FB cruise groups for DCL

[enzy65]

I’ve seen several people mention these kind of groups, so I thought I’d join the one for my cruise. Wow, not my cup of tea. These people are way out of my league, I think I will stick to DISBOARDS for my answers/questions.

 

[CamColt]

I definitely find a different vibe on those groups. I much prefer the camaraderie here.

 

[SleepyDeb]

I wouldn't join one of those groups because anyone who has joined and see your real name and that you won't be home during those days. Anyone can join, not just ppl who are actually going to be on the cruise.

 

[yowcruiser]

The first time I heard about these cruise groups was after cruise #6 for me... I joined one for cruise #8 and I have been an admin on a few since then as well. Some groups are open and fun... some other groups are...quiet... Some join just to be part of fish extenders and onboard exchanges... others join to get a lot of info pre-cruise... some join just because... In my book, I get a lot out of this forum and the cruise groups... not one or the other... both

 

[dreamer17555]

I think the cruise FB groups are overwhelmingly helpful to each other. How they are run can impact things but in general they are a positive. Can I ask what turned you off of the group you joined?

 

[SleepyDeb]

I did join one once, before I became concerned about security. What turned me off is that the group started focusing on FE. I don't do FE as we are empty nesters and are not interested. If we ever get to bring Granddaughter on a cruise, we'll probably sign up then, here on DisBoards. Once the FE discussions started, there wasn't anything to gain on other topics.

 

[Intr3pid]

If you have already been cruising a while...

Upside: Some fun comments, maybe do something/FE together

Downside: Privacy, security, and, yes, you have to dust off your ancient FB account!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

The first time I heard about these cruise groups was after cruise #6 for me... I joined one for cruise #8 and I have been an admin on a few since then as well. Some groups are open and fun... some other groups are...quiet... Some join just to be part of fish extenders and onboard exchanges... others join to get a lot of info pre-cruise... some join just because... In my book, I get a lot out of this forum and the cruise groups... not one or the other... both

I agree with this. I consider this forum to be my home base. Currently an admin on a cruise group. It's a bunch of work. They can be fun. Room for someone everywhere depending on the information you are looking for.

 

[enzy65]

I think the cruise FB groups are overwhelmingly helpful to each other. How they are run can impact things but in general they are a positive. Can I ask what turned you off of the group you joined?

From just reading the comments it’s sounds like a lot of concierge/pearl sailing, the tone of entitlement, cliquey and bragging. That’s my opinion only and I could be reading it all wrong.
I really didn’t find out any new info from this FB group that I already knew from my own research.

 

[MickeyD]

I have joined several FB groups over the years, mostly to connect with other cruisers. The ones lately all dissolve into fish extender groups, and I am not interested in that at all. Like SleepyDeb, we are empty nesters and don't want to participate. The other downside of the current one is the amount of new cruisers on it. Not that I am opposed to that, but the questions are all repetitive and when you answer it, they don't respond. It just seems like a waste of time. You can get far more information, and better information here.

 

[dreamer17555]

From just reading the comments it’s sounds like a lot of concierge/pearl sailing, the tone of entitlement, cliquey and bragging. That’s my opinion only and I could be reading it all wrong.
I really didn’t find out any new info from this FB group that I already knew from my own research.

Things that can be helpful that normally are in the FB groups- People will post when they cancel sold out activities so other can grab them, normally there is a WhatsApp group chat that works onboard posted in the FB group and is mostly full of people helping each other out (lending aloe when the shops are closed, helping to grab a tooth fairy button from guest services when the kiddo is asleep and the parent cant leave them), they tend to be the first to know anything that will impact you specific sailing (like how many ships are in a port that day, local events that might make traffic to the port an issue, etc)

However if you are on a rare sailing (or about to board the Treasure) with mostly pearl and platinum cruisers (and I myself am platinum so I will shade myself as well here)- you are not wrong about the cliquey thing. If you sail a bunch you tend to really know the crew and also have a set level of expectations and some people roll with changes better than others. I never feel people are bragging per say but sharing information that I might not have access to (in our one FB group a concierge guest kindly posted the schedule of drink tastings from shoreside well in advance of people booking activities) but I am sure some read it as bragging. I looked at it as super helpful.

If you already joined the group maybe just lurk and any posts that help you are great and ignore any that annoy you? Or not. To each their own but I just assume in life (and on FB and here) that the majority of people are not trying to be jerks. Some are even really trying to help- they just might not have the best social graces (I have ZERO social grace, I am an awkward turtle but I really do try to help as a way to pay forward all those that helped me out when I started sailing).

 

[dreamer17555]

I have joined several FB groups over the years, mostly to connect with other cruisers. The ones lately all dissolve into fish extender groups, and I am not interested in that at all. Like SleepyDeb, we are empty nesters and don't want to participate. The other downside of the current one is the amount of new cruisers on it. Not that I am opposed to that, but the questions are all repetitive and when you answer it, they don't respond. It just seems like a waste of time. You can get far more information, and better information here.

I rarely FE but I get that some cruisers love it... But the new cruisers asking questions? Why is that an issue? How is that any different from people asking questions here? (and many new cruisers do not even know this board exists)...

I would argue information here isn't better or worse- it all depends on who is providing it. I can see enjoying this format more than a FB group but I really do not think they are that dissimilar.

 

[enzy65]

Things that can be helpful that normally are in the FB groups- People will post when they cancel sold out activities so other can grab them, normally there is a WhatsApp group chat that works onboard posted in the FB group and is mostly full of people helping each other out (lending aloe when the shops are closed, helping to grab a tooth fairy button from guest services when the kiddo is asleep and the parent cant leave them), they tend to be the first to know anything that will impact you specific sailing (like how many ships are in a port that day, local events that might make traffic to the port an issue, etc)

However if you are on a rare sailing (or about to board the Treasure) with mostly pearl and platinum cruisers (and I myself am platinum so I will shade myself as well here)- you are not wrong about the cliquey thing. If you sail a bunch you tend to really know the crew and also have a set level of expectations and some people roll with changes better than others. I never feel people are bragging per say but sharing information that I might not have access to (in our one FB group a concierge guest kindly posted the schedule of drink tastings from shoreside well in advance of people booking activities) but I am sure some read it as bragging. I looked at it as super helpful.

If you already joined the group maybe just lurk and any posts that help you are great and ignore any that annoy you? Or not. To each their own but I just assume in life (and on FB and here) that the majority of people are not trying to be jerks. Some are even really trying to help- they just might not have the best social graces (I have ZERO social grace, I am an awkward turtle but I really do try to help as a way to pay forward all those that helped me out when I started sailing).

I don’t use WhatsApp and I don’t need to know every little thing going, etc. I didn’t really know what the FB group was, not what I was thinking. Yes I will lurk and when I’ve had enough I’ll delete myself, I just joined. Thanks for the clarification on these type of groups, very eye opening.
This cruise is on the treasure, hoping it will be like the wish, we loved that cruise so much. Many, many 1st timers on that one. I will never go on the fantasy again because I’ve stated before it felt like we were crashing a wedding or class reunion. It was very cliquey and we felt out of place most of the time.

 

[MickeyD]

I rarely FE but I get that some cruisers love it... But the new cruisers asking questions? Why is that an issue? How is that any different from people asking questions here? (and many new cruisers do not even know this board exists)...

I didn't say it was an issue. I said "not that I am opposed to that." The issue is the repetition of questions and when answered, they don't respond, so you don't know if you are helping or not. Yes, people ask repetitive questions here as well, but the forum is more conducive to a back-and-forth method of communication. Not sure why, it just is. Plus the search feature (usually) works much better here.

 

[dreamer17555]

I don’t use WhatsApp and I don’t need to know every little thing going, etc. I didn’t really know what the FB group was, not what I was thinking. Yes I will lurk and when I’ve had enough I’ll delete myself, I just joined. Thanks for the clarification on these type of groups, very eye opening.
This cruise is on the treasure, hoping it will be like the wish, we loved that cruise so much. Many, many 1st timers on that one. I will never go on the fantasy again because I’ve stated before it felt like we were crashing a wedding or class reunion. It was very cliquey and we felt out of place most of the time.

Many DCL super vets only sail 7 night or longer sailings... You might have that same wedding crasher vibe on the Treasure. Pearl cruisers likely are already figuring out which of their favorite servers and bartenders got transferred over to the Treasure. I have no idea if the entertainment CMs are all new but if not expect them to know them as well. It is sort of the nature of longer and more sailings to really get to know the crew well. I can tell you certain CMs favorite Disney films because I have heard them mention it so often in animation class or a trivia. If you hear it enough it just sticks.

And beyond knowing the crew the more you sail to more you come across the same cruisers over and over. There are only so many 7+ night sailings that DCL offers. So making cruise friends is common.

Often (not always) new cruisers test the water with shorter DCL sailings (3-4 nights) which is why you had so many new cruisers on the Wish. Another place you often get new cruisers is the more discounted sailings (still 5 nights or under) or ports that DCL sails but not often (like Galveston)

 

[RedHead0186]

I think the experience in the FB cruise groups can vary greatly depending on who admins them. I've been in several, and they were very different. Some did weekly countdowns, Q&As, etc. to keep people engaged. Others just kind of sat there. A lot of repetitive questions, yes, which can get a little annoying because people don't seem to want/know how to use the search function. I've helped admin a couple and enjoyed helping others.

But, there's also been a lot of camaraderie. You get to meet people and then sometimes see them again on future sailings, which is one of my favorite things.

Not arguing for/against them, just sharing my experiences. I think it does vary a lot based on the admin, because they set the tone o the group.

 

[enzy65]

So I haven’t deleted the FB page yet, but I will say some of these people don’t have their facts straight.

 

[magsnwonderland]

I join the groups so I can get a general feel for the crowd, possibly connect with people who have kids the same age as ours, etc. but they’re really hit or miss. In the last one, I was able to find someone to gift my daughter’s outgrown pirate night costume to - just dropped it off in their fish extender on the first night. Since we’ve cruised several times, I also try to answer questions when I can. We don’t do fish extenders either, but there’s always a lot more going on in the groups than that, especially as you get closer to the trip. Of the ones I’ve been in, there’s been a wide variety of admin styles also, so that impacts the utility. One was run by a travel agent who was giving incorrect info and wasn’t even sailing, so that was weird.

 

[enzy65]

I am still amazed at all the wrong information that is given on this FB page. I feel bad for all the 1st timers who think this is gospel and will be utterly confused when the time comes. Reading this info is all very entertaining.
I doubt I join one ever again.

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

I am still amazed at all the wrong information that is given on this FB page. I feel bad for all the 1st timers who think this is gospel and will be utterly confused when the time comes. Reading this info is all very entertaining.
I doubt I join one ever again.

When it comes to the FB cruise groups, especially for DCL cruises, it really matters on who sets up the group as to how good the information that the group ends up providing. I've been in 4 so far, all 4 were not setup by the Administrator of one of the larger DCL FB Groups and all 4 have supplied good answers to questions and ran pretty smoothly. Every now and then something gets posted that is wrong, but people are quick to point out the error and correct information is then supplied.

The cruise groups for certain sailings that are setup by the Administrator who runs one of the larger DCL cruise groups on FB, are not worth joining in my opinion. Those groups are run poorly, can have bad information and if you piss off the Admin, by questioning their wrong answer, she will boot you from that group. She only allows things to be done her way, and she is quick to shut off comments if people question her answers. She also will not allow anyone to post anything that suggests they go to places like the Disboards for better information and suggesting that people come here for their answers is another way to get quickly booted from that cruise group.

Psy