Party crashers at Meet and Mingle!

[hstrybuf]

It will be two years this October between my last cruise and my next one on RCI and I don't quite remember how the M&M works. How would they keep party crashers out? This is not a hypothetical question. I received via e-mail a note that a group leader from another board has mentioned doing just this on an RCI cruise where both CC and their board are planning group cruises. Would they be allowed in if they signed up for the M&M even if they were sailing with a group from another board? Now how tacky is that? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

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Navigator OTS 10/04
Legend 04/04
Grand Princess 09/03
Dawn Princess 01/03
Enchantment OTS 10/02
Destiny 01/02
Sensation 08/99

[jpennin217]

On our last cruise they delivered us a invitation and without it you could not get in. There were several people who showed up and were turned away without the card. Most likely they did not even know what the party was.

12-05-2004 Miracle cruise
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[Lilly's Nana]

We were on the Mariner, sailed January 25. Our M & M party was held in Ellington's Lounge. We received notification via email about a week prior to sailing. We also chatted quite a bit about it on the boards. When we arrived in the Lounge there were other people there, we just gathered in a group near the stage/band area. That's where RCCL set up the coffee and cookies. RCCL passed out some goodies and had a drawing for an aqua mouse. The C & A rep gave a little talk and it was all over. The folks sitting around didn't bother anyone, and there wasn't much of an event to crash. I was expecting a more festive event...that would have lasted more than 30 minutes. Anyway, it was nice of RCCL to have a M & M party for the folks who had been chatting on Cruise Critic so we could meet.

[hstrybuf]

Thanks for the info! We're hoping we'll have enough in our group to do the M&M by the time we get close to our cruise.

The other part of my question had to do with a group or just a few idiots crashing the M&M [B]on purpose[/B].

[img]http://www.bensleyraceteam.com/Ani_Gif_Images/bookworm2.gif[/img]

Navigator OTS 10/04
Legend 04/04
Grand Princess 09/03
Dawn Princess 01/03
Enchantment OTS 10/02
Destiny 01/02
Sensation 08/99

[Coralc]

I don't think anyone except Cruise Critic people would want to be there anyway. We knew when our party was because it was published. When I arrived she asked for my invite, and I said I didn't have it. I signed in and watched her make the same request of others when they arrived. After a bit she said, rather testily, to another couple, "You have to bring it with you, it says so on the invitation"

Well, lo and behold, I found mine in my purse and pointed out to her that it says no such thing on the Meet & Mingle invitations. (Unlike the C&A and repeater party invitations which say to bring them) She just gave me a dirty look and tossed her hair, so there were no real problems.

I don't think they are the sort of party that anyone would want to crash anyway. They are fun, but they are mostly for pre-cruise chatters. The people that signed up but hadn't posted at all, looked totally out of sorts over in the corner. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Driftwoodgal]

I would think that if someone wanted to crash a party that was meant to get people to mingle with other cruisers, that they would be welcomed with open arms. I don't remember having to give our invitation to anyone. It was more of a check on who was there from the registration on the RCCL site. I hope that more people sign up and take part in the experience of meeting others cruisers before, during, and after their sailing.

God bless you and yours.

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

If it's anything like the one I attended April 03 on Voyager, it's definitely NOT worth crashing. Lilly's Nana gave a very accurate description of it. I guess it's appropriate they changed the name from the Cruise Critic 'Party' to the Meet & Mingle. Any promise of a party atmosphere removed...

You asked about intentional crashers. Believe me, I can't picture anyone wanting to crash one when there's so much fun stuff going on elsewhere!

I still plan on attending mine, though on my 5/30 Mariner cruise - I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!!!

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002
Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917[/url]
Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

[WeirdEyes]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I still plan on attending mine, though on my 5/30 Mariner cruise - I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Same here! I can't wait to meet all of you. We have a great group going on our cruise. Should be lots of fun! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

<MARQUEE>[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [B]Shelia[/B] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]</MARQUEE>
Sailing the Mariner in.......
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<font color="#003399" face="Benguiat Bk BT">Carnival Destiny 2002</font>

[LauraS]

I'm glad you are all going to attend your Meet & Mingle gathering.

I, too, don't think there is any real reason for "crashers" to storm one of these events -- unless of course they want to meet all of you!

There isn't anything at the event you cannot get elsewhere on the ship...cookies and tea abound. It is YOU, Cruise Critic members, that these events are centered around.

While I don't want to diminish how gracious Royal Caribbean is with these gatherings, they are simply providing a PLACE and a few light snacks for you to meet each other.

If some crashers need to have a few cookies....so be it. If it means they'll enjoy their cruise on Royal Caribbean a bit more, great. [b] Perhaps on their return they'll visit Cruise Critic and realize just what they are missing by NOT being a regular within our Community![/b]



Laura Sterling
Community Manager
[email]Up4travel@aol.com[/email]
[url="http://www.cruisecritic.com"]Cruise Critic[/url]

[b]No one can make you feel inferior without your consent[/b] -Eleanor Roosevelt-

[hstrybuf]

You got that right, Laura! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Thanks for your responses! My memory isn't what it used to be! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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Navigator OTS 10/04
Legend 04/04
Grand Princess 09/03
Dawn Princess 01/03
Enchantment OTS 10/02
Destiny 01/02
Sensation 08/99

[trish1c]

hstrybuf --

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Now how tacky is that? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't think it's tacky at all. People chat on these boards w/ the intent to meet new people. Isn't that why you're here? Just b/c someone doesn't know about the board but wants to get to know other cruisers, why would they be "crashing" an event that's free anyway? On our last cruise, we met some people in the AP & invited them to join our CC meeting.

Crashing the C&A party is a different story. That's a reward or perk by RCL to thank you for your repeat business.

Trish

[serene56]

There were some people at our meet and mingle party that were not cruise critics. You can sign up for the party using Royals web page. Some people chose not to sit here on cruise critic and get the real scoope for cruising.

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Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[LauraS]

I just want to clarify that the ONLY place you can sign up for a Meet & Mingle is the Royal Caribbean ROLL CALL forum right here on Cruise Critic.

And yes, those folks who don't visit us sure don't realize what they are missing!

Laura



Laura Sterling
Community Manager
[email]Up4travel@aol.com[/email]
[url="http://www.cruisecritic.com"]Cruise Critic[/url]

[B]No one can make you feel inferior without your consent[/B] -Eleanor Roosevelt-

[Host Karen]

I'm not really sure why someone would want to crash the M&M party. Could it be for the free fruit punch? The RCCL mouse give-away? I think the original reason for the M&Ms was for posters on the roll call to finally meet in person, but I've found that most of us choose not to wait until the party. On our last two cruises, a bunch of us have met on boarding day and have used the M&M as another opportunity to spend some time together.

The more the merrier, I say, although those who haven't participated in the roll call are likely to have no idea what we are all talking about!!

BTW, you used to be able to sign up for the M&M through the Royal Caribbean website, but no longer. Now it's only through these boards, as Laura pointed out.

Karen

6/5/05 Brilliance Mediterranean [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=75010536"]roll call[/url]

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Infinity 12/04
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Grand Princess 3/02
Dawn Princess 11/01
Ocean Princess 5/00

[LauraS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by trish1c:
hstrybuf --

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Now how tacky is that? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't think it's tacky at all. People chat on these boards w/ the intent to meet new people. Isn't that why you're here? Just b/c someone doesn't know about the board but wants to get to know other cruisers, why would they be "crashing" an event that's free anyway? On our last cruise, we met some people in the AP & invited them to join our CC meeting.

Crashing the C&A party is a different story. That's a reward or perk by RCL to thank you for your repeat business.

Trish<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I will mention that Royal Caribbean goes to great measures to ensure the proper amount of COOKIES and snacks are available to all. Also, there is a wonderful little gift that Royal Caribbean gives away to all our members at these gatherings.

I think it would be unfair if someone registered for the party, got their invite but did not get their gift because of "crashers".

I think I'll mention to the kind folks at Royal Caribbean that perhaps asking our members to bring their invite along isn't such a bad idea after all.

Laura



Laura Sterling
Community Manager
[email]Up4travel@aol.com[/email]
[url="http://www.cruisecritic.com"]Cruise Critic[/url]

[b]No one can make you feel inferior without your consent[/b] -Eleanor Roosevelt-

[poppabear]

I've been to a few CC Partys that were relatively quiet (boring) and I've been to a few that were well worth crashing. On our last CC Party on the Summitt in February there were 61 CC board members there in Michaels Lounge and although Celebrity alloted us 45 minutes, we were there well over 2 hours. We had a ball. And somewhere along the line I think we were crashed by non-invitees. They may not have even known they were crashing anything. You see a lounge full of people, you go in, you party. Some don't even know what a CC Party is. The idea is to meet fellow cruisers. The invite is nice but I'm more interested in meeting others to worry about if the were invited or not. If you're looking to socialize and we happen to meet up and hit it off, GREAT. I won't care how we met up, I'd just be greatful we did.

[TBRay]

Poppabear hit the nail squarely on the head IMHO. The Meet and Mingle is just another opportunity to meet fellow passengers. Some I've met on these boards but others I'll meet from other alternatives. Regardless of how you meet I've found it invaluable to actually put a face to someone you've only met in cyberspace.

Not all Cruise Critics are Chatty Kathy's (showing my age). Many read these boards regulary but seldom (if ever) post.

Example from our last Meet & Mingle: We met one 'quiet' couple who was traveling with a specific group. We spent the week together at various activities (and checking out different cabin categories) and are now booked with 'their' group for early next year (at a GREAT group rate I might add!).

Without the Meet and Mingle this would've never occurred. It may not be a 'party' in the sense of The Quest or other activity but it serves a good purpose. The title fits it well.

And yes, we also had some 'corner sitters'. To each his own.