farmermd

7 hours ago, Docbizarro said:

Just booked Apex (1st celebrity cruise) - why so much hate for edge class?

Haven’t you heard? The use of cell phones is too prolific on the Edge and there are creeps taking your picture without your permission! 

1 hour ago, SunsetPoint said:

It is indeed quite sad the way technology has eroded face to face interaction to some degree.  I shake my head when I go on a college campus and see a half dozen students walking "together" with their faces all buried in their phones.  I live in central Florida (pretty much the world's vacation capital) and see entire families buried in technology rather than interacting with each other or even looking around at the park/attraction they've paid so much to visit  I pass min-vans of families with everyone staring at a phone or tablet rather than watching the world around them or talking with each other.  What happened to sharing stories, playing car bingo or "I spy" or the endless license plate games you can make up?  Sure, it's "their business" to some extent, but too much of the current generation is developing a serious addition to technology and not developing their personal interaction skills.  These kids are our future work force and future leaders.  I want them to be able to embrace and effectively use technology (heck, that's what my husband and I both do for a living), but I also want to them to develop social and interpersonal communication skills as well.  My son-in-law works a YMCA's children's program (before/after school care, summer camp, etc.) and he says that it's downright scary how resistant the kids are to putting away or turning in their electronics when it's time to do so.  Some actually freak out to some extent, almost like a drug addict... "NO!  I HAVE TO HAVE IT!  I NEED IT!  PLEASE, I NEEEED IT!"  Ouch!

 

I do understand that some people are required to be more online while traveling, but that's not generally going to be entire families, and a headset or ear buds are generally the way to go if you need to take a call or want to watch a video or engage in a video call with someone in a public area.  The person who spoke about electronic gadget etiquette was on target.  Sure you have the right to immerse yourself in technology, whether by necessity or choice, but your right to engage in your electronics stops when it infringes on my right to enjoy my cruise without a loud Facetime or Skype conversation (and without headphones/buds, they DO tend to be louder than a normal conversation), video or video game nearby.  A lot of people I know have Kindles or tablets that they use for reading, but they don't have them set to read aloud to them without headphones/buds.

 

In the past, we've cruised without a wi-fi package for several reasons.  First, we didn't WANT to be available for work calls (we gave family and pet/house-sitters the Celebrity emergency phone numbers, of course).  Second, the cost was ridiculous.  Third, we have T-Mobile and have been able to do quick email checks, text the pet/house-sitter to ensure all is well, and post a few pics to Facebook easily in every port once we've gotten away from the ship.  For our next couple of cruises, we've landed packages that pretty much included the wi-fi at no charge and honestly, I plan to consciously ensure it doesn't spoil that "getting away from it all" freedom I've felt on our previous cruises.  I will still remain unavailable as far as my job is concerned, and I don't plan to "stay connected" throughout the day, checking Facebook, email or Twitter, when I could be hanging with friends, making new ones, enjoying shows/music, etc. 

 

Very well said!  👏🏼

As an owner of 3 business, I have empowered my employees to make decisions on my behalf so I can enjoy my vacation.  I leave the phone number of the insurance agent in the event anything burns down or there are any serious accidents - call him, not me. And family members have been informed that if there are any deaths in the immediate family while I am out at sea, just put them on ice till I get back.  

And one other thing, not that I need to mention it, but yeah - my thread title was a bit bizarre but it got your(everyone that clicked on the title) attention and made you look and join the discussion!  I think some people's funny bone is broked....

2 hours ago, Cyber Kat said:

So you would be okay with someone deliberately taking photos of you because they didn’t approve of your appearance or what you were doing - for the specific purpose of ridiculing you?

 

Sorry, IMO taking photos of someone to make fun of them or to post them on social media so others can make fun of them is just plain rude.  Far more rude and offensive than someone sitting at a bar enjoying some aspect of their phone.

 

It really has nothing to do with expecting privacy in a public place, but more to do with simply having respect in general.  I wonder about people who expect others to be polite while being rude themselves.  The bottom line is that it’s not nice.

A couple of points here - #1 - Photography is about many things - journalism with pictures, preserving history, capturing memories, advertising, art, etc.  Taking a picture of someone at a bar on a phone is no different than taking a picture of a child begging in the street of India, a couple kissing on the Spanish Steps, a wedding couple on the beach - all pictures I have taken while on vacation because I enjoy photography, not that I am that great at it.

#2 - We can't have it both ways in todays society with all of the electronic devices around - privacy in a public setting AND constant communication with the world.  From redlight and toll cameras, to street surveillance cameras to ring doorbells or video cameras at the entrance of every retail location you enter these days - there is no privacy.  When I am out in public, I expect someone somewhere is watching me and taking pictures or video of me doing something dull, fun, or dumb.  Do I like it? No.  Is there anything I can do about it?  No, not if I want to socialize with anyone at all.  The privacy in public ship sailed a long time ago.  Can you say People of WalMart!  

#3 - You mention respect in general.  Everyone seems to be focusing on the people at the bar.  That was not the only observation I mentioned.  Respect in general includes keeping your FaceTime conversations muted to the public, your notifications muted to the public, or putting down your phone when ordering a drink or paying for something when people are behind you, or just plain being aware of your surroundings in public.  Electronic devices are great.....when used appropriately with the correct etiquette, something that some parents are not teaching their children.

Ok, just my thoughts.  

27 minutes ago, Globehoppers said:

I think this is one of the better discussions I have read on CC.  Most of the posts on other threads are inane: 

 

Thank you!  Forums IMO are about discussion on topics to get differing opinions.  I do get board with Cruise Critic forums because it does seem to be the same old questions every hour. 

I simply posted my observation to see what others thought - I was not trolling.  No different than someone posting their thoughts on the quality of food in the MDR.   I think this has been a great discussion.  And just as I saw on the ship, about 50% of cruisers need their phone with them at all times, 25% know phone etiquette and only need it occasionally and the other 25% either leave the phone at home or locked in the safe in their cabin.

And to emphasize, at no point do I think I came across as rude and  disrespecting others opinions.  At least that was not my intention.  But I can't say the same for some others that posted in this thread.

16 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Referring back to your OP, there's a huge difference IMO between taking a photo of the Martini Bar and incidentally capturing in the photo the patrons within the bar versus specifically targeting the four individuals using their cell phones.

 

Do you think it would be perfectly acceptable for a complete stranger to wander over and make an audio recording of a quiet conversation you and your wife are having while sitting by yourselves in the bar?

Ah now see - there are laws concerning audio recording in public without consent.

I just discovered Johnny Cakes last week in Sint Maarten!  Specifically at Maxine's on the west end of Great Bay Beach.  Man these things were good - I could have made a meal out of them alone!  Why am I just now learning of these?  Anyhow, give 'em a try if you haven't already.  The goat curry was also great at Maxine's. Great views and drinks as well.

1 minute ago, hiccups said:

And I can bet there were people at the restaurant judging you for taking a newborn infant into a restaurant and exposing her unnecessarily to a gazillion germs.

Just goes to show you, there's an opinion on everything that may or may not agree with you.

LOL that's a topic for a completely different forum that can have lot's of great discussion! Farm kid here with no allergies...

20 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

I think they published the reviews about the Edge.

LMBO - good one!

1 hour ago, Oville said:

Fair enough but I have to be be honest. If I’m sitting at the Martini Bar and you’re taking pictures of me I wouldn’t be happy.

27 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Of course I was joking about the camera. However if was sitting at a bar looking at my phone and some joker starts taking my picture, we would be having a serious discussion.  A couple of years a go a moron in the HAL forum took pictures of people on his cruise wearing what he considered inappropriate for the MDR and posted them on CC. He was as I remember licked off of CC over this. 

So help me understand - you have a reasonable expectation of privacy while sitting at a bar on a cruise ship that the general public has been invited to sail on?  Yes, I think people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their cabins and public bathrooms/locker rooms on a ship, but not in bars, restaurants, pool areas.   And if the picture is taken in a public area, is it then illegal to post on public forums or social media?  

Just at a glance, I do not see anything in CC guidelines that prohibit posting pictures of people in public places.  If I am wrong, please correct me so I can change my habits.  

6 minutes ago, Oville said:

For what purpose did you pull out a camera and take pix at the Martini Bar?  Did you upload them to your laptop?

I take pictures because I like to document my travels through photography, whether it's taking pictures of people, animals, landscapes, objects, or anything else that peaks my interest.  No laptop for me.

37 minutes ago, K.T.B. said:

 

And I bet you used your phone to take the pictures....

LMAO that's where you are wrong.  I have a camera NOT attached to a phone.

1 hour ago, oceangoer2 said:

OMG...it seems that's what parenting has come to.  You prefer the kids to be anti social and not learning how to behave in a public restaurant by involving them in conversation, educating and disciplining when necessary?  They don't HAVE to run wild if their parents are doing their job.  I've seen young families engaging with their children, having a good time with them and I've seen others ignoring their kids while they have fun with the other adult(s) at the table.  The kids become bored and obviously not part of the family...so they resort to their screens or RUN WILD. 

^^ This right here ^^

My daughter was taught at an early age how to behave in a restaurant.  She was 5 days old when we took her out to dinner with us for the first time.  We never bought electronic devices to entertain her, whether in a car or a restaurant.  We talked, we observed, we taught.  She can read a map.  She can read a menu.  She can have a conversation.  

8 hours ago, farawayatsea said:

 

"Wow! My wife and I have always said when we start complaining about stuff like this on a cruise we will stop cruising. Some people.... Life is too short to sweat the little stuff."

 

The above is  something you said in a posting in September. Just let it go!!!

And this is a reason we have no future cruises booked, though if you read the OP, this was an observation, not a complaint.

We were on the Edge last week for the first time - 3 of us in an IV cabin. Though the ship was beautifully decorated with a layout like no other ship we’ve been on, we will probably not book another E-class ship because of the cabin and all the “levels” throughout the ship that didn’t allow you to get from point A to B without going through C. Food was great. Service was great. But we are more of the traditionalist types.  The Edge is anything but traditional. 

6 minutes ago, Luvcrusn said:

Were you taking those pictures with your cell phone?

LOL no that would be too easy!

3 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Personally, I'd prefer to have people using their cell phones to having creepy strangers taking photos of me or my family members.

the world we live in now - always having pictures and video taken of us in public places doing normal or not so normal stuff to be posted on social media and public forums for that viral moment. 

Just back from our first Edge cruise and one of my observations is the now prolific use of phones throughout the ship.  I sat at the Martini Bar one afternoon and observed 4 people in a row at the bar with their noses buried in their phone, oblivious of me taking pictures of them. I observed a person on the pool deck on a sea day having a FaceTime conversation with his grandkid. Numerous times I heard the sounds of incoming text messages and emails.  All of this will only get worse as internet access on ships gets faster and cheaper, especially when it is offered as a “free” perk, and as cruise lines encourage the use of their app while onboard to get the latest schedule of activities and “chat” with fellow cruisers. As a CC Elite member, I get 90 free internet minutes. I used a total of 7 minutes on my seven day cruise, and that was only to check in for my early flight. 
 

Part of the allure of cruising used to be a total disconnect from the world and having new conversations with different people. The allure is quickly fading...

We have done both ships in the last 5 months.  I vote Equinox only because I'm more of a traditionalist cruiser.

Wow!  My wife and I have always said when we start complaining about stuff like this on a cruise we will stop cruising. Some people.... Life is too short to sweat the little stuff. 

No footstools. 

And no you won’t enjoy it as much. Too many cuts. But hey the good news is prices haven’t changed all that much in 7 years!

So what’s the point of select dining?

👍

Its worth doing it one time IMO. Takes about an hour to drive there. Remember it is a rainforest so it will likely rain and you will likely get wet. Enjoy! 

The next thing you will be asking for is suite guests to have their own check-in line, pool area, and restaurant....

gotta love the class system!