Issues With Meet & Mingle

[Thetrail]

I was recently on the Adventure of the Seas and attended the meet & mingle. I am sadly disappointed by the behaviour of some of our members who also attended this event. Forgive me as I am about to step on a few toes here but I need to get this off of my chest. Some long time cruisers were making comments to the cruise director about getting the same free gift over and over and the same prizes from the raffle over and over again. I'm sorry to say, it's comments like that, that ruin it for the rest of us. Just because you have cruised since Moses walked the earth and you are jaded doesn't give you the right to complain about a free gift. If you don't want that free gift feel free not to take it. When people make comments about an event that the cruise line holds for us free of charge that event could easily be taken away like many of the other fun things that we use to get and no longer do. The other thing that bothered me were the people who signed up for the meet and mingle and couldn't be bothered to show up. If you sign up you need to show up or the party could be taken away from us. Just some food for thought! I've now gotten this off my chest, feel free to comment if you want.

I agree with your post. That being said depending on the cruise there are at times some "nice parting gifts" that are given away at the M&M.....K.O. :)

[Don Pedro]

Over the years I've attended many M & M's. Some were fun - some were a waste of time. The same can be said for the roll calls. Now days, sometimes I attend sometimes I don't. I much prefer an informal get together on boarding day as it tends to be more of a time of meeting and mingling than the ship's function.

 

I sure realize that the prizes and giveaways are important to many cruisers. I still have the RCCL computer mouse I won at a M & M in my display case. But I don't need anymore key chains, umbrellas, tote bags or most of the other raffle prize junk. I'm not knocking them, just saying I don't need any more.

 

I've participated in cabin crawls and slot pulls and most were fun but, as some have pointed out, they often conflict with other events. And, to be honest I've participated in so many cabin crawls they no longer interest me.

 

So, what gets my juices flowing to attend a meet and mingle. Usually, if I am involved in a slot pull or cabin crawl I'll attend the meet and mingle. If there is someone on the roll call I am friends with from a past cruise or there is someone from the board I find exceptionally interesting, I'll attend. If there is a chance that a cruise critic legend, like Clarea, (sorry Bob) will be there, I'll attend.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Don Pedro

[MicCanberra]

Not if its 64kb.

 

Aha, just realised it wasn't MB and will only take around 10 photos.:o

[MicCanberra]

Over the years I've attended many M & M's. Some were fun - some were a waste of time. The same can be said for the roll calls. Now days, sometimes I attend sometimes I don't. I much prefer an informal get together on boarding day as it tends to be more of a time of meeting and mingling than the ship's function.

 

I sure realize that the prizes and giveaways are important to many cruisers. I still have the RCCL computer mouse I won at a M & M in my display case. But I don't need anymore key chains, umbrellas, tote bags or most of the other raffle prize junk. I'm not knocking them, just saying I don't need any more.

 

I've participated in cabin crawls and slot pulls and most were fun but, as some have pointed out, they often conflict with other events. And, to be honest I've participated in so many cabin crawls they no longer interest me.

 

So, what gets my juices flowing to attend a meet and mingle. Usually, if I am involved in a slot pull or cabin crawl I'll attend the meet and mingle. If there is someone on the roll call I am friends with from a past cruise or there is someone from the board I find exceptionally interesting, I'll attend. If there is a chance that a cruise critic legend, like Clarea, (sorry Bob) will be there, I'll attend.

 

I agree, for the most part it is linking up with the people from the roll call to either just meet them or to complete the organising of a ship event or shorex.:D

[John&LaLa]

Over the years I've attended many M & M's. Some were fun - some were a waste of time. The same can be said for the roll calls. Now days, sometimes I attend sometimes I don't. I much prefer an informal get together on boarding day as it tends to be more of a time of meeting and mingling than the ship's function.

 

I sure realize that the prizes and giveaways are important to many cruisers. I still have the RCCL computer mouse I won at a M & M in my display case. But I don't need anymore key chains, umbrellas, tote bags or most of the other raffle prize junk. I'm not knocking them, just saying I don't need any more.

 

I've participated in cabin crawls and slot pulls and most were fun but, as some have pointed out, they often conflict with other events. And, to be honest I've participated in so many cabin crawls they no longer interest me.

 

So, what gets my juices flowing to attend a meet and mingle. Usually, if I am involved in a slot pull or cabin crawl I'll attend the meet and mingle. If there is someone on the roll call I am friends with from a past cruise or there is someone from the board I find exceptionally interesting, I'll attend. If there is a chance that a cruise critic legend, like Clarea, (sorry Bob) will be there, I'll attend.

 

I'd go to meet Bob as well. Hoping to meet Karen in March

[Clarea]

I'd go to meet Bob as well. Hoping to meet Karen in March

Actually, you should go to meet Pete (Don Pedro) - he's a much more interesting person.:)

[John&LaLa]

Actually, you should go to meet Pete (Don Pedro) - he's a much more interesting person.:)

 

I guess I need to start a list. Carol (Merion Mom) was my first CC celeb.

[Don Pedro]

I guess I need to start a list. Carol (Merion Mom) was my first CC celeb.

 

Great idea John! I think that along with Clarea and MerionMom I'd add critterchick and cruisenfever to the "A" list of Cruise Critic Legends.

[cinnamon]

There were some great prizes at the M&M on Rhapsody last month including meals at a Specialty restaurant and best if all, 24 hours of free Internet use. I won a water bottle though which made water taste awful so left it in the cabin I'm afraid.

[Paul65]

Not if its 64kb.

 

I don't think they ever even made flash drives in the KB range. Probably meant 64 MB, which is still pretty small by today's standards, when most are 8 GB and up, but you could store a few pics on it.

[MicCanberra]

I don't think they ever even made flash drives in the KB range. Probably meant 64 MB, which is still pretty small by today's standards, when most are 8 GB and up, but you could store a few pics on it.

 

Exactly, never mind, still handy for storing a document.:p

[tlatrice]

Tamara, I'm kind of laughing because your post reminded me of one of the M&Ms that I had truly planned to attend on the Oasis a few years back. When hubby and I got to the location where it was scheduled to be held, there was a Salsa/Tango class going on. Heck if we were gonna run all over a mega-sized ship looking for something like a Meet & Mingle! So I hear you, it's not an event that anybody signs an "agreement" to attend. They're nice, but not critical to having a great sailing. ;)

 

I LOVE the dance classes on board!!! Even my son told me "you did some pretty cool things onboard. Like those dance classes and that flash mob. Pretty cool." That's saying something coming from a 15 year old! LOL!!!

[BillOh]

I guess I need to start a list. Carol (Merion Mom) was my first CC celeb.

 

Well, on that note, I do have a famous Pink Boa cruiser, Star of Mighty Ships, should be the actual Godmother of Oasis, on my next cruise. We, much to our own chagrin, are dominating that roll call. I think we are the only 4 signed up for the M&M as of today.

[BillOh]

Great idea John! I think that along with Clarea and MerionMom I'd add critterchick and cruisenfever to the "A" list of Cruise Critic Legends.

 

I wonder if I have made the D list yet along with Kathy Griffin.

[3Blessings]

I must admit I fell into this last category that irks you on my cruise this past week. I was planning on going and even bought some school supplies for the lady that volunteered her time to take the supplies to the school. Unfortunately I did not see the "tent" invitation/information on the Meet and Mingle as it was sitting on the desk and not on the bed where I was expecting to see it, so I missed it.

 

The other thing that bothered me were the people who signed up for the meet and mingle and couldn't be bothered to show up. If you sign up you need to show up or the party could be taken away from us. Just some food for thought! I've now gotten this off my chest, feel free to comment if you want.

[bilyclub]

I enjoy the raffle part and getting to know others from the roll call. That stupid pen/memo/blue note taker thing is way old. Maybe one day RCCL will run out or quit ordering them. I try my best to avoid complaining verbally about stuff freely given. If you have 20+ cruises you don't care about a key chain (unless you get it from free spins in the casino) but other less experienced cruisers may find delight from the free raffle item. I've got a 64 KB RCCL USB flash drive somewhere around here. It is the memory from that day that makes it special. It might also be the only thing I ever one at a M&M but I keep going.

 

We've found the grandkids love those notepads.

[tiggeril]

I always sign up for the M&M, but since they tend to be the morning of the first sea day I will invariably either sleep through it or wake up late enough I'd have to come running in still clad in my PJs. I'll spare everyone that! :eek: