Unwanted cruise companions?

When you say small ship how many passengers on the cruise.
Obviously on a large liner it’s easy to avoid people.
I would find out what cabin they are staying in and then throw myself on the sympathy of the company and get my cabin moved ( if it’s close to them)

Commiserations Granny23, that would be my idea of hell! I would have to be very rude and make it obvious at every opportunity that we wanted to do our own thing, starting now.

Cancel the cruise and book similar trip with another company. There is no way I'd be able to deal with the stress of having someone I don't like on the same holiday as me!

Being trapped on a boat with the couple from hell latching on to me all day would be ghastly. Can you alter the dates maybe?

I'd cancel as well. I'd not be able to cope at all!

Check NOW whether there's a penalty for changing your cruise dates and unless its swingeingly expensive - change your day of departure.
But don't tell a soul or you can guarantee this pair will find out, such people are magnets for digging up secrets. If asked about the day you leave home be suitably vague and say something like 'end of May, but I'm not sure exactly' or 'late August', just give the month or even 'forget'. And stop mentioning it in public (spoils the anticipation I know).

Otherwise, if you do end up on the same ship you'll just have to be downright nasty and rude and lose a friendship. They sound like the kind of people who won't respond to sensible requests for space. What a downright shame.

Personally, I would take my camera with me, some travel guides and spend my time saying 'Sorry, I must go and photograph is' or 'Excuse me, I am going to read up on this' or ' I am just going to be sociable with some passengers in the lounge, please excuse me'. Life is to short to be stuck with negative people and you are under no obligation to tolerate them and why should you change your arrangements? What does your sister say and how does she feel about it all?

It's not that easy to just change cabins or dates of cruise. What a shame about this though. Depending on the size of the ship it might be easier than you think to 'lose' yourselves in the numbers. Even on smaller ships it can be quite easy to be on eg a different
excursion or activity. Varying your times for meals and/or in different restaurants or eating venues. I agree that the anticipation is half the fun. I'd suggest checking out the Cruise Critic posting forum for lots of tips and to meet up with others.
Good luck.

If you can’t change it, make it clear now that you’re going to meet new people and won’t be available to spend time with them. If that doesn’t work, tell them exactly what you think of them.

We’re flattered you’d like to stick with us
But we’d planned to mingle and find new friends ourselves
So you’d be better carrying on with your original plans. Have a lovely time.

It’s called the sandwich method of delivering an awkward message. The meaty bit ( main issue) is in the middle. Rehearse it but it won’t come out exactly as you rehearse but it’s a good way of being more assertive. Good luck and enjoy your cruise. 😁

I feel sure that a thread exactly like this was posted a while ago.
Does anyone else remember it?

DanniRae

I feel sure that a thread exactly like this was posted a while ago.
Does anyone else remember it?

Yes.

We like cruising, typically read the thread. This one is familiar

I remember that thread too. Coincidence?

Familiar to me too.

Yes Dani I do. In fact I checked the date in case it was the original revived .

I have not posted about cruising or this dilemma on GN before. I'm sorry that someone else had this problem too and wonder how they dealt with it.

We cannot simply change our booking as this is the only one going where we want to go this year. As it was fully booked as soon as it was announced, probably it will be re-run next year but who knows if we will be fit and well enough to go then. This couple are not 'friends' just people we know and try to avoid. Dsis is probably too kind to be rude to them, but I have nothing to lose and will be prepared to tell them to leave us alone if necessary.

They were quick to jump in if the cruise was sold out so quickly, they must really like you
I hope you can manage to be rude enough to get them to keep their distance.

I’d bit the bullet and rebook for next year. And don’t tell the pair from hell.

EX Dancer No they were already booked when they heard that we were going on the same cruise. They were so pleased, while we were aghast.

I would not be rude to them.. I would tell them honestly that you want to meet lots of new people and do not want to be tied to another couple,and would they please respect that and give you space..

I’m afraid that you’re going to have to bite the bullet and tell them before you go that you will be doing your own thing and mixing with lots of other people, as you love socialising with and meeting, new people. They probably won’t like it, but they’ll get over it - after all, what had they planned to do before they learned you were also going to be on the same cruise?
(Presumably keep themselves to themselves if they say they dislike socialising). Do not allow this to spoil something you’ve both been looking forward to. Speak up.

I agree you will have to tell them it might be nice to have a drink together sometimes but you intend to do open table where you are allocated a different seat every night. Talk to the restaurant and tell them you want to sit at a table with 6 or 8 others and move around night to night. I’m sure this isn’t the first time they’ve come across this so just chat to the staff and I’m sure they will oblige. Tell your friends that if they don’t want to socialise with others they should ask for a table for 2 so they can sit on their own but you wish to mingle in larger numbers. This is your dream cruise just stick to your plan and don’t waver. Hope you enjoy it.

The thread we are confused about is dated April 2022.’Friends have booked the same holiday’.
Sorry Granny23 a but very similar question.

From the other perspective, I had a relative with husband who were like the couple you describe. We went out for dinner with them after a cruise they did with some friends and they were very critical of their travel companions because they would not fall in with my relative and husband's wishes and plans and they fell out with the other couple. I came home horrified that my relative and husband could be so selfish and I also had a horrible evening with them as they were so controlling. Never went again.