F.O.D and Royal Caribbean/ Some New Info.

[diknjoe]

We just returned from Brilliance of the Seas 12/12 sailing to Athens, Egypt, etc. It's a fantastic itinerary that I'd highly recommend. The service, food and accommodations were,if anything; above RCCI's standard. There were 1,999 passengers from over 50 countries aboard, which may have contributed to the thrust of my comments.

 

We checked the bulletin board as soon as we arrived, and Found

" Friends of Dorothy" already listed. We also found "Friends of Bill W."

on the same bulletin board( with no information listed in the "Compass" newsletter, save to refer to the bulletin board . It is RCCI's policy to list no outside organiztion's meetings in the "Compass". So there we were, FOD, Bill W., Red Hat Ladies all treated equally.

 

Friends of Dorothy was scheduled for every night at the "Champaigne Bar at a convenient time for both "seatings". We stopped by almost every night and met only 2 other couples. One was from the US, the other from England had posted to this forum. Why did we not have better attendance?

 

My gaydar usually works well, and I perceived that there were far more potential FOD/LGBT's on board than those who decided to attend . I had even added "LGBT" to the FOD announcement ,to no visible impact.

 

I think RCCI did all they could, under their policy to open a place for us to meet, and make it clear in English. The" Champaigne" staff could not have been more friendly. Why then did not more folks show up? Maybe language was an issue? Maybe younger folks from other countries have divergant interests?

 

We're re doing the Caribbean next year so I'll be interested to see if we have a different experience.

 

Meanwhile, go book this cruise , it's fabulous.

 

Dick and Joe

[etoile]

Glad you had a good time, it sounds like a heavenly itinerary!

 

This is actually a longtime debate. Many people feel that FOD is outmoded and not recognized by younger generations (though I am only 29 and knew what it meant!) while others feel it is an attempt to hide our shame by not saying what we are about.

 

People have suggested Rainbow Gatherings, LGBT Groups, Gay and Lesbian Parties, everything you can think of. The tradition has not changed. Quite frankly I'm amaze you got LGBT in there!

 

As for why people don't show up, that's anybody's guess. It could be the wording, but it could also be that people know what it means and just aren't interested, or they prefer to do other things with that time, or any number of reasons. You're right that there are usually far more gay people on board than there are at the gatherings; that's almost always the case. It varies by sailing; sometimes they are well attended and sometimes not. (We did a cruise where we were the only people who showed up. Every night we went, and every night we were the only ones!)

 

I wouldn't stress too much about it. Go, have fun, and enjoy the people who do show up!

[Cruise Gopher]

I tend to think it is because a lot of people never even know that activites board is there and don't know to go check it out.

 

We were just on the Oasis Inaugural cruise and I had totally forgotten about it and was pre-occupied with all the other things to see and do on the ship that we didn't stumble across the activities board to find the FOD posting until like the 4th day.

 

It's too bad it's not in the Compass like on Princess.

[garykool81]

Agreed with the poster above. Outside of us "insiders," I can guarantee you that the overwhelming majority of cruise passengers either don't know or never bother to even check the bulletin boards.

 

I'd also agree that the term FOD is outdated, not to mention that it really only makes sense to US-customers since the term has no history in other parts of the world.

 

That said, I'd wager your turnout being low was more the result of Royal Caribbean refusing to do what the rest of the industry gladly does -- posting these meetings in the daily paper.

 

On most of my recent cruises with Celebrity, Cunard or Oceania, we've had turnout in excess of 30 people using the term "FOD."

[etoile]

Ohhhhh I think I was confused - I thought the note was in the daily newsletter. Shoot, I didn't even know there was an actual bulletin board somewhere, I've only ever looked in the newsletter!

[Sirwinston]

Sometimes couples just want to hang out in the stateroom:D. Or as another poster said busy with other things.:cool:

 

Tom in Long Beach

Maybe I am jaded because I live in a very gay friendly city and have lots of gay friends.

[Cowboy333]

I was on Liberty of the Seas last month and it was the same. The card on the posting board across from guest services. Our meeting also was Champagne Bar @ 5:15 everyday. There were somedays 4, others 8 or more people that showed. It is all about the time. It really was a rush to end your outdoor activities to shower and dress for dinner. We had MTD, but always made a reservation for 6pm. We attended everyday. Met some nice guys.

I am going on the Atlantis Solstice cruise in March. Can't wait, should be a blast. Happy cruising.

[Schplinky]

We just returned from Brilliance of the Seas 12/12 sailing to Athens, Egypt, etc. It's a fantastic itinerary that I'd highly recommend. The service, food and accommodations were,if anything; above RCCI's standard. There were 1,999 passengers from over 50 countries aboard, which may have contributed to the thrust of my comments.

 

We checked the bulletin board as soon as we arrived, and Found

" Friends of Dorothy" already listed. We also found "Friends of Bill W."

on the same bulletin board( with no information listed in the "Compass" newsletter, save to refer to the bulletin board . It is RCCI's policy to list no outside organiztion's meetings in the "Compass". So there we were, FOD, Bill W., Red Hat Ladies all treated equally.

 

Friends of Dorothy was scheduled for every night at the "Champaigne Bar at a convenient time for both "seatings". We stopped by almost every night and met only 2 other couples. One was from the US, the other from England had posted to this forum. Why did we not have better attendance?

 

My gaydar usually works well, and I perceived that there were far more potential FOD/LGBT's on board than those who decided to attend . I had even added "LGBT" to the FOD announcement ,to no visible impact.

 

I think RCCI did all they could, under their policy to open a place for us to meet, and make it clear in English. The" Champaigne" staff could not have been more friendly. Why then did not more folks show up? Maybe language was an issue? Maybe younger folks from other countries have divergant interests?

 

We're re doing the Caribbean next year so I'll be interested to see if we have a different experience.

 

Meanwhile, go book this cruise , it's fabulous.

 

Dick and Joe

 

Are Rusty and Eric still working the Champagne bar? Too much fun, those two.

 

The FOD was listed in the Cruise Compass when we sailed that ship a couple of years ago (the bulletin boards were introduced after that) and the turnout was poor so I'd like to add another suggestion as to why few showed up. On those port-intensive overseas trips, most people get off the ship, tour all day and arrive back aboard tired. We bumped into lots of gay couples who were just too pooped to party. In the Carribean, some don't even get off the ship and others spend the day lounging on the beach all day. That's not usually the case in Europe and we found folks could get pretty tired.

 

I do think the bulletin board works against a good turnout but so longs as all groups are being treated the same, I don't see it as a particular problem.

 

I did read about a guy who was on HAL once and the CD refused to list a party and so he wandered around deck all day with a T-shirt he had taken a marker to. It said "Friends of Dorothy meet in the martini bar at 8." I thought that was pretty creative and hope the story is true.

[Schplinky]

We just returned from Brilliance of the Seas 12/12 sailing to Athens, Egypt, etc. It's a fantastic itinerary that I'd highly recommend. The service, food and accommodations were,if anything; above RCCI's standard. There were 1,999 passengers from over 50 countries aboard, which may have contributed to the thrust of my comments.

 

We checked the bulletin board as soon as we arrived, and Found

" Friends of Dorothy" already listed. We also found "Friends of Bill W."

on the same bulletin board( with no information listed in the "Compass" newsletter, save to refer to the bulletin board . It is RCCI's policy to list no outside organiztion's meetings in the "Compass". So there we were, FOD, Bill W., Red Hat Ladies all treated equally.

 

Friends of Dorothy was scheduled for every night at the "Champaigne Bar at a convenient time for both "seatings". We stopped by almost every night and met only 2 other couples. One was from the US, the other from England had posted to this forum. Why did we not have better attendance?

 

My gaydar usually works well, and I perceived that there were far more potential FOD/LGBT's on board than those who decided to attend . I had even added "LGBT" to the FOD announcement ,to no visible impact.

 

I think RCCI did all they could, under their policy to open a place for us to meet, and make it clear in English. The" Champaigne" staff could not have been more friendly. Why then did not more folks show up? Maybe language was an issue? Maybe younger folks from other countries have divergant interests?

 

We're re doing the Caribbean next year so I'll be interested to see if we have a different experience.

 

Meanwhile, go book this cruise , it's fabulous.

 

Dick and Joe

 

Are Rusty and Eric still working the Champagne bar? Too much fun, those two.

 

The FOD was listed in the Cruise Compass when we sailed that ship a couple of years ago (the bulletin boards were introduced after that) and the turnout was poor so I'd like to add another suggestion as to why few showed up. On those port-intensive overseas trips, most people get off the ship, tour all day and arrive back aboard tired. We bumped into lots of gay couples who were just too pooped to party. In the Carribean, some don't even get off the ship and others spend the day lounging on the beach all day. That's not usually the case in Europe and we found folks could get pretty tired.

 

I do think the bulletin board works against a good turnout but so longs as all groups are being treated the same, I don't see it as a particular problem.

 

I did read about a guy who was on HAL once and the CD refused to list a party and so he wandered around deck all day with a T-shirt he had taken a marker to. It said "Friends of Dorothy meet in the martini bar at 8." I thought that was pretty creative and hope the story is true.

[bbenson]

We checked the bulletin board as soon as we arrived, and Found

" Friends of Dorothy" already listed. We also found "Friends of Bill W."

on the same bulletin board( with no information listed in the "Compass" newsletter, save to refer to the bulletin board . It is RCCI's policy to list no outside organiztion's meetings in the "Compass". So there we were, FOD, Bill W., Red Hat Ladies all treated equally.

 

Friends of Dorothy was scheduled for every night at the "Champaigne Bar at a convenient time for both "seatings". We stopped by almost every night and met only 2 other couples. One was from the US, the other from England had posted to this forum. Why did we not have better attendance?

 

My gaydar usually works well, and I perceived that there were far more potential FOD/LGBT's on board than those who decided to attend . I had even added "LGBT" to the FOD announcement ,to no visible impact.

 

I think RCCI did all they could, under their policy to open a place for us to meet, and make it clear in English. The" Champaigne" staff could not have been more friendly. Why then did not more folks show up? Maybe language was an issue? Maybe younger folks from other countries have divergant interests?

 

We're re doing the Caribbean next year so I'll be interested to see if we have a different experience.

 

 

Just off Voyager and same deal here. Nothing listed in the Newsletter, not even Friend's of Bill W. But the bulletin board was used and had all the meetings there.

 

FOD was posted with a daily meeting in the Vault. I feel a little guilty since I never made one but I had late seating dinner and we were running around after either to a show or casino or lounge. Just never seemed to make the Vault till 12 or later.

[kwokpot]

Frequent cruiser here. I was on the Solstice Transatlantic, and although there were tons of gays on this cruise (several large groups traveling together) except for the 1st several nights, the disco was NEVER occupied by the gays (it was literally EMPTY of the majority of the cruise) - and this was a 13 nt cruise where we gained a hour every night during the ocean crossing.

 

The Martini Bar seemed to be the venue of choice, and this trend seems to have started a couple of yrs ago. I guess this is reflective of nightlight in general, where the emphasis is less on a disco/club hangout and more of a bar/ultra lounge scene. And I was SOOO looking forward to dancing with the boys...

[waldorf]

In our experience the meetings are never at a good time, we go to the gym or have just returned from shore, a meet after dinner would be best.

 

We tend to find we meet up with most guys in the spa or the gym.