AIBU - Friends have booked same holiday

It could have been worse - they could have been going at the same time as you.

Ha ha, that did cross my mind when they rang and started telling us the tale.
I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies.

Yes you're being unreasonable.

I thought you were going to say they'd booked the same dates and were in the next door cabin!

Stealing your thunder? Maybe I'm missing something here.

Can’t see the problem. You enthused about the ship and all the bells and whistles on offer.
Your friends obviously value your opinion and booked their own cruise. They didn’t book the same dates so they weren’t being disrespectful by encroaching on your holiday.
I don’t see how their enthusiasm when they return can dampen your holiday if you don’t let it do so.
They might even be able to give you a few tips to get even more out of the experience once they’ve been and gone and done it.
Imo it’s just not worth getting worked up about. Go and enjoy your own unique cruise.

If they start talking about it before you go, ask them to stop. Or, even better, don't see them or answer their calls between their return and your departure.

But YABU the think they shouldn't have done what they did. They did nothing wrong. If your H really minds, maybe keep schtum next time you have an adventure planned and only tell them about it afterwards.

Just wish them "bon voyage" and say you will meet up to chat about the cruise when you return from yours.
In the meantime avoid them if you can or just say firmly that you will talk about it later.

You could look on the bright side - there may be things they find out whilst onboard that will benefit your trip. They may say “Best to get to the breakfast bar early - the sausages run out later”, “The Wed music nights are much better than the Thurs ones”. You get my drift……
A friend of mine went to Seville a few years ago about two weeks before we were going. She gave us good tips about local transport, tickets for museums etc

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all - I’d be livid!

Actually, I can understand your DH's annoyance, it would take the excitement out of trying something new for me too. We had similar, chatting to a friend about our 'big trip' that we had planned, a trip we had wanted to do for years and were now in the position financially and parent care wise to do. She threw cold water on it all, told me she had done similar years ago, had been really disappointed by some of the places that we were looking forward to. I thought it both unkind and rude.

Thanks everyone for your comments, for and against.
I've never done this before so this is my first time hearing what people think of a "problem" of mine and as my mum used to say "If you don't want the answer, don't ask the question".
GillT57, I hope you still went on your big trip and thoroughly enjoyed it too.

I thought the point would be that they were going the same time as you; really can't see why you are upset that they are going before you, or is it a desperate competition to be 'different'?
In that case, why tell them about it?

Words fail me.
Friends going on same holiday as us and husband is Floored

You say they ‘used your booking to get a discount to match yours?’

If by that you mean they used your names as a recommendation, and you were not aware of that, then no, I think that is not right.

Sounds a bit underhand, as though they didn’t want to tell you about it until the deed was done.

I understand how you feel.

We had a couple book the exact same holiday as us earlier this year. I have posted about this previously. We had booked last summer for a holiday in February 2022. I purposely didn't tell them as we had been on holiday with them before and I prefer to go as a couple.

They found out we were going on holiday (without them ) and booked the exact same holiday - without asking if we minded.

I suppose Lizzy you are lucky that you are not going on the same dates.

On the one hand, you could agree not to see the couple until after you return from your cruise, so that it doesn't spoil your new experience. I imagine this would only be a couple of weeks.

On the other hand, as other posters have said, they might be able to give you some useful tips.

I don't think you ABU. It is hard not to discuss plans with friends. I want to book a holiday for later this year but haven't done it yet as I don't want to tell the other couple and I am not a very good liar.

Shelmiss

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all - I’d be livid!

Why ? What’s the big deal? They’re not going at the same time, they are perfectly entitled to choose whatever holiday they want.

You’re husbands livid because someone’s going before him a bit of an alpha make attitude but I can understand that it probably took the shine of a new activity

My friend used to go regularly on holiday with friends but on one occasion decided they want a lone holiday but had mentioned in conversation that they were going to such and such on (date) nothing at all was said apart from ‘hope you have a great time’ Months passed and it was never mentioned
On the given day they went to a small local airport to await their flight and looking up saw said couple also there !
With great surprise they said ‘oh my goodness what a coincidence where are you off to?’ the same country name was given ‘noooo’ says my friend, what resort? and they named the same resort and then the same hotel. My friend was gobsmacked and after that holiday the friendship was never the same and petered out so they now no longer speak

Shouldn't you be the ones getting a voucher for recommending the cruise to someone?

Goodness me! How dare people book a cruise on the same ship as you , and before you. Perhaps they didn’t want to be on the ship at the same time as you.
We cruised with the same couple for years until they decided we were booking too early in the year for them , so they went on their own. This year they’ve gone even earlier in the year than us , with another couple they met on their last cruise.
I think they decided they’d had enough of us ?
It’s their holiday so it’s their choice.

Life’s too short to worry about such a thing, surely?

Holidays bookings are open to the world and his dog; anyone can go, at any time. I could understand you being miffed if they'd booked the same weeks as you and asked for adjoining cabins but they're going a month before you! Perhaps it would be best in future if you didn't discuss you holiday plans with anyone; that way you'll have exclusivity. Or maybe not.

It was you who told them how good it looked. I think your husband is being very childish, these are supposed to be your friends. I would be pleased if they had booked something I recommended.

They will be able to tell you any negatives and things to avoid.

I too thought you were going to say they were going the same dates as you, and that could have been irritating.
But I really fail to see the problem, just go and enjoy it, I’m sure many people would be only too happy to have this little problem if it meant they were to enjoy a luxury holiday.

It is what it is. Your friends sound a little thick skinned but I’m sure they did not mean to upset you although perhaps a little naughty to use your name to get a reduction. That aside you really cannot allow this to spoil your holiday. It will still be fresh and exciting as you have never been before and we all experience things differently. If you look for bad you will find it.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I guess that you really sold it to them. I would not meet up until you return. Have a great trip.