VAWCB Posted March 14, 2023 #1 Share Posted March 14, 2023 An outfit called “Jimmy Sturr / Mollie B Polka Cruise” is soliciting people to go on the January 13, 2024 Sky Princess Caribbean cruise. Apparently a similar 2023 cruise on Regal Princess had 600 participants. I have nothing against polka music (in small doses) but am not sure I want to spend a week with 600 polka musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts. Has anyone been on a polka cruise and did you find that the group overwhelms the ship or changes the dynamics of the cruise? I do realize that 600 people represent only one-sixth of the capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromep Posted March 14, 2023 #2 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Last time I checked I don't recall Princess opening up their ship for specially themed "charters". This is something that Norwegian and RCI and even Carnival do rather frequently. I've always wanted to go on a Star Trek cruise, but the timing has never been good for me, the itinerary is usually a shortie, like 5 days, so "not worth it" to me, and the ship is usually one of the older ships of whatever cruise line is offering the "charter". This doesn't feel like one of those charters. It feels like an affiliated TA has blocked out cabins for the polka cruisers, and Princess will provide an entertainment space or two for them through the day. https://www.jimmysturr.com/cruise I have no clue if it will really adjust the vibe on board a lot, but I wouldn't be surprised if the polka band was up on the Lido playing rather frequently. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAWCB Posted March 15, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted March 15, 2023 It is definitely not a charter as a number of people on the Roll Call seemed surprised and troubled to learn about the polka group. I agree that the polka band will be playing frequently, and probably loudly, so I moved my reservation to a February cruise with an identical itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dothan1952 Posted April 26, 2023 #4 Share Posted April 26, 2023 We booked this cruise because of the Polka bands, only Polka music in lower Alabama is via the internet. The performances in question are open only those that booked thru Jimmy Sturr travel..The only inconvenience others should experience is an occasionally closed public room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palolake Posted April 26, 2023 #5 Share Posted April 26, 2023 We were on one a few years ago. We were very inconvenienced. They shut down Take 5 more nights than it was open. We've been on a few cruises that had special groups on it and this group was the worst. Only because of shutting down Take 5. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted April 26, 2023 #6 Share Posted April 26, 2023 I have been on similar group cruises. It isn't fun. The groups not only have sections of the ship closed for their special sessions, but members of the group tend to dominate other activities. Princess needs to advise all that a large group will be on board, and not hide it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenixfu003 Posted April 26, 2023 #7 Share Posted April 26, 2023 8 hours ago, skynight said: Princess needs to advise all that a large group will be on board, and not hide it. Has that ever happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted April 26, 2023 #8 Share Posted April 26, 2023 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Phoenixfu003 said: Has that ever happened? Not to my knowledge. I try to search for theme cruises before I book in an effort to avoid them. Theme cruises tend to be the 7 day kind. If you book longer trips you have a better chance to avoid them. Edited April 26, 2023 by skynight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted April 26, 2023 #9 Share Posted April 26, 2023 On 3/14/2023 at 5:27 PM, VAWCB said: An outfit called “Jimmy Sturr / Mollie B Polka Cruise” is soliciting people to go on the January 13, 2024 Sky Princess Caribbean cruise. Apparently a similar 2023 cruise on Regal Princess had 600 participants. I have nothing against polka music (in small doses) but am not sure I want to spend a week with 600 polka musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts. Has anyone been on a polka cruise and did you find that the group overwhelms the ship or changes the dynamics of the cruise? I do realize that 600 people represent only one-sixth of the capacity. I haven't been on a polka cruise (sounds nightmarish, except for Weird Al 🤣 ), but I've been on music themed cruises that, unlike this one, were FULL charters. No one was there that wasn't aware of the theme and paid the price to be there. Princess has also run some 80s themed cruises that weren't charters, but they chose the theme and transmitted it to the passengers in advance. I've done two of these. The 80s theme ran through much of the entertainment such that much of the trivia, most of the main theater shows, and all of the background music was 80s themed. I was too busy partying like it was 1989 to notice if any of the other passengers were inconvenienced. 😃 On 3/14/2023 at 7:53 PM, jeromep said: Last time I checked I don't recall Princess opening up their ship for specially themed "charters". This is something that Norwegian and RCI and even Carnival do rather frequently. I've always wanted to go on a Star Trek cruise, but the timing has never been good for me, the itinerary is usually a shortie, like 5 days, so "not worth it" to me, and the ship is usually one of the older ships of whatever cruise line is offering the "charter". This doesn't feel like one of those charters. It feels like an affiliated TA has blocked out cabins for the polka cruisers, and Princess will provide an entertainment space or two for them through the day. https://www.jimmysturr.com/cruise I have no clue if it will really adjust the vibe on board a lot, but I wouldn't be surprised if the polka band was up on the Lido playing rather frequently. The "official" Star Trek Cruise is 7 days and has been for a while. It's true that TSTC and all the music charters I've been on have been on smaller, older ships. They have their reasons, and I enjoyed the particular ships they were on. Princess is not, as far as I can tell, a big player in full charters, but I've heard about some "partial" charters like this polka cruise. They're not going to tell you about them, which is one reason they can be a big problem for the average cruiser who's not part of the group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dothan1952 Posted April 26, 2023 #10 Share Posted April 26, 2023 This Polka cruise was reasonably priced, just out of curiosity we priced next years Star Trek cruise ( also 7 day ) its was very expensive- at least twice the cost of similar cruise , would be fun but not at that price! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissP22 Posted April 26, 2023 #11 Share Posted April 26, 2023 3 hours ago, skynight said: I have been on similar group cruises. It isn't fun. The groups not only have sections of the ship closed for their special sessions, but members of the group tend to dominate other activities. Princess needs to advise all that a large group will be on board, and not hide it. It will never happen. People would avoid booking & it would lead to a loss of business. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted April 26, 2023 #12 Share Posted April 26, 2023 (edited) Imagine a cruise w people playing accordions all over the place. One or 2 accordions at times would be OK but hundreds of them!!! DON Edited April 26, 2023 by donaldsc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Colorado Coasty Posted April 26, 2023 #13 Share Posted April 26, 2023 34 minutes ago, donaldsc said: Imagine a cruise w people playing accordions all over the place. One or 2 accordions at times would be OK but hundreds of them!!! DON The cruise from hell.😁 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted April 26, 2023 #14 Share Posted April 26, 2023 $4000 for an aft balcony with PLUS - then get on board with that ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bollycats Posted April 26, 2023 #15 Share Posted April 26, 2023 I just found out my cruise later in the year has a very large group on it. Our deposits were nonrefundable and it's hard to change weeks now because of work. How horrible is it when you dread taking your vacation!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beg3yrs Posted April 26, 2023 #16 Share Posted April 26, 2023 1 hour ago, Bollycats said: I just found out my cruise later in the year has a very large group on it. Our deposits were nonrefundable and it's hard to change weeks now because of work. How horrible is it when you dread taking your vacation!! Just remember, In Heaven There Is No Beer, so, Roll Out The Barrel on your vacation and have as much fun as you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissP22 Posted April 26, 2023 #17 Share Posted April 26, 2023 We were on board with a large group & other than a large group arriving in the DR at the same time every night there were no other problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dothan1952 Posted April 26, 2023 #18 Share Posted April 26, 2023 amazed how so many people are freaking out about this Polka cruise. These thing occur all the time , one time on the QE2. William H Miller had a cruise group about the golden age of transatlantic cruising, would have loved to attend some of his lectures but it was closed to the general public. Another time there was a cruise group hosted by G Gordon Liddy, his talk were also closed to the public - got a good laugh when anyone under 40 was asking each other who this Liddy follow was .There is no way that there are going to be hundreds of accordions , there will be at most 5 polka bands so maybe the could be 5 accordions max. Most likely most or all of the music was be restricted events - otherwise it defeats the purpose of drumming up business for jimmy Sturr travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted April 27, 2023 #19 Share Posted April 27, 2023 TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DE-AY 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted April 27, 2023 #20 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Could be worse. You could be on this cruise - https://pipersdojo.lpages.co/dojo-university-bagpipe-cruise/. Make February 6th the beginning of a life-long memory by attending the world's only Bagpipe-School-Vacation Combo. Again I like a good bagpipe but a ship load of them. DON 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted April 27, 2023 #21 Share Posted April 27, 2023 1 hour ago, donaldsc said: Could be worse. You could be on this cruise - https://pipersdojo.lpages.co/dojo-university-bagpipe-cruise/. Make February 6th the beginning of a life-long memory by attending the world's only Bagpipe-School-Vacation Combo. Again I like a good bagpipe but a ship load of them. DON Cute find. Thanks. I notice that this cruise was supposed to sail in February 2021 and is still taking registrations. We know that one didn't sail and it doesn't seem to have been replaced. The 2019 video was interesting... Until they started playing. 😱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danshere Posted January 19 #22 Share Posted January 19 Spoilt my cruise.took over ship will not be back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Visaman666 Posted June 19 #23 Share Posted June 19 I was on that cruise. This was my 3rd Polka Cruise. It was very lovely. I proposed to my Sweetie while Mollie B sang, Could I Have This Dance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antmaril Posted June 20 #24 Share Posted June 20 We were on the polka cruise this year (not part of the group). For the most part, the Vista Lounge and Take 5 were unavailable during the week. Not a huge deal for us, but, to be honest, I will try to do more research about groups on board when booking my next cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted June 20 #25 Share Posted June 20 I am not a fan of these theme cruises. I believe Princess should abandon them, or in the least not allow these groups to reserve lounge space. I have been on a few accidently. The small group, maybe 5/6% of the passengers, close off space for the other 95%. There is a reason Princess does not make these themed bookings readily known. If they did a majority of their customers would not book that cruise. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now