Ever see anything totally shocking and unexpected on a cruise?

[MsAmerica]

On our cruise this past March, a family of four (husband, wife, two boys about 10 &12 yo) who were seated at the table beside ours all played games on their cell phones during the entire meal each evening. They never spoke to one another, only spoke to the waiter and continually played their games.

Honestly, it was driving me crazy, so much so that I asked our waiter on the last evening to ask the head waiter to move us to another table, which she did.

The fact they all had absolutely nothing to say to each other on this beautiful ship, not only annoyed me, it made me feel sorry for them. They never asked each other what they were going to order? How their food was? What they wanted for dessert? Nothing! They just played games on their phones....


MsA

 

[MrsSmalls]

On our cruise this past March, a family of four (husband, wife, two boys about 10 &12 yo) who were seated at the table beside ours all played games on their cell phones during the entire meal each evening.

That's a bummer. We are both working parents and really enjoyed HAVING to unplug. This is the first vacation in 6 years that I didn't take my laptop with me and it was wonderful!

My daughter did read the first night's dinner because she was at the very end of her book and would die if she didn't find out what happened. She got a free pass for reading.

 

[jrabbit]

Changing the subject - I have an "unexpected" one.

I was surprised that there were some key kids activities so late. The going away party the last night with all the characters was at 10:15. I really wanted our youngest to go, but he was just to tired by then. I get that this works for a lot of folks, but it surprised me. On the other hand, the family pool closed at 10:00 when our middle child really wanted to relax in the pool/whirlpool and catch some late night Funnel vision. My 11 year old had a slide show final goodbye in The Edge that didn't start till 10:30.

The times seemed a little off. (However if you are used to Pacific Time the kid activity would probably work well)

The reason for the "late Night" activities on your last night is to give everyone a change to come to the 'Till We Meet Again org ..er.. gathering. Late dinner frequently lasts until about 10:30, or 10pm if you can get out early. Closing down the pools / funnel vision - kind of forces everyone to get ready to disembark the next day - they need everyone off of the ship early to allow then next group on.

The Normal Night's kids activities going late is to help keep the adults in the lounges buying product. What would help in Fathoms / Azure / Evolution / The Tube would be to turn down the volume of the music that's blasting everyone out. "If It's Too Loud, You're Too Old" --- fits me to a "T" - and from the looks of things, most everyone else as well.

 

[hanscarlet]

Last cruise we saw a comorant play catch me if you can with the CM in the adult pool on the magic... it was entertaining at first but then really sad because you could tell the bird was terrified... however never realized what amazing swimmers those birds are... we wondered what they did with the bird after they caught it, we're hoping they caged him and maybe released him at the next island because we were pretty far from shore when this happened

DH saw a lady go topless in a lounger in the adult section and then he people watched the reaction around her and said it was hilarious because everyone was staring... eventually a CM went over and told her to put the top back on

Count me in the crowd that likes when non bikini bodies flaunt bikinis... but my reasons are petty ... seroiusly though I feel like more likely than not it seems like non Americans are the ones who seem to flaunt it more than not which probably says something about US body pride culture

 

[RedSox68]

Last cruise we saw a comorant play catch me if you can with the CM in the adult pool on the magic... it was entertaining at first but then really sad because you could tell the bird was terrified... however never realized what amazing swimmers those birds are... we wondered what they did with the bird after they caught it, we're hoping they caged him and maybe released him at the next island because we were pretty far from shore when this happened

DH saw a lady go topless in a lounger in the adult section and then he people watched the reaction around her and said it was hilarious because everyone was staring... eventually a CM went over and told her to put the top back on

Count me in the crowd that likes when non bikini bodies flaunt bikinis... but my reasons are petty ... seroiusly though I feel like more likely than not it seems like non Americans are the ones who seem to flaunt it more than not which probably says something about US body pride culture

OH MY, I cannot believe that woman thought it was okay to go topless on any cruise, much less Disney. Maybe she was European and that's the norm

On our Bermuda cruise on NCL last year we saw a tiny bird caught in a corner on one of the decks near the pool bar. I tried giving him some cracker crumbs but it made him panic (his little chest was just heaving), and I was afraid he's fly overboard (we were not near any land) and he was so tiny -- I hope he was okay.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I didn't see anything shocking, but I shocked someone... I was on a crowded elevator going down to deck 3, but everyone else was getting off at 4. It was SWDAS and Bobba Fett and his friend were getting on. I was tucked in by the elevator panel and his friend was holding everyone back from getting on the elevator, so I think they thought they'd get a few moments alone. When the doors closed and the friend looked around, there was a surprised look on his face when he saw me. Poor guy just wanted a minute alone, but he went right back into character. I just asked if they were having a good day or something like that and got off on the next floor, so I didn't ambush them for an autograph or anything.

 

[RedSox68]

FigmentSpark reminds me of an incident we had in an elevator a few years back on DCL. It was formal night and that was still during the time that we decked out in gowns and tuxes. We were waiting for the elevator after dinner at about 10 p.m. and when the door opened there were two little girls in there with giant plates of french fries covered in ketchup. We decided to wait for the next elevator LOL

 

[HeatherLassell]

FigmentSpark reminds me of an incident we had in an elevator a few years back on DCL. It was formal night and that was still during the time that we decked out in gowns and tuxes. We were waiting for the elevator after dinner at about 10 p.m. and when the door opened there were two little girls in there with giant plates of french fries covered in ketchup. We decided to wait for the next elevator LOL

lol That sounds like a very wise decision!

 

[RedSox68]

lol That sounds like a very wise decision!

I must admit they were very cute -- their hands were too small for the plates and they looked like they were concentrating very hard on keeping them from falling.

 

[sabrecmc]

I like to think of myself as open-minded and not the body-shaming kind, but we did see a woman on Castaway Cay in a bikini who had chosen not to shave. She was very, very natural. All over. Even in places that one would think maybe you'd not let the hair show. Ahem. So, yeah, that was...different.

 

[lorenni]

If you're cruising later this year, I'll be the one in the bikini that's probably smaller than the one you or your partner would wear. Maybe I'll gain (or lose!) a few pounds before then and I might not shave everywhere you think I should. And let's not forget that I have tattoos - bonus! (Though I have no words to have misspelled, so perhaps I'll get no credit on that front). When I do put more clothes on, maybe they will have rainbows on them (which will confuse you because you'll see my husband sitting next to me!)

I'll be amazingly kind and polite. I'll speak to my child as if he is a real human being and won't threaten or belittle him. I won't save pool chairs or leave heaps of food uneaten at my table. I'll tip well, use good table manners, and dress appropriately for dinner. I'll hold the door if you're coming through behind me.

But nevertheless I'll give you all something to be "shocked" about.

I suppose I should just be happy that skin is the most shocking thing in so many people's lives. My sister saw a man overdose in a car parked outside the place she was getting lunch last month. In suburbia. That was shocking. I once watched a car lose control and fly end over end across the grassy median, flipping the driver out through his window so that he landed on the asphalt in front of my car in the fast lane. That was shocking. I guess its all about perspective. I have some.

 

[bbel]

All 100 kids asleep within 30 minutes at a sleepover in the Oceaneer Club during the transatlantic...

 

[lorenni]

All 100 kids asleep within 30 minutes at a sleepover in the Oceaneer Club during the transatlantic...

Now THAT counts as shocking.

 

[RedSox68]

All 100 kids asleep within 30 minutes at a sleepover in the Oceaneer Club during the transatlantic...

That's amazing!

 

[jrabbit]

I didn't see this on a cruise - DCL or otherwise, but on MSN today. I think it's a totally awesome picture of an iceburg and didn't know where to put the link - this thread is as good as any and remember the Wonder is an 83,000 tonne ship vs. the 3,000 tonne ship displayed in the picture.

 

[com_op_2000]

It has been awhile since I added to this thread:
Over the course of several cruises:
At CC-SB, DW is on a raft about 20 yards out, I take the camera and start walking out to take her picture. I see all the little fishes scatter, look around and see a 2-3 foot Black Tip Shark swimming around. DW is using her hands to move the raft creating small splashes. The shark turns toward her, I tell DW to stop cause I see a shark. What does DW do? She jumps off the raft causing a bigger splash! I have to run to get between her and the shark.

For our 25th anniversary someone put up decorations on our door announcing our celebration to everyone else onboard. We do not have any idea who did this. We came back from breakfast the second day of a seven day cruise and there they were. What a surprise and a welcome

moment.

We went to a Palo brunch, ordered hot items from the menu, proceeded through the hot/cold buffet twice, and dessert buffet twice. Our waiter informed us that we had not eaten enough, so he went to the dessert table, loaded a plate with desserts, and asked us to take it back to the room. We then took the desserts and ate them during a movie that evening.

Remembered on a family cruise and the lady at the next table over during the first night's dinner. She leans over to me to ask me about tipping. She had 2 kids, another lady, and herself at a 4-top. I informed her of the normal expected tipping and when it is normally given. She had a horrified look on her face, started talking with the other lady, counting with her fingers, they all got up and left the dining room. They did not return for any other dinners nor for the final morning's breakfast.

On one cruise we were upgraded from an inside to OV room, no charge. This cruise was booked on DVC points. We did not find out about the upgrade until we got in the room. When our luggage arrived they still had the tags from our previous inside room on them. That was a welcome shock.


Lastly week long cruise, in a rolling suitcase I had a case of water, one already opened bottle of rum, one already opened bottle of scotch, a 12 pack of beer, and some cans of Mt. Dew.
Forgot to add when I rolled the suitcase off the ship, we had new bottles of:
scotch
two of tequila
two of Kalua
four of rum
one of wine (given as an embarkation gift)
plus left over bottles of water and cans Mt. Dew.

 

[HeatherLassell]

It has been awhile since I added to this thread:
Over the course of several cruises:
At CC-SB, DW is on a raft about 20 yards out, I take the camera and start walking out to take her picture. I see all the little fishes scatter, look around and see a 2-3 foot Black Tip Shark swimming around. DW is using her hands to move the raft creating small splashes. The shark turns toward her, I tell DW to stop cause I see a shark. What does DW do? She jumps off the raft causing a bigger splash! I have to run to get between her and the shark.

So.....she didn't hear you? Or she's not afraid of sharks and wanted to scare you? lol

 

[Momee]

Really? I've never seen anyone wearing a thong any any Disney or Carnival cruise I've been on. However, on one of our Disney cruises there was a really hairy, 60ish dude sporting a white speedo the entire cruise.

We have seen a few thong-wearing cruisers (to each their own), but the most interesting one that we encountered was on the stairs to the Aquaduck. The lady was two steps ahead of us and her derrière was positioned uncomfortably close to my son's head. I was having a conversation with my husband (standing behind us) and had NO idea that it was there until our son said "ummm... mom, can i change spots with you?"

 

[com_op_2000]

So.....she didn't hear you? Or she's not afraid of sharks and wanted to scare you? lol

Oh, she heard me and she was scared.

 

[bumbershoot]

They never asked each other what they were going to order? How their food was? What they wanted for dessert? Nothing! They just played games on their phones....

OH I bet they were communicating with each other... I watch teens I know talking about the people right around them, with each other, silently. And I have to admit I've done it too with a good friend of mine when we're irritated with others around us.