoon, the wife and I had gone on another cruise line. While in Cancun, we had paid for a "shopping tour" of the city. While at the downtown city market, I was pulled into a shop by some little dude who said, come in my store. It was nothing but drug paraphernalia. Then he offered Coke, and some MJ. I declined, and then I told him I couldn't do it because of my job. He then went ballistic by saying you cop out of my store... I had to chuckle about this dudes selling techniques.

It is sad to be approached by some person while you have your family right next to you asking if you want drugs.

You're right, it's very sad. But, maybe if the situation is forced on someone with their children around, they could take the opportunity to show them by example how to stand up for yourself and just say no....a very valuable lesson to pass to your children

 

[PizzieDuster]

On our first Dis cruise, a New Years Eve cruise aboard the Magic in 2008, our first port was Key West. I’d lived in Key West a few years previous to this visit, so was excited about returnin’ to my ol’ stompin’ grounds. Well, by noon we were already tippin’ back our first drink at Bull n Whistle (yes, the stories of ‘party city’ Key West are very true). Over the course of the afternoon and into the early evening, we ran into many people/friends and had way too much fun (i.e. drinks). Ever diligent, I was able to pull us away from the bar in order for us to have enough time to make it back to the ship on time. BUT, I didn’t account for the ‘pit stops’ along the way into other bars for ‘one more last one’ or a 'quick shot'. We'd made it about half of the way to the ship , and just as we were ducking out of another bar and onto Duval street, we got a call from the Disney ship….they were wondering where we were , and reminded us that the ship was leaving in 15 minutes, with or without us. Laughing and running we sort of made our way to port, but upon arrival, were too ‘happy’ to figure out how to get to the actual ship! I could see the Magic’s funnel towering over the tops of some buildings, but getting to it was a different story. Wrong turn after wrong turn, and a near miss of popping into another bar for yet another ‘last one’, we made it to the ship with only 2 minutes to spare. We ran across the gangplank to the cheers of the waiting CM’s and a bunch of passengers on the upper decks, who all seemed to be enjoying the show! We learned later that most everyone aboard knew of our plight and heard about our near miss, including our MDR servers, who were more than happy to keep the jokes commin’ for the rest of the cruise!

On our next cruise a year or so later, we were just leaving one of the ports and looking out over the bow, when we caught sight of a couple running after the ship……but it was too late for them and they were left behind. I couldn’t help but think to myself… There but for the grace of God go I...the only difference is that they both looked sober

This sounds like a nightmare I would have the week before the cruise.....trying to get there, trying to get there ~ except in my nightmare I couldn't push the 'answer' button on my cell phone or I keep misdialing.

 

[CRBADGER]

We were on the Wonder this past October and my daughter and I were in line for the princess meet and greet and this man in line in front of us with his wife and daughter (infant) slumped down against the wall (he was in his 20's) and became very ill all of a sudden. As he tried to get up and walk away to the nearest chair he vomited everywhere! The medical team came and left with him barely conscious and his wife never left the princess line to see about him!

 

[psimon]

We were on the Wonder this past October and my daughter and I were in line for the princess meet and greet and this man in line in front of us with his wife and daughter (infant) slumped down against the wall (he was in his 20's) and became very ill all of a sudden. As he tried to get up and walk away to the nearest chair he vomited everywhere! The medical team came and left with him barely conscious and his wife never left the princess line to see about him!

Just WOW!

 

[funforall]

Love this thread, I've been laughing my way through it!
For us, we were on a 7 night cruise on the Fantasy and a guy has his LITTLE terrier type dog with him throughout the entire cruise and would bring him into the dining room nightly. My parents inquired and they said he was a service dog. Tiniest service dog I'd ever seen (owner didn't appear to have any physical limitations, perhaps mental or cognitive issues??). Was surprised he was permitted to bring the little dog into the dining room nightly. It would sit on his lap as he ate every night. He definitely got a lot of looks during the entire cruise.
Lesley

Maybe he was hearing impaired. Many of the service animals for the hearing impaired are small as they just alert them to sounds

 

[com_op_2000]

Time for a bump, any new experiences?

 

[asunutgirl]

We were on the Dream for Thanksgiving. We walked out of the dining room one night and noticed that someone had used the crayons that they give the kids to write on the tablecloth!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We were on the Dream for Thanksgiving. We walked out of the dining room one night and noticed that someone had used the crayons that they give the kids to write on the tablecloth!

Not so surprising. On DCL, I've seen the servers encourage kids to use the crayons to draw on the tablecloths. I believe they are washable crayons.

 

[Little Doe]

We were on a Panama Canal Disney cruise and we came across the lady with the two bears. We sat at the same table for lunch and the server placed food in front of the bears but did not talk to them. The lady was furious that her "children" were not being talked to. She complained about everything and was very critical to the server. After she left we talked to the server and told him he had done everything he could have done to please her. He stated that even Cast member on all the ships know her as it was her 42 cruise. Later friends of ours ate at Palo and kept seeing the server talking to what looked like an empty chair -- well our friend got up and walked by and there were the two bears eating at Palo.

 

[mom4fun]

We were on a Panama Canal Disney cruise and we came across the lady with the two bears. We sat at the same table for lunch and the server placed food in front of the bears but did not talk to them. The lady was furious that her "children" were not being talked to. She complained about everything and was very critical to the server. After she left we talked to the server and told him he had done everything he could have done to please her. He stated that even Cast member on all the ships know her as it was her 42 cruise. Later friends of ours ate at Palo and kept seeing the server talking to what looked like an empty chair -- well our friend got up and walked by and there were the two bears eating at Palo.

I wonder if she paid for them. Do you think they were old enough to be in there? Lol.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We were on the Dream for Thanksgiving. We walked out of the dining room one night and noticed that someone had used the crayons that they give the kids to write on the tablecloth!

Not so surprising. On DCL, I've seen the servers encourage kids to use the crayons to draw on the tablecloths. I believe they are washable crayons.

Yes, the crayons are washable. Our server wrote on our tablecloth with the crayons and encouraged us to do so, even though no one at our table was under 40.

 

[KingRichard]

We were on a Panama Canal Disney cruise and we came across the lady with the two bears. We sat at the same table for lunch and the server placed food in front of the bears but did not talk to them. The lady was furious that her "children" were not being talked to. She complained about everything and was very critical to the server. After she left we talked to the server and told him he had done everything he could have done to please her. He stated that even Cast member on all the ships know her as it was her 42 cruise. Later friends of ours ate at Palo and kept seeing the server talking to what looked like an empty chair -- well our friend got up and walked by and there were the two bears eating at Palo.

If they tipped me for the bears then I would ask them about their day!