Chumley's Bears ???

[leck57]

We were on the Royal about two months ago and there were about 150-200 guys from Adventure Bears. Never would have known they were on board except they all had large name tags with their Christian names on. I can't really understand why a group, any group, would want to stand out.

However, based on my experience I would never cancel a cruise because a large group of gay people were travelling. Non issue for us. Other than the name tags or the fact there were some large tables in the dining room which were guys only you wouldn't have known.

[GweninTX]

On our cruise last year they took over the aft pool and I quit going to it. There were other pools to go to, so no big deal

 

 

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[kendon]

We booked a November cruise and just happened to find out it was a Bear cruise through roll calls. Kept the booking and sorry we did. 700-800 of them! It's not who they are or what they represent. It's that they took over the rear of the ship, one of the dining rooms, and some public spaces for private use. Unpleasant.

 

Cancel and rebook for another date.

[S&M in Pgh]

We only found out the night before the cruise. Boy was I pissed. The inaugural cruise on the Royal in the Caribbean. Over 500 Bears.

 

On the plus side, all the guys were considerate and polite.

 

On the downside, they had the Crown Grill to themselves EVERY night. There were so many at the retreat pool that you could never get space to even get your feet wet. And their general size, Bears are big guys after all put a serious dent in the elevator capacity. Not joking. It was like fitting the entire offensive line from an NFL team into the elevator. Took the steps a lot that week.

 

Other than being pissed at Princess for not telling people that a large group was booked (I dont care who the group is, if they are going to impact my use of facilities due to prearranged private functions, I deserve the right to know and book another date) and not being able to get into the Crown Grill, they didn't really impact the cruise too much.

 

Oh, you will know they are there, trust me, you cant help but know. And certain rooms, clubs, bars and restaurants may be closed to you on certain nights because they have reserved the use.

 

At least you are forewarned.

[floridalover5623]

We booked a November cruise and just happened to find out it was a Bear cruise through roll calls. Kept the booking and sorry we did. 700-800 of them! It's not who they are or what they represent. It's that they took over the rear of the ship, one of the dining rooms, and some public spaces for private use. Unpleasant.

 

Cancel and rebook for another date.

There's one coming up on the Regal in Nov and I believe there's still available space if your interested. ;)

[Host CJSKIDS]

Hi - the Chumley's Bears were on our Royal Princess cruise in 2013. Overall a great group of guys - very hairy guys. The overly large men wearing "wife-beater t-shirts" to breakfast were at times a bit hard to stomach (pun intended), but that could be found on any cruise. They did pretty much take over the Adult pool on sea days and there were public areas of the ship unavailable at various times.

 

What absolutely made up for any other inconvenience was Formal night when the kilts and logging boots appeared. :D

 

Our sailing on the Regal Princess had about 900 travel agents onboard. While they didn't stand out as much as the Bears, they also impacted the cruise. As others have said, it's not the Bears specifically that could impact your cruise, it is the sheer number of Bears.

 

I was on that Regal Princess sailing and they impacted our cruise. There were 2 nights when the pool deck including the pizza and burgers were off limits to us without warning. And they took over another venue. And some nights we couldn't get near Crooner's. Met some great people that were in the group, but I wouldn't sail with a large group again.

[joeyancho]

I would not cruise with any large group. It just changes the tone of the cruise. YMMV

[floridalover5623]

I would not cruise with any large group. It just changes the tone of the cruise. YMMV

Especially 600-800 bears.:eek:

[Chad_O]

I just love this thread!

 

I spend many weekends with bears-tailgating, dinner parties, board game tourneys, fund raisers for the DNC, volunteering for Immigrant sanctuary initiatives, and helping with the Syrian refugee crisis. These are men of great intellect, erudition and humanity. Many of them have gone through life doubly marginalized-first as gay and second as bigger boys. They have built a culture of acceptance for themselves. From that they have channeled their energy and efforts outwards to help others.

 

Do many of them make inappropriate sartorial choices? Yes sadly. Do they show their regard and infatuation with other men? Certainly-the world is full of handsome men and the AIBP is a great motivator. Do they demonstrate frequent PDA's? Thankfully yes. We live in a world of evolving understanding and are made better for it. Collectively, we need to be grateful that 400 gay men are safe and are allowed the means to vacation on a cruise. Grateful that a multinational corporation will meet their needs. Grateful that our society allows for discussion and self realization. Travel is an education and people who travel often are in the vanguard of bringing new ideas and understandings to the rest of us. That said, we would not want you to given a role you are not accepting. For that you should change your plans. It is your vacation and you are entitled to relax and not be plagued by worries. Plus, you would never be able to get a slice of pizza or a brownie. Sincerely, Ursus Rex

[jennybenny]

I am not a fan of any groups on a cruise for reasons others have stated. Big groups tend to have activities booked in many venues keeping you from being able to enjoy the cruise as expected. I hope the cruise line let you know there was a large group. It's not something I've ever asked about. We've been on one cruise where there was a large group, and the group was fun, and lively and did take up some public venues. It was on Carnival and it was a long time ago. The group didn't bother me, we made friends with some of the people in the group, but there were times that the crowds were bigger than we'd like.

 

If the group was 50 people I don't think they would infringe on lounges, pools, bars, etc, but a large group can kind of take over a ship. So, Girl Scouts, Mary Kay or Chumley Bears, any large groups, would bum me out and I would probably want to change my cruise dates. If I couldn't change my dates, well, I guess I'd suck it up and cross my fingers that the large group would not overtake too many parts of the ship. I'd ask how many people were part of the group.

 

Good luck.

[CrankyOldGuy]

Well, you can all relax. The next Chumley cruise is on MSC. The one after that is on Royal Caribbean.

 

So you can now focus on all the other large groups that will be on Princess ships over the next year. You know, the ones that no one ever starts an entire thread about

[floridalover5623]

Well, you can all relax. The next Chumley cruise is on MSC. The one after that is on Royal Caribbean.

 

So you can now focus on all the other large groups that will be on Princess ships over the next year. You know, the ones that no one ever starts an entire thread about

 

They're on the Regal in Nov.

[CrankyOldGuy]

They're on the Regal in Nov.

 

 

Nope, MSC Divina

 

https://www.bearcruises.com/working-fall-2017

[fishywood]

So you can now focus on all the other large groups that will be on Princess ships over the next year. You know, the ones that no one ever starts an entire thread about

 

Lest you think we here do not detest all groups equally: there certainly was a lengthy discussion about a large Christian group on one Princess cruise. Said group did not have many separate activities--nor did they all dine together, but were scattered about the MDRs at every meal. All the better to proselytize amongst us heathens. I'd much rather have a group of men confident enough in who they are not to have to sell it to everyone else they encounter anytime.

[floridalover5623]

Nope, MSC Divina

 

https://www.bearcruises.com/working-fall-2017

You're correct, but I only look for the Princess sailings.

http://adventurebears.com/fall-2017/

[CrankyOldGuy]

You're correct, but I only look for the Princess sailings.

http://adventurebears.com/fall-2017/

 

I've sailed with both groups. Adventure Bears group is small, less than 200 people. On a ship the size of the Regal you wouldn't even notice them. They also don't hold their own events in any of the lounges, won't take over any of the bars or monopolize any of the pools.

[Chad_O]

For a CrankyOldGuy you seem pretty balanced and normal. I suspect a misnomer in your handle. I like the idea of Adventure Bears but they sound like Fisher-Price toys. In my short cruising career perhaps the nicest group was the congregation from a Baptist church in Kentucky. We stayed at the same hotel in Seattle before the Alaska cruise and then saw them during the cruise. They were kindness itself and really very fun. I was flattered to be invited to Sunday service and did not think it was proselyting but merely Christian kindness and fellowship. I did reply I had an appointment with three mimosas that morning but planned to see them after. I would sail with those folks again in a heartbeat. Plus, they did not contribute to crowding in the bars or casino!

[floridalover5623]

I've sailed with both groups. Adventure Bears group is small, less than 200 people. On a ship the size of the Regal you wouldn't even notice them. They also don't hold their own events in any of the lounges, won't take over any of the bars or monopolize any of the pools.

I didn't know there were different Bears.

I prefer not to sail with either.

[keithm]

I didn't know there were different Bears.

I prefer not to sail with either.

You sound a bit antigay. I'd hope to think that was NOT the case.

[keithm]

I just realized that our Nov. 16th cruise (2016) is a Chumley's Bears cruise. I know what the Chumley's Bears organization is...what I need from you guys is help in deciding what to do. Should we keep the cruise (7 days western Caribbean) or dump it for another date ? Anyone ever cruised with the "Bears" before ?

And here I always thought Chumley was Tennessee Tuxedo's side kick. Yeah, I know, bad pun!(old post, too)

[marypat01]

And here I always thought Chumley was Tennessee Tuxedo's side kick. Yeah, I know, bad pun!(old post, too)

Since this is 2017 and 2016 was a year ago, isn't it a little late to be asking?

 

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[floridalover5623]

You sound a bit antigay. I'd hope to think that was NOT the case.

I don't like large groups of any kind.

[keithm]

I don't like large groups of any kind.

That's fine. Just wanted to make sure. Had a ballroom dance group on the QV some years back. They're NOT like dancing with the stars. Got my feet stepped on numerous times.

[keithm]

Since this is 2017 and 2016 was a year ago, isn't it a little late to be asking?

 

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Obviously! Did you read my post thoroughly? Do try to keep up!

[marypat01]

Obviously! Did you read my post thoroughly? Do try to keep up!

I guess the use of the verb "is" threw me off. Oh well.

 

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