Cruise 'Snobs'

[Mack2]

The rudest behavior I've experienced aboard a ship wasn't on an RCI cruise... it happened on a Princess cruise.

 

 

I cruise with my wife and children, and my eldest son is legally blind, having a form of juvenile macular degeneration.

 

So, having a legally blind child, we went to see the show after dinner, and asked a crewmember if we could sit in the front row because of my son's disability, and Princess's policy of asking children under the age of 12 to not sit in the front rows.

 

So, long story short, we had some old guy complain to us that we were breaking the rules, I guess he didn't want to sit next to a family with children.

Who knows.

My wife informed him that we had asked the crew and recieved permission because of my son's visual impairment to which the guy replied "You should teach your son to DEAL WITH IT not not teach him to break rules".

 

My wife was in tears, and other older couples around us who were listening to the man complain about us were also horrified by the guy.

 

 

It kind've soured my impression of Princess... not that the cruise was bad, but there were a lot more older folks on the cruise, and that just increases the chances of encountering a selfish, crabby old bastard who hates others...

Edited July 30, 2010 by Mack2

[Janice M]

Try Cruising with Kids. We have 6 year old twins that have been on 7 cruise and we get rude comments every trip.

 

You would never get one from me. Kids just melt my heart. We enjoy cruising so much we could never be rude to anyone. Have run into a few rude ones ourselves but just over look it.

 

Jan

[gsb]

Well well lookie who's here. :D How ya doing? I see you've been busy since our Med cruise on the Navigator.

 

I was just having a bit of trouble trying to figure out how someone could make that kind of mistake but then I'm biased because I was a military brat.

 

Doing just fine, and U2? Better jump on the Oasis with us.

[twoputt.plusone]

Doing just fine, and U2? Better jump on the Oasis with us.

 

Too bad but not this time. We have a municipal election Oct 25 and that means no vacations after Labour Day. :( Besides, we've got a big land vacation coming up in a year and a half - going to Spain and Portugal for a month. Can you say p o r t? :D How's Jackie?

[estoyer]

When the wife and I were on our 1st cruise last month, we found that generally, most passengers were very friendly toward us, but, there were a few occassions when we were felt to feel 'lower class', for example, eating in the windjammer on Indy one night, we both decided to have something a burger.

 

On a table nearby, there were a group of people, tutting, and muttering under their breath about "these young people always eating junk food!" (we're both in our 30's, and this was the only time, apart from JR's we ate burgers!)

 

Another time, my wife was told to "Shut up, girl!" by a woman reading, when she was talking to someone else by the pool. Others were complaining about the amount of 'young people and families'. It seemed to me that some of these people felt that cruising was the reserve of the upper classes, and the more 'senior' folk. I even said to one that if they felt that way, don't book a cruise on a ship like Indy, which is a family-ship.

 

do others experience this? Or is it a rare thing?

 

Ok where do I start. Today's value tor younger families and kids are in general but not always the case, a bit looser or bluntly put rude and selfish. Boisterous behavior and running around in places where other folks the same age or there senior in many folks opinion not approximate behavior. Sound like Disney should have been the cruise line of choice. Folks there are having a ball and most everyone could care less. When your closer to retirement please place another post with a copy of this post on CC. It will be interesting to see if your values have changed.

 

Be Happy Try Disney

Earl

[Tonichef]

We are going on our first cruise on the IOS on Nov 08.

We are just working class (not even lower middle class)

I chose RCI, on the recommendation of my travel agent, who said it is freindly.

I can only hope that these snobbish types really are in the minoriy.

Any one else going on the IOS on Nov 08

 

Toni & Brenda

[zaffydad]

I forgot this one...

I was told in a casino on NCL by the dealer that I was not rich enough to play blackjack.

 

I said"excuse me"?

She repeated it.

 

I went and found DW knew she would have fun with it..she sat down...dealer says same thing to her. She places a couple hundreds. SHE GOT TOLD TO LEAVE!!!

( It was a 10 dollar table, and I don't care what our income- we have a right to play blackjack!)

Then, some SMELLY guy came, sat in the empty seat, told us he was the world's best black jack player and actually was INVITED to be on the cruise, unlike the two of us. But if we wanted, we could play 'behind " him.

The pit boss was all nervous, wife writes down everyone's name...long story short......

 

The next day ,the specialty dining, Vueve Cliquot , etc for our family was a gift from the casino.

:p

[richstowe]

In general ,not necc on a cruise, the people I've had the most problems with are parents with out of control kids.

I would never blame the kids. In fact I feel sorry for them. Its the parents who give them no direction, discipline or moral guidance

and allow their children to act like savages.Their lil angels are often rude but ya gottta

put the blame in the right place.

[okimot]

YEs, I have to reiterate that the majority of people were lovely. some people (and it was mostly the blue-rinse brigade) were just very very rude. also, they were ALL british.

 

I would have told the woman who told my wife to shut up where to go had I been there, I wasn't there at the time sadly, she told me about it later.

 

these sort of people though are best ignored. It's none of their business what I want to eat, or how old I am, or why I think i deserve to cruise, being only "lower middle class, what, what, what...."

We have been on many cruises with RCCL and agree that the British are the worst. Being British ourselves and silver surfers, we are always on our best behaviour. My wife is very good at putting people in their place with a few choice words.

We enjoy meeting and talking to Americans. On one cruise at dinner, we met a Vice Chairman of the company I had worked for in the UK. We still keep in touch.

[lizmit]

How very disappointing that you experienced such rude people on your cruise. Do NOT let it sway you from cruising though.

We've noticed that old people tend to be the rudest of the bunch for whatever reason - shame on them!

 

I try to remind myself to be especially sweet almost to the point of sickening when I encounter rude people. It'd be easy to stoop to their level, but why ruin your own fun?

 

Happy sails!

~ Liz

[Host Jacquelyn]

Try Cruising with Kids. We have 6 year old twins that have been on 7 cruise and we get rude comments every trip.

 

My son was pushing the Door Close button on the elevator whenever someone left, and a man actually slapped his hand and growled not to touch the elevator buttons. I was so shocked and horrified that I couldn't really react until after he left.

[Paul65]

My son was pushing the Door Close button on the elevator whenever someone left, and a man actually slapped his hand and growled not to touch the elevator buttons. I was so shocked and horrified that I couldn't really react until after he left.

 

Yikes! I would probably be stunned, too, and not know how to react. We've sailed several times with our son, since he was about 3 1/2, though, and I don't recall ever running into any rudeness directed toward him (or us for bringing him). But he's always enjoyed being the one to push the button on the elevator. Seems to be a thing kids like to do, and it shouldn't bother anyone, as long as they're not pushing all the buttons.

[BillOh]

The thread, while not about an enjoyable subject, has been enjoyable to read. Someone mentioned making a game out of spotting rude people. That sounds great. I have also observed, on a barely related subject, a lot of "know it all" people spouting authoritatively on a wide variety of subjects and they are unmistakably wrong! It's really hard for me to not be rude and interject and correct them ! ;)

[Kunane]

If anyone lays a hand on my son I would report that individual for assault. No reason to EVER lay a finger on another individual.

[Garyorient]

If anyone lays a hand on my son I would report that individual for assault. No reason to EVER lay a finger on another individual.

 

My thoughts and sentiments exactly.

[mickfoxland]

YEs, I have to reiterate that the majority of people were lovely. some people (and it was mostly the blue-rinse brigade) were just very very rude. also, they were ALL british.

 

I would have told the woman who told my wife to shut up where to go had I been there, I wasn't there at the time sadly, she told me about it later.

 

these sort of people though are best ignored. It's none of their business what I want to eat, or how old I am, or why I think i deserve to cruise, being only "lower middle class, what, what, what...."

 

Unfortunately we have to realise as British we are the worst mannered, behaved, tempered people on the planet (and a cruise ship is just a small just a smaller planet & we still think we rule it)

Whether it is the blue rinse brigade, the “Chav” or the Estuary English speakers we are all at fault and I apologise to the rest of the world for our attitudes

A lot of the latest British converts to cruising have in the past had the Benidorm experience, and instead of adapting to a new type of holiday, they have brought Benidorm on board

The blue rinse brigade need to learn that in the world today all are equal, not some more equal than others.

All of us in-between have to sit and cringe at our countrymen’s behaviour, or pretend we are American, Dutch or Australian

Rudeness, bad manners saving pool beds or tables are all unacceptable forms of behaviour, for goodness sake we’re on holiday!

[Paul65]

If anyone lays a hand on my son I would report that individual for assault. No reason to EVER lay a finger on another individual.

 

I understand your feeling, and would probably have similar thoughts, but a little slap on the hand is hardly assault; it is just highly inappropriate. I would more likely be tempted to "correct" the person in language I would normally prefer not to use in front of my child . . .

[Debde]

I understand your feeling, and would probably have similar thoughts, but a little slap on the hand is hardly assault; it is just highly inappropriate. I would more likely be tempted to "correct" the person in language I would normally prefer not to use in front of my child . . .

 

 

HOLY CRAP!!!

Some strangers slaps my sons hand in an elevator-trust me-Mamma bear is on attack mode.

No one should ever touch anyone elses child-none the less a slap!!:eek:

[findatmyfeet]

HOLY CRAP!!!

Some strangers slaps my sons hand in an elevator-trust me-Mamma bear is on attack mode.

No one should ever touch anyone elses child-none the less a slap!!:eek:

 

 

I'm with you! sorry but a slap is assault

[Paul65]

I'm with you! sorry but a slap is assault

 

I need to quit while I'm behind, I guess. I guess I just didn't think of "assault" when I read the description of a childs hand being "slapped" away from the elevator buttons; I just thought it sounded highly inappropriate for someone who is not a parent/guardian of the child. But in legal terms, assault requires an action that is reasonably likely to cause injury or harm.

 

The image that came to my mind was just of some stranger knocking my child's hand away from an elevator button; not necessarily of a slap that would cause pain. I just don't think such an action would be assault in a legal sense (by my reaction to it might ;)).

[Creepella]

Unfortunately we have to realise as British we are the worst mannered, behaved, tempered people on the planet (and a cruise ship is just a small just a smaller planet & we still think we rule it)

Whether it is the blue rinse brigade, the “Chav” or the Estuary English speakers we are all at fault and I apologise to the rest of the world for our attitudes

A lot of the latest British converts to cruising have in the past had the Benidorm experience, and instead of adapting to a new type of holiday, they have brought Benidorm on board

The blue rinse brigade need to learn that in the world today all are equal, not some more equal than others.

All of us in-between have to sit and cringe at our countrymen’s behaviour, or pretend we are American, Dutch or Australian

Rudeness, bad manners saving pool beds or tables are all unacceptable forms of behaviour, for goodness sake we’re on holiday!

 

Benidorm? :confused: What, please, is Benidorm?

 

BTW, both good manners and rudeness, in my experience, are traits of an individual, and never a nationality. I've seen rude Canadians and wonderful (insert stereotypically rude nationality here) by the bucketful, and I've also seen the inverse. In actual fact, it seems rudeness is the exception rather than the rule everywhere I go.

[Happy ks]

Rudeness certainly isn't exclusive to any cruise brand or country, it's all over the place.

 

I work part time in a retail store and it's a good thing I'm not sensitive, the way people respond to you when you are asking if they need assistance. You would think a simple "no thank you" would work, but many choose to be rude instead. I then just ignore them until they come to me with a question. I kill them with kindness, figuring they may just end up feeling a bit guilty for being so rude to me upon my greeting. I'm not about to play their game and argue with them, it only makes me feel bad afterward.

 

I realize people like to be left alone and respect that. But people also have to realize that sales clerks are required to welcome and ask if a person needs help, or has a question. We are also required to keep an eye on shoppers, otherwise the whole store may walk out the door (you should watch the videos sometimes....all those nice things that end up on ebay (NWT!!!).

 

Tha vast majority of people are nice, but the rude jerks always stand out in your memory. It should be the other way around.

[Paul65]

I realize people like to be left alone and respect that. But people also have to realize that sales clerks are required to welcome and ask if a person needs help, or has a question. We are also required to keep an eye on shoppers, otherwise the whole store may walk out the door (you should watch the videos sometimes....all those nice things that end up on ebay (NWT!!!).

 

I don't think I've ever been rude to a store clerk, but I have left stores pretty quickly, when I either feel like I'm being stared at by a clerk or if someone asks me every 30 seconds or so if I need help. There is a balance between being ignored and being pestered that most stores seem to have figured out, but there are a few that definitely lean toward the pestering end.

[Roo B]

I have to agree with Happy KS. I did my time in retail and as a waitress. The number of people that are rude to the "help" is astounding. I try to let that sort of thing bounce off me. Most often it is because they have asked for or done something that isn't allowed. Now they feel stupid, and they can't deal with that, so it must be someone else's fault.

 

Best lesson I was ever taught was by a customer. They returned to the store to tell me, and my manager, what a great job I did. He pointed out that we often complain about people, and make sure the bad stuff is pointed out, but we don't often make that same effort when someone does something good. We need to tell people more often they were helpful/polite/make our day.

 

When was the last time you told the parents sitting beside you at dinner that their kids were well behaved? We need to make more compliments and less complaints.

 

That's my pollyanna comment for the day.

[aldewitt]

Unfortunately we have to realise as British we are the worst mannered, behaved, tempered people on the planet ...!

 

As an American, I have to tell you, that's not been my experience. You can find rude people anywhere. Nationality is not a prerequisite. When we went to London for four days in early 2001, we never met anyone who wasn't terrific. And I can honestly say on the cruises, etc., we've only had really good results with people from other countries.

 

Now, with Americans... ugh... not so much.

 

From our formal night aboard the Carnival Inspiration a few years back, when asking if the gentlemen sitting at our table was going to wear a jacket to dinner:

 

"I'm from Texas. I took off my hat and put on my boots, and this is as damned dressed up as I'm gonna get."

 

I wanted to say "well, thank you for that my friend, you've just demonstrated why the rest of the world really doesn't care too much for us." The guy sounded just like a certain recent elected official from the same state (but he could dress himself, so we knew it wasn't him).