rcl trying to do away with cruise critic meetings

[southeastsun]

currently on the anthem and had our cc meeting. About 70-80 present and we listened to Dennis's rcl promotion. some interaction but no offer

to pass the mike and limited questions. When it came to raffel time, only 2 bundled gifts of hat, pen, and other small items. NO ADULT BEVERAGES, a first 

for us and we were on Athem in Jan and not a problem, oasis in feb not a problem. I was told this is old policy and now being enforced per Miami, no wine 

to be raffeled. What is going on the other ships? Is this a budget excuse? Limit the gifts and limit the people to "0"?

 

[torpeedo]

Was on the Rhapsody in Feb and most, if not all, never received the invitation to the M&M at all.  I didn't get one and didn't go so no idea if or how it went.  Cruise before in Dec on Oasis also had many not receiving the invitation. 

[138east]

Last year Dennis did something similar - he was really meh. This year we had a fill in from his staff and there were a variety of prizes including wine.  You just never know what you’re going to get.

[Retired LEO]

They're cutting back on everything else so it wouldn't surprise me if the do away with it.

[Clarea]

I don't think I've ever seen adult beverages at a Meet & Mingle, only some sort of non-alcholic punch if there's any beverage at all.

[bananawindnj]

18 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

I don't think I've ever seen adult beverages at a Meet & Mingle, only some sort of non-alcholic punch if there's any beverage at all.

I think they meant a few bottles of wine or prosecco were not raffled off, not drinks offered to the M&M participants.

Edited March 18, 2019 by bananawindnj

[barbeyg]

31 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

I don't think I've ever seen adult beverages at a Meet & Mingle, only some sort of non-alcholic punch if there's any beverage at all.

 

Anthem has frequently had Mimosas.  :-)

 

Only ship I've sailed on that had an alcoholic beverage.

[ShillyShally]

12 minutes ago, bananawindnj said:

I think they meant a few bottles of wine or prosecco were not raffled off, not drinks offered to the M&M participants.

It would be more fun if CC roll call members each brought a gift specific to where they're from and did a fun white elephant exchange or the like.  Does anyone really enjoy the stuff they raffle?  And truly, it would be nicer if they just offered a venue once the roll call group figured out a good day/time to meet up.  I always found on mine they weren't hugely attended and usually at inconvenient (to us) times.  Personally I enjoy the cabin crawls more, and one cruise on Oasis a few of the suite passengers put out some hometown goodies in their cabin for all of us!

[molly361]

We don't even sign up for those most of the times.  We prefer when folks from the roll call arrange to meet up informally at a bar for a cocktail or 2 or 3

[bouhunter]

The wine usually given away on ships for various reasons isn't worth worrying about. 

[Clarea]

29 minutes ago, bananawindnj said:

I think they meant a few bottles of wine or prosecco were not raffled off, not drinks offered to the M&M participants.

 

Thanks, missed that completely.

[ShillyShally]

7 minutes ago, molly361 said:

We don't even sign up for those most of the times.  We prefer when folks from the roll call arrange to meet up informally at a bar for a cocktail or 2 or 3

Same, they're more relaxed and gives you eyes on some folks you then tend to see the rest of the cruise and makes it easier to say hi!

That said I missed our informal one on the Indy because the spring breakers had taken over the sky bar and I didn't see the group had moved just outside it. I was glad though I had shared a pic of the t-shirt logo I had made, some roll callers saw us in the elevator later and said hello as they saw us in the shirts.

[Midwestgal]

I can see why. With FaceBook cruise roll calls people seem to just bypass CC Meet & Mingle and plan their own thing. CC sets the time and place were FB groups decide what date, time , & venue works best. 

 

[DaniDanielle]

We had champagne at all M&M’s on Anthem except for the Dec. 10th Cruise.  I guess it is another cutback.

[Williamsburgcruiser]

We went on Anthem last October - and they raffled off 4 bottles of wine during the M&M.  

 

And at least 2 baskets of RC logo stuff.

 

Loved the event - always look forward to them, and it's a nice little "perk"

[cruisegirl1]

Once again RCCL provides a venue and provides some little gift for attendees, (at least they used to), free door prizes, maybe some non alcoholic drinks and assigns staff to be there, yet passengers complain. RCCL would do best by not offering anything, then they can’t open themselves up to complaints. 

 

I’ve only been to three M&M and that was several years ago so I don’t have a dog in the fight. 

 

I thought the the intent was for CC folks to meet each other. The fact that RCCL provides door prizes, seems nice. 

 

 

[pstone1]

We have had great M&M's recently on Jewel, Vision, and Rhapsody.  Lots of giveaways (bottles of wine and gift packs with multiple items) and enthusiasm from the AM hosting.  Great turnout from our Roll Calls too - easily 50-200 folks depending on the cruise.

 

I have heard a few complaints from cruisers that didn't get the invitation in their room, but one of our recent cruises actually had the M&M listed in the Cruise Compass as an "invitation only" event!

[Big_G]

We were on the January 27th Harmony and they raffled off the usual swag and a bottle of wine. I'm guessing it depends on who's running it.

[John&LaLa]

30 minutes ago, Midwestgal said:

I can see why. With FaceBook cruise roll calls people seem to just bypass CC Meet & Mingle and plan their own thing. CC sets the time and place were FB groups decide what date, time , & venue works best. 

 

 

Roll calls can and do the same thing. Definitely not FB dependent 

[pstone1]

2 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Roll calls can and do the same thing. Definitely not FB dependent 

 

Yep, lots of Roll Calls have a separate meet up, most often right after muster at one of the pool bars for sail-away.  IMHO, folks that are interested in meeting their fellow cruisers typically attend both.  We don't always make it to the sail-away but almost always try to go to the official M&M.

[mugtech]

You want free booze, go to the art auction.

[springfire]

We did a cruise on the Jewel in Feb out of Miami and Royal did a nice job with the cc meeting.  We had some bottles of wine and other baskets that were given out.  They had drinks and food set up nicely.   Royal did their part in making it a fun event and we had a great turn out.  Hope this doesn't change.

[Ourusualbeach]

5 hours ago, southeastsun said:

currently on the anthem and had our cc meeting. About 70-80 present and we listened to Dennis's rcl promotion. some interaction but no offer

to pass the mike and limited questions. When it came to raffel time, only 2 bundled gifts of hat, pen, and other small items. NO ADULT BEVERAGES, a first 

for us and we were on Athem in Jan and not a problem, oasis in feb not a problem. I was told this is old policy and now being enforced per Miami, no wine 

to be raffeled. What is going on the other ships? Is this a budget excuse? Limit the gifts and limit the people to "0"?

 

They gave away a couple of bottles of wine last week on the Symphony.

[reallyitsmema]

4 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

We had champagne at all M&M’s on Anthem except for the Dec. 10th Cruise.  I guess it is another cutback.

 

We have always had champagne at the meet and mingles on Anthem too but didn't on our January sailing.  They did raffle off a bunch of bottles of wine (4 bottles at least), a bunch of logo stuff, bingo package and a casino package.  Just not the champagne and mimosas as they used to do.  Not sure if they did the one morning of free mimosas in the WJ.

[Midwestgal]

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Roll calls can and do the same thing. Definitely not FB dependent 

There doesn’t seem to be the same actual here in the roll calls as years past......their all on FB I think

Edited March 19, 2019 by Midwestgal