People Never cease to AMAZE me. Stay safe.

[Ofinn]

13 cruises and I've never participated in anything. I enjoy the disboards I especially enjoy helping others that have questions. I have no desire to get personally involved with anyone from these boards on my sailings. Just not my thing. I do talk to people on the cruise I may have even met some people on these boards without knowing it. My kids make friends on the cruises they keep in contact with, but they were born into the social media generation. I was not.
I have a job where I interact with thousands of different people a year so I kind of just like to zone out with a good book when I'm on a cruise.

 

[gismo1554]

Well. I'm going to swim against the stream.

I love planning. Everything. I used to plan my kids' birthdays in 15-minute increments with optional collapse points.

Vacations are always on a spreadsheet, cruise or otherwise. I love knowing all my options and groups like Disboards. Once we're on holidays, I'm flexible, but I think planning is half the fun. I'm sure I'd drive some people crazy, but thankfully my family is fine with it. In fact, my daughter is the same way. We spend many evenings connecting online or in person making vacation plans.

I'm with you! I am a planner-holic and Disboards is my support group (along with trello lol). I do like planning but I also think everyone is different and its not everyone's cup of tea. That's why I like Dis and other boards as you can participate as much or as little as you like. I would love to be able to preplan everything down to even what I'm going to eat!

It does amaze me that people would ever think to ask for money off strangers for things like this. People are very odd and obviously lacking in any morals.

 

[JW9DVC]

Our November cruise group is not that way. No overplanning at all. It's refreshing.

Just wait for it. Out cruise had at least three FB groups that I knew of, I'm sure more were available. The biggest had 160 people or families.

Open bar was scheduled for an hour, multiple FE, multiple mixology classes and what not. I'm sure they have at least one FB group right now and as it gets closer you will see a lot more probably.

 

[poison ivy]

Reading this really brings back memories for us and I'm truly sorry to the OP for what you had to endure.
We had a situation a few years ago where a person went so far as to create multiple aliases on the Dis and FB and signed them all up posing as different cruisers with phony bios etc. This person then proceeded to use their multiple identities to generate fake conversations among themselves which gave the false impression they had garnered support in their efforts to control the cruise meet threads, the FE's and to get a few people banned or ostracized from the group.

I've since learned this person had successfully used this tactic on prior cruises. Lucky for us, they were discovered in time, but I'm sure they're still out there and getting more sophisticated. So buyer beware!!! This individual habitually managed groups and collected personal info.

 

[ludari]

WOW but not surprised that they are scammers out there taking advantage of people. Be careful folks.

 

[redsonja76]

Reading this really brings back memories for us and I'm truly sorry to the OP for what you had to endure.
We had a situation a few years ago where a person went so far as to create multiple aliases on the Dis and FB and signed them all up posing as different cruisers with phony bios etc. This person then proceeded to use their multiple identities to generate fake conversations among themselves which gave the false impression they had garnered support in their efforts to control the cruise meet threads, the FE's and to get a few people banned or ostracized from the group.

I've since learned this person had successfully used this tactic on prior cruises. Lucky for us, they were discovered in time, but I'm sure they're still out there and getting more sophisticated. So buyer beware!!! This individual habitually managed groups and collected personal info.

Holy cow. How bored must a person be to do that??! Crazy.

 

[phinz]

Just wait for it. Out cruise had at least three FB groups that I knew of, I'm sure more were available. The biggest had 160 people or families.

Open bar was scheduled for an hour, multiple FE, multiple mixology classes and what not. I'm sure they have at least one FB group right now and as it gets closer you will see a lot more probably.

I've cruised with several of these people in my group, including the admins. They're not overplanners in the "we're going to freak out" way. They've been doing this quite a while, so they have it down to a science. They have mixology classes (which I'd sign up for onboard anyway), several FE and shirts, but the lack of pressure and handwringing in this group is refreshing. There's been no drama whatsoever, whereas a couple of the groups I've been in had so much drama I have had to jump in as a non-FE, non-mixology, non-anything, behind-the-scenes admin just to help get it under control.

 

[belac]

We didn't do anything for first 2 cruises but did on the 3rd. I am in the camp of it can be fun to organize and plan if it is done without too many constraints on my part. We did a fairly organized FE Group (3 groups) for 3rd, included one meet at the start of the cruise, which was nice and for any changes, and a mixology. I think that was it, and it was fun & easy. We didn't do anything for the following cruises (4&5) and still had a great time. I did pixie dusting and DS always had something special in his FE Pocket daily.
I mean people have to realize that any cruise is a family vacation, key word: Family, so it stands to reason that Family takes priority over the meets, FE, etc.. and kicking people out .. WOW that I don't get unless what the person was doing was completely offensive, harassing, or illegal, but posting an opinion, that is ridiculous.
I can't even imagine what OP and others have mentioned here, actually goes on....quite scary so thanks for posting the warnings. I guess it comes second nature to me. I suppose I am a skeptic, but I am with OP if it walks, swims and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. So kudos to you OP for catching that.

$ never sent by phone, $ never sent via go fund me (others) unless personally known or the person requesting personally known, and $ personal info never-ever over any social media.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We didn't do anything for first 2 cruises but did on the 3rd. I am in the camp of it can be fun to organize and plan if it is done without too many constraints on my part. We did a fairly organized FE Group (3 groups) for 3rd, included one meet at the start of the cruise, which was nice and for any changes, and a mixology. I think that was it, and it was fun & easy. We didn't do anything for the following cruises (4&5) and still had a great time. I did pixie dusting and DS always had something special in his FE Pocket daily.
I mean people have to realize that any cruise is a family vacation, key word: Family, so it stands to reason that Family takes priority over the meets, FE, etc.. and kicking people out .. WOW that I don't get unless what the person was doing was completely offensive, harassing, or illegal, but posting an opinion, that is ridiculous.
I can't even imagine what OP and others have mentioned here, actually goes on....quite scary so thanks for posting the warnings. I guess it comes second nature to me. I suppose I am a skeptic, but I am with OP if it walks, swims and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. So kudos to you OP for catching that.

$ never sent by phone, $ never sent via go fund me (others) unless personally known or the person requesting personally known, and $ personal info never-ever over any social media.

I'm with you... give out as little as possible.

I was at a cyber-safety talk last spring and the guy running it mentioned people who travel and let everyone know where they are going. He said he saw one guy taking a picture of his boarding pass while waiting for this flight and posting it on one of the social media sites. Being the good-guy hacker that he is, the speaker told us he went through the guy's pictures, 90% of which were taken at or around home with the GPS coordinates available (like most people's posts), and found out where this guy lived. He went up to him and told him how easy it was for him to find his home and now, to know that his home is empty, just waiting for thieves. His advice to us was "post all you want about where you've been, never post when you are going next".

Of course, on a site like this, that advice isn't so easy to keep.

 

[belac]

I am tempted to get a quote from one of those companies that eliminates all your info from the web. That came about when someone (family member just as skeptical) saw my child listed on one of those people finders, a Child, WTH?

That is why I sort of believe that DIS is safer than other sites for FE. No other info on here but your user name and anything "you" put out there.
Besides most of our photos are of DCL lol
Everyone can have those GPS coordinates, most here wish they were there.

 

[tinkerone]

I'm with you... give out as little as possible.

I was at a cyber-safety talk last spring and the guy running it mentioned people who travel and let everyone know where they are going. He said he saw one guy taking a picture of his boarding pass while waiting for this flight and posting it on one of the social media sites. Being the good-guy hacker that he is, the speaker told us he went through the guy's pictures, 90% of which were taken at or around home with the GPS coordinates available (like most people's posts), and found out where this guy lived. He went up to him and told him how easy it was for him to find his home and now, to know that his home is empty, just waiting for thieves. His advice to us was "post all you want about where you've been, never post when you are going next".

Of course, on a site like this, that advice isn't so easy to keep.

I was on a FB group that had lists of peoples names and addresses so they could exchange Christmas cards. The list was in a file for anyone in the group to print out. I could not believe how trusting everyone was. I mean, you don't know if I really am going on that cruise or if I just want your information so I can set up a new home while your away. The list was put together way before the cruise even took place. I declined to participate.
Way to much information out there to my way of thinking.

 

[JimGA]

And some wonder why activity on any/some/all cruise meet sites is dwindling.

We got involved for our first three sailings.

First one good.

Second one mildly out of control, but good, and the best I suppose. fwiw

Third one proved, ... we were done.

It became more encompassing each sail. So we discontinued participation in anything aboard involving Dismeet, social media, FE, etc.

We now try to sail anonymously as possible.

Now, perhaps that is normal progression. More you sail, the more you refrain your participation.
Makes sense.


Safe Sail and Seas to All

Bear

Exactly...


We were active prior to our cruise in our cruise FB group and Dismeet, some good info was shared prior to the cruise. But in all honesty, I had no desire to meet any of them at the meet and greet, or cocktail get together, or the 2 different planned mixology groups, of even the FE thing.

I think I might have seen one or two people from the FB group, but I was not sure since most peoples FB profile picture is absolutelty perfect...lol

I like to relax and enjoy my family on my vacation.

 

[JimGA]

I agree as well. Our first 2 cruises were without knowledge of Disboards and Cruise Critic and we had a great time. I see people rushing around like crazy and just cringe but realize we all do things differently. People think I'm crazy for spending thousands for a cruise to lay around and relax, but that's how I roll. I unplug from my phone and the outside world and just do nothing, it's heaven!!!

Exactly !! No phone, no internet, sit and enjoy my family relaxing !! w/o all the running around meeting with various people from social media sites.

 

[wcw57]

I was heavily involved in our FE group back then....it was on here, not some other place.
When we had our meet n greet I didn't want to go but my wife thought I should. Since she is much smarter than I am, I went.
I actually said hello to a few people, was cordial to everyone else. I didn't have anything to chat about with them. Didn't really care to learn about their lives and wasn't going to share my stories with them either.
I am sure I did much more damage to my reputation by actually attending and keeping up walls than if I had been absent and had remained an affable Disboard mystery.
I relate that story byway of telling you that I am, perhaps, overly cautious.

 

[belac]

I was on a FB group that had lists of peoples names and addresses so they could exchange Christmas cards. The list was in a file for anyone in the group to print out. I could not believe how trusting everyone was. I mean, you don't know if I really am going on that cruise or if I just want your information so I can set up a new home while your away. The list was put together way before the cruise even took place. I declined to participate.
Way to much information out there to my way of thinking.

"Stupid Is as Stupid Does"
I wonder if anyone got more than a Christmas card.... like the Grinch showing up taking everything including the Tree.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

When we travel, we meet people the old-fashioned way. By meeting them in person. We've made a few vacation friends and have stayed in touch, but only after meeting them and getting to know them. The internet just isn't a safe place to meet people and exchange info. Honestly, I can't imagine making plans to hang out with random people I've never met before on a cruise ship.

 

[MUN]

About 2 weeks before our April 30th cruise, she advised everyone that her mother had passed. We all said our sympathies and moved on from the situation. She had become friends with many people who believed what I was beginning to think was all made up and an attention seeker. She wanted to have a celebration of life for her mother passing during the cruise meet up. Have a cake and all.
JW

Did you ask what kind of cake?

 

[mom+3girls]

With the job I'm in I see people like the original poster was talking about all the time. Big sob stories and such. It's just really sad that people do these kinds of things.

I've started two FB pages for cruises in the past, not sure I will ever do it again after the last one, one lady was pushy with me, asking that I make her the administrator because I didn't seem to respond to things as quickly as she thought I should. I finally kept ignoring her and she stopped.

There are lots of crazies out there

 

[ironwill1979]

Holy cow. How bored must a person be to do that??! Crazy.

...Big sob stories and such. It's just really sad that people do these kinds of things...

...There are lots of crazies out there

Unfortunately, there are a lot of sociopaths who get their jollies by lying, cheating and seeing how they can manipulate other people and situations. The worst part is they lack the ability to care how they hurt others by doing it.

 

[Mazz519]

Wow thats bad