What do you want to have on Cruise Critics Meet & Mingle?

[SAHMof3]

Morning of first sea, or cocktails at 5:00 on embarkation. By 11:00 on sea day, most are planted out by the pool with no intentions of moving! 😅

[JBSteelerfan]

On 2/22/2019 at 3:23 PM, The sea calls my name said:

Better notification of when the event is being held.  We missed the last one when we sailed on the Oasis last year.  We never recieved a notification in our cabin and quest services knew Nothing about it when I asked them.  Also try to avoid overlapping with the Top Tier or return guest event which is also usually held the first morning of the first  sea day.  We have missed out on one or the other because of the times over lapping.  I enjoy both, especially meeting the poeple I have chatted with for months on the Roll Call.  Thank you for this opportunity to put in our two cents.    

 

That has been our problem on Liberty of the Seas.  Sailed her 4 times, and have never received an invitation.  First time or 2, thought it was just an oversight, but now realize it is the norm for that ship.  On every other cruise we have taken, always have gotten one.  

[skiiergirl]

10 hours ago, OSUZorba said:

On a cruise last year, my wife, mother and mother in law all came to the M&M, and three of us won raffle prizes. I felt pretty bad that I was the only one with an account. At least they were all connected to someone with an account though and didn't happen in at random.

I have no problem with "associates" winning the prizes.  They came to the party with you.  I am good with that.  It is the people that show up early for the next event in that venue or that stroll in just because they see a "private event" sign, etc.   When those folks win the prizes and don't even know what Cruise Critic is...that is what irks me.  The fact that they realize it is an event for a specific group but then still accept the prize....that is annoying. 

Edited March 4, 2019 by skiiergirl

[elainesj]

I am sailing on the Allure next week and just checked the app. Looks like our Meet and Mingle is at 10:15am - 11am and the C&A Top Tier is at 10:45am. Seems really tight. My guess is quite a few folks will drop in and dash off?

 

Its my first M&M so I am hopeful to get a chance to meet folks on my Roll Call. I usually always join or organize some kind of meet with my roll call and I always enjoy meeting folks I have had a chance to chat with online.

Edited March 5, 2019 by elainesj

[tinkr2]

On 2/23/2019 at 6:24 PM, CazV said:

My only experience of a Meet & Mingle was on NCL Escape last summer and I figured I'd throw in here what happened with that, as it might provide some inspiration. (I have my first RCI sailing coming up in April)

 

The M&M is scheduled at the same time and in the same venue for each sailing of an itinerary... so you know in advance where and when it's going to be (it was at noon on the first sea day in one of the bars). The event is attended by several senior officers who mingled with the guests giving out drinks and nibbles and chatting. There was a singer and after a while the officers all took the mic and introduced themselves and spoke about their role on board. It was very sociable and I enjoyed the opportunity to mingle and chat to people. I was hoping for something similar on my upcoming RCI sailing on Navigator, but reading this thread has made me think it might not live up to my expectations. 

I was impressed with how many officers show up on NCL. It was nice and I enjoyed the set time. It was also in a bar area so people kind of spoke. Last Oasis meet and mingle I attended was at Dazzles, which seemed a poor choice. It really seemed to be just a raffle. A raffle which I never win on any ship.

[sellwingri]

I’m currently on Jewel, 16 day cruise through the Panama Canal.  We had over 120 register for the M&M.  2 invitations sent because the first one was wrong.  Instead of holding it in a venue that would fit everyone like the Safari Lounge, they held it in Vortex on the 13th floor.  There were probably 25+ people standing because there were no seats.  The RCI representative didn’t show up until 5 minutes after start time so there was a lot of chaos.  They only had 5 gifts to raffle; 3 bottle of wine and 2 gifts of RCI “stuff”.    By far, the worst M&M I’ve ever been to.  

[Sailawaybarb]

I like the 10 a.m. start time.  I do wish it wouldn't conflict with the Top Tier event.  Would love to see more prizes, especially Johnny Rockets or Ben & Jerry's or other specialty restaurants especially for those of us that cannot drink wine.  Wish they would give us the option of choosing which prize.  Also, on our last cruise they put several items together (a bottle of wine and trip to Johnny's or bottle of wine and a hat, etc)  It would be nice if they separated all of that and then 3-4 more people could have won a prize.

[Merion_Mom]

On ‎2‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 5:54 PM, DaniDanielle said:

No mimosas or champagne on the Dec. 10th Anthem Cruise.

 

😞

[DaniDanielle]

To make matters worse, I won the Bingo package.  I stink at Bingo!!!!!

[Merion_Mom]

4 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

To make matters worse, I won the Bingo package.  I stink at Bingo!!!!!

 

Hey, at least you hadn't paid for it!  😉 😄

[reallyitsmema]

9 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

To make matters worse, I won the Bingo package.  I stink at Bingo!!!!!

 

I won the Bingo package on our January 28th sailing too.  Never got to use it because of being quarantined with flu.  Wonder if that card is good on another ship.  We didn't have mimosas or champagne either.  We had on all of our other Anthem sailings.

[DaniDanielle]

8 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

I won the Bingo package on our January 28th sailing too.  Never got to use it because of being quarantined with flu.  Wonder if that card is good on another ship.  We didn't have mimosas or champagne either.  We had on all of our other Anthem sailings.

At least I have the marker as a souvenir 😳You can always ask about using the card.

When is your next cruise, we just booked Anthem formMay 23rd.

[DaniDanielle]

19 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Hey, at least you hadn't paid for it!  😉 😄

I forgot to ask.  How is the grandbaby?  Must be getting big and more adorable.

[reallyitsmema]

2 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

At least I have the marker as a souvenir 😳You can always ask about using the card.

When is your next cruise, we just booked Anthem formMay 23rd.

 

We are on Harmony, April 28th.  Glad to see you are ready to get back cruising!  I am going to bring the card with me, can't hurt. 😄 

[hancock]

To be fair to everyone at a raffle, begin with the best prizes.  Everyone deserves a chance at the best prize.  Giving the first winner a cheap key chain and taking their ticket out of the pool of tickets isn't fair.  I like the idea of having choice of prize.

[pacruise804]

21 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

At least I have the marker as a souvenir 😳You can always ask about using the card.

When is your next cruise, we just booked Anthem formMay 23rd.

 

You cruise just before us - we sail June 1st!  I don't think my cruise gets a meet & mingle since we are only 5 nights.

[vettecruiser1]

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 1:45 PM, Falaimalandro said:

I would like to know what do you want to see on CC meet & Mingle on Royal Caribbean. Time, date, gifts, what to cover. Please give your feed back

Thanks for a great cruise Flavio, we were on the March 10 sailing and think you will be a great Cruise Director in the future, but you have to get on the Zipline, flow rider and rock wall before they will give you your stripes.  Isn't this what Matt was telling you, just do it and get those stripes.

[Maraprince]

On 3/5/2019 at 4:32 PM, Sailawaybarb said:

I like the 10 a.m. start time.  I do wish it wouldn't conflict with the Top Tier event.  Would love to see more prizes, especially Johnny Rockets or Ben & Jerry's or other specialty restaurants especially for those of us that cannot drink wine.  Wish they would give us the option of choosing which prize.  Also, on our last cruise they put several items together (a bottle of wine and trip to Johnny's or bottle of wine and a hat, etc)  It would be nice if they separated all of that and then 3-4 more people could have won a prize.

I agree!

 

It is great to finally meet those who you have been posting with in person.

 

MARAPRINCE

[ShillyShally]

On 3/5/2019 at 6:56 PM, hancock said:

To be fair to everyone at a raffle, begin with the best prizes.  Everyone deserves a chance at the best prize.  Giving the first winner a cheap key chain and taking their ticket out of the pool of tickets isn't fair.  I like the idea of having choice of prize.

You know this is a great suggestion, I need to remember to recommend this at work events too!

[Philly Steve]

It's nice to recognize birthdays, wedding anniversaries, honeymoons, first time cruisers. This is where the M&M OP can help. Above all, keep it tight as people have other fun to move on to and sun to soak up. Such RCI events mean a lot to the people who have posted for months on Roll Calls. Thanks!

[Arzeena]

On 2/22/2019 at 2:45 PM, Falaimalandro said:

I would like to know what do you want to see on CC meet & Mingle on Royal Caribbean. Time, date, gifts, what to cover. Please give your feed back

Hi Flavio,

 

We are on the April 28, 2019 Allure cruise. We are not a very big Cruise Critic Group since many CC members have been solicited over to some exclusive FB page/group.

 

We have planned a Cruise Critic Slot Pull for our members and would like to know what time and place the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle and the Top Tier event is planned for, so that we can plan the slot pull accordingly. The casino manager/host advised for 12 noon. Was wondering if that was a good time
 

As a Cruise Critic member, we truly appreciate what the Meet and Mingle hosts do for us. Thank you.

Edited April 2, 2019 by Arzeena

[cruiser123!]

I haven't been on a MG on Royal yet, but the one we just had two weeks ago on NCL was great.  We had a private restaurant to ourselves.  NCL had appetizers and drinks for all.  There was live music and the officers came.   CC had name tags for everyone.

 

Our group had organized a magnet exchange and slot pull on their own.

 

it was hosted on noon the 1st day (an at sea day).  it worked well.  

 

I've read where some MGs have cruise ship swag or giveaways.  That would have been fun.

the one thing I REALLY wished we would have done was take a group picture.  By the time I thought of it, many had already left.  We had well over 80 people attend, so it was a lot of fun

[lovesthebeach2]

On 2/22/2019 at 2:45 PM, Falaimalandro said:

I would like to know what do you want to see on CC meet & Mingle on Royal Caribbean. Time, date, gifts, what to cover. Please give your feed back

 

I hope you share all this information to other ships. You were our activity director on Brilliance and I thought you were hysterical! 

[pattiea]

Its always great when the ship's associate (whomever is running the M&M) is interested in running the M&M...

I know this has been said previously I'm sure.  Sometimes they come into the room and have not a clue,

just want to get it over with and its so obvious.  Love the post previous that said perhaps the CC thread could

be looked at, glanced at just for an idea of what's going on.

 

I did giggle when someone said they had gotten Mimosas...haven't seen anything (if anything) but coffee and

maybe pastries or cookies in a very long time...really not a biggie...M&M is usually right after breakfast, which is

a great time for us.

 

I think its great you're getting feed back.  

 

later - Pattie 

[buddylover]

Falaimalandro,  WOW!! Kudos to you for asking!  1st sea day mid morning typically works out if it does not conflict with other Top Tier events.  Ice breaker games are always great to get the group going.  The best M&M's we've been too were those that encouraged 'mingling'.  Going around the room and asking everyone for CC name, real name and where you are from is always fun and helpful.  Having officers of the ship (as other lines do) come to the M&M and introducing them selves and telling a little bit about their 'history' with the cruise lines is always fun and interesting.  Offering drinks and some finger foods also helps to 'loosen' the crowd.  The raffle gifts are a  great idea, but some have been better than others (I now have 4 RCI memo pads/pens......not a totally useful gift) - although anything as a freebie is nice to receive.  BUT, the most important piece is making sure that the pax know WHEN and WHERE.....RCI has not been good on all ships in communicating this and attendance has been quite low on some ships!  THANKS for caring and for asking....says a lot about YOU!!