OK, fact-finders...need some assistance defending cruising

[MamaParrotHead]

I'm trying to convince a few families from my DD's school to cruise with us. One of the dad's is like PETRIFIED of getting Legionairre's Disease or Noro. Can anyone dig up any facts for me that basically state the statistical chances of that happening aboard a cruise ship versus anywhere else (a school, store, hotel, etc.)?

 

I've been looking and thought I'd call in the internet search experts!

 

Thanks!

[big_duck]

Your best source would probably be the CDC.

[firefly333]

I think if folks are against cruising there is no changing their minds. My parents arent going to support cruising, my online friend I talk to she says she is petrified of cruising. If you take away one excuse, they will just move onto the next excuse. If you got them on the ship, they would probably have their mind made up to have a bad time. Some people just arent cruisers. I know hard to believe.

[Stircrzy]

Fire's right...some people just aren't cut out for cruising.

 

Hubby isn't...he tried it. He didn't hate it, but didn't love it either. Said he felt confined because he couldn't just get off when he felt like it.

 

That was 15 years ago.

 

I go, he stays home. He golfs, I stay home.

 

Works for us!

[Nliedel]

The CDC site has the information you need, but I have to agree with the others. Anyone that worried, is going to be miserable. I would love for my sister to cruise with us, but it's not for her.

[MamaParrotHead]

Made that mistake last trip. WON'T be making it again. This family is really open to the idea, but just from the little I've discovered all ready this morning from the CDC site, Dad's going to have a hard time keeping that belief about cruiseships between them and going. Either that or he's going to become a recluse based on the many other places you can catch either disease, LOL.

 

Thanks for the input, though!

[Cruise Raider]

We've arranged group travel for others for a long time --- vacations we are going on as well. The thing is --- you almost have to have them sign a waiver of the following:

 

- if you get sea sick, not my fault

- if you get Noro (which you stand a much better chance of getting at your local grocery store), not my fault

- if you drink to much and fall and break your leg, not my fault

- if the plane ride is late in either direction - not my fault

- if you don't like the food, entertainment, excursions - not my fault

- if you catch a cold onboard - not my fault

- if you fall overboard - certainly not my fault

- if you lose all your money in the casino - again, certainly not my fault

- if you just don't like cruising - not my fault

- if you miss the ship - not my fault

- if you gain weight - not my fault

 

Well, you get the picture --- I find it easier to never again arrange travel for people that have to be talked into going. I did book a trip with my DH and another couple that are friends of ours. We got to the airport and he began having chest pains. Now what do you do?? Do you go on your merry little way and enjoy your vacation or do you leave with them to go to the hospital??? So tricky to try to talk someone into doing something they really don't want to do.....you will be blamed for anything that goes wrong -- to be sure!!

[MamaParrotHead]

We've arranged group travel for others for a long time --- vacations we are going on as well. The thing is --- you almost have to have them sign a waiver of the following:

 

- if you get sea sick, not my fault

- if you get Noro (which you stand a much better chance of getting at your local grocery store), not my fault

- if you drink to much and fall and break your leg, not my fault

- if the plane ride is late in either direction - not my fault

- if you don't like the food, entertainment, excursions - not my fault

- if you catch a cold onboard - not my fault

- if you fall overboard - certainly not my fault

- if you lose all your money in the casino - again, certainly not my fault

- if you just don't like cruising - not my fault

- if you miss the ship - not my fault

- if you gain weight - not my fault

 

Well, you get the picture --- I find it easier to never again arrange travel for people that have to be talked into going. I did book a trip with my DH and another couple that are friends of ours. We got to the airport and he began having chest pains. Now what do you do?? Do you go on your merry little way and enjoy your vacation or do you leave with them to go to the hospital??? So tricky to try to talk someone into doing something they really don't want to do.....you will be blamed for anything that goes wrong -- to be sure!!

 

"I'm going, this is what I'm doing, if you want to come along, great.". I'm not arranging 20 different excursions, but you're more than welcome to check it out and do your own thing. THis cruise, half of our party is choosing late dinner seating and we're on early seating. It's working out great.

[Cruise Raider]

"I'm going, this is what I'm doing, if you want to come along, great.". I'm not arranging 20 different excursions, but you're more than welcome to check it out and do your own thing. THis cruise, half of our party is choosing late dinner seating and we're on early seating. It's working out great.

 

 

Excellent advice...this is now how I book all group cruises.

[DesertDeuces]

Hokay. In a few hours, I'll be on my very first cruise.

 

My DD had told me months ago that she and her BF wanted to surprise me with a cruise and I adamantly told her NOOOOOO, I HATE being on a boat, ESPECIALLY in the ocean.

 

Well, she dropped it. Then she asked me last month. I thought about it and decided to face my terror of being in soooo much water, and said yes.

 

Once I decided to go, I cannot put the brakes on my enthusiasm!! And, you folks on this board have helped a lot.

 

If I could recommend inviting your friends to visit this board to see what other people say about cruising it might help them to 'get their feet wet' with the idea - on their own time. Let the idea kinda ripen on its own. Then, let them tell you what the gleaned from the board.

[cruise_pirate]

Hokay. In a few hours, I'll be on my very first cruise.

 

My DD had told me months ago that she and her BF wanted to surprise me with a cruise and I adamantly told her NOOOOOO, I HATE being on a boat, ESPECIALLY in the ocean.

 

Well, she dropped it. Then she asked me last month. I thought about it and decided to face my terror of being in soooo much water, and said yes.

 

Once I decided to go, I cannot put the brakes on my enthusiasm!! And, you folks on this board have helped a lot.

 

If I could recommend inviting your friends to visit this board to see what other people say about cruising it might help them to 'get their feet wet' with the idea - on their own time. Let the idea kinda ripen on its own. Then, let them tell you what the gleaned from the board.

 

Relax Pat and have a great cruise I am sure you are already on your way to the ship..:)

[skylock]

Biggest mistake you could make would be "talking" them into it if they have said no.

 

You want them to spend a great deal of money for something you have no way of predicting the outcome. What if it is a rough ride. What if that cruise has the worst service you have ever experienced. What if you miss ports?

So many what ifs.

 

I just experienced the roughest ride I have ever had. If it had been my first cruise, I would never go again, but luckily I know it was just one of those things you chance.

Just because you enjoy it and are willing to go with the flow does not mean everybody feels that way. If I had "talked" someone into going on that trip, I would be feeling so guilty.

 

Tell them this is what I am doing, here are the cost, this is my past experiences, here is a web site you can check out. I would love for you to join us. And you are no more likely to get sick on a ship than if you leave your house and go out into the public anywhere else. Here is the CDC website you can check out.

 

If they go, good, if they don't, oh well.

[madge57]

I have found out that no matter how much you talk up cruising if they don't want to go then they are not going to be talked into it!!! Its amazing how one day they say they don't like to fly and then the next they say it isn't flying that bothers them but all the water. But then again they swim like a fish because they are always at the lake. Then it isn't the water its because they are confined to the ship and can't get off or if you go into a foreign country you won't be able to get back on the ship for some reason. I told them if you can't get back on then you shouldn't have been doing what you were doing that was wrong!!! So regardless of how much you build it up if they don't want to go they won't. It took me nearly 25 years to get my DH to go and now he loves it. It might be his second cruise but now he regrets not going sooner. He gets motion sickness so was afraid. But never did on the cruise thanks to Bonine!!!:)

[soozles]

My grandparents tried a cruise after seeing us take so many of them, and love each of them. Now, my grandparents were always very much against the idea of cruising, we've tried to take them before and they always refused. They went once, and hated it. They probably shouldn't have gone since they didn't really want to in the first place, but were curious what teh fuss was about. If they don't want to go, they'l have a miserable time.

[DesertDeuces]

Relax Pat and have a great cruise I am sure you are already on your way to the ship..:)

 

Thank you for the nice words, pirate.

 

We'll be heading to the ship tomorrow at 9AM. Lucky us - we live just over an hour from the harbor. :D

[dec2007w3boys]

Friends of ours may be cruising with us in November. Love them dearly, but maybe I need to present that list to them for their sign off! :D