Is my Roll Call DOA or is it normal?

[MszKitty]

I try to keep our Paradise Roll Call going but it seems to be "dead in the water" too! I guess it depends on the mix & trying to drum up a conversation that people want to participate in!:D

 

 

I've only had one Paradise roll call successful. And by successful, I mean a lot of chatter and we had a quick meeting the first day.

I think it might be that a lot of people on those short weekend cruises are first time cruisers and not members of Cruise Critic.

I've been in some roll calls that were great on the boards, but then, hardly anyone showed up at the meet & greet.

Its really hard to anticipate how well they will turn out.

[ChefSusan]

We have found that the longer the cruise, the more active the Roll Call is. For our Sensation cruise back in March, there were hardly any people posting - I chalked it up to it being a "booze cruise", and let the roll call die.

 

Now for our Magic cruise that we were on back in May, the Roll Call for that one was pretty active! We had a M&G at sailaway, a M&G during the second sea day at the Red Frog Pub (thank you John Heald for setting it up for us!!!), and a lot of folks on it went on excursions together.

 

For our Miracle cruise coming up in October, it's pretty active with over 100 posts, and there are a bunch of group activities planned such as a M&G at sailaway, a M&G during one of the sea days, a "treasure hunt" (will include that in my review), and many of us are going on excursions together.

 

Usually as soon as the Roll Call is activated, one person on it starts to organize the M&G, and everything falls into place from there. One thing that I have found is that before actually staring a roll call, I usually do a search to make sure that there is not one already for the week that we are sailing.

 

Hope all of this helps!

[firefly333]

For some reason ( best ship ever? best itinerary ever?) Miracle roll calls are magic! I'm cruising on 9/4..and I;ve got to tell ya' :p..worst roll call ever! Check it out...no joke...these people just don't know how to engage :D. My 4/20/2012 roll call is WAY better than the one leaving next month. Maybe because it's NCL :eek:. ( Had to use a cruise certificate darn it LOL)

 

Not a single person welcomed me to the Roll call...not a single person has engaged me directly. I feel like a leper. They have 60 people thusfar for the Meet N Greet.....I have no idea what for ???? No one seems to want to talk to anyone else!!!

 

was that a voucher or what kind of certificate?

[idiebabe]

Mach,

 

At the risk of sounding dumb....What is the Carnival Meet & Mingle all about? Is there an advantage to having one set up as opposed to just doing it on our own on the Roll Call?

 

I read Carnival started doing the Meet & Mingles but don't know too much about them. I was on the Glory at the end of June and they had it set for 2:30 p.m. for Embarkation Day but we didn't get to go...it wasn't a good time for us.

 

Thanks!

 

Eileen

[eg0902]

We have a very active Roll Call for our cruise in 26 days - almost at 100 pages. The only problem is that four of the members have cruised together this same week for several years and they dominate the page - no one can get a word in and almost everyone has stopped posting.... except for these four. Not what I was looking for in my Roll Call - I was hoping to make friends and plan activities.

 

I think the poker cabin crawl is an awesome idea - maybe I can bring some order to my Roll Call and suggest it and volunteer to host the first stop... with shots!!!

[ChefSusan]

I stand corrected - we have over 1200 posts on our Miracle Roll Call, and everyone is quite active!

[*Mach*]

Mach,

 

At the risk of sounding dumb....What is the Carnival Meet & Mingle all about? Is there an advantage to having one set up as opposed to just doing it on our own on the Roll Call?

 

I read Carnival started doing the Meet & Mingles but don't know too much about them. I was on the Glory at the end of June and they had it set for 2:30 p.m. for Embarkation Day but we didn't get to go...it wasn't a good time for us.

 

Thanks!

 

Eileen

 

 

Right now Carnival has a lounge scheduled at 2:30 PM on embarkation day on most ships. The Conquest has Blues Piano Bar reserved for CC Meet & Mingles at 2:30 PM on the first full day of the cruise most likely because I've requested a few dozen to be set up for that day and time.

Most of the cruise directors have told John no one shows up. Of course no one shows up. Embarkation day is WAY too busy for a proper Meet & Mingle. The new folks are lost and wandering about the ship, some of the people aren't even ON the ship yet and the experienced cruisers are chillin' on the Lido Deck with a DOD in hand. I told John it wouldn't work.

Anyway, when a roll call asks about a Meet & Mingle I find out when they want to meet, where they would like to meet and about how many folks to expect. With that information I can contact the cruise director, hand the information off to him/her and it's passed along to the Events Coordinator who reserves the space and confirms with me.

Typically, there's dry snacks around and several drink waiters for those thirsty cruisers who would like to purchase a cocktail or two. Sometimes the CD or a member of the entertainment staff will drop by for trivia or just to chat. Most folks really enjoy the events and get the thrill of meeting the folks they've been chatting with on these boards for months.

:)

[DaisyGirl55]

My very active Roll Call is doing a private cocktail party on the first full day at sea. I am not sure if there is a minimum number needed to reserve this, but we have around 70 who signed up and paid for this. For $11.88 per person, we get a room, dry snacks, and unlimited drinks for an hour (mostly beer, wine, and the drinks that are served at the captain's party)...but we have had jack and coke served as well.

 

One of the cruisers in our Roll Call coordinates everything with Carnival, soo all details are worked out before we sail.

 

A ship photographer takes a group picture, and usually someone comes by to talk about the FCC program, or a staff member will just pop in and say hello.

 

It is an awesome time, and I am really looking forward to my party in September!

[Debbierpof]

My current roll call is also DOA. I think we have 13 posts and 5 are mine -- and we leave this Sunday!!! :eek: Fortunately, my previous experience with roll calls has been great -- cabin crawls, lifetime friends... just bummed that this one didn't work. Our meet and greet on the Liberty three years ago was that $11.88 deal (which was great) and the one on the Valor two years ago we opted for a cabin crawl. It's always fun to walk the ship and know others on board! :)

[idiebabe]

Right now Carnival has a lounge scheduled at 2:30 PM on embarkation day on most ships. The Conquest has Blues Piano Bar reserved for CC Meet & Mingles at 2:30 PM on the first full day of the cruise most likely because I've requested a few dozen to be set up for that day and time.

Most of the cruise directors have told John no one shows up. Of course no one shows up. Embarkation day is WAY too busy for a proper Meet & Mingle. The new folks are lost and wandering about the ship, some of the people aren't even ON the ship yet and the experienced cruisers are chillin' on the Lido Deck with a DOD in hand. I told John it wouldn't work.

Anyway, when a roll call asks about a Meet & Mingle I find out when they want to meet, where they would like to meet and about how many folks to expect. With that information I can contact the cruise director, hand the information off to him/her and it's passed along to the Events Coordinator who reserves the space and confirms with me.

Typically, there's dry snacks around and several drink waiters for those thirsty cruisers who would like to purchase a cocktail or two. Sometimes the CD or a member of the entertainment staff will drop by for trivia or just to chat. Most folks really enjoy the events and get the thrill of meeting the folks they've been chatting with on these boards for months.

:)

 

Thank very much, Mach, for clearing that up. I will ask on my Roll Call and see if anyone would be interested. As of now we are doing a "Cocktail Party" on the 3rd Sea Day but a Meet N Mingle early on in the cruise would be nice, too.

 

Appreciate your help!

 

Eileen

[jdcml]

Anyway, when a roll call asks about a Meet & Mingle I find out when they want to meet, where they would like to meet and about how many folks to expect. With that information I can contact the cruise director, hand the information off to him/her and it's passed along to the Events Coordinator who reserves the space and confirms with me.

 

 

Our thought had been rather than trying to work through anyone with scheduling a specific room etc that we would just meet at the lobby bar and chat for awhile before our cabin crawl. I'll jump back on the roll call right now and try to start it one more time.

[cv322]

See... ya' need to cruise with the Crazies! We have an amazing time and everyone is family!

 

:D

 

Very good point! I think I should actually consider this possibility somewhere down the road. I'm next looking for a fall 2012 cruise! Thanks Mach. ;).

[djwood24]

We have an awsome roll call...probably because this is our third year of Repeat Offenders

it is a core of us and we always welcome newcomers...we have others that are not going stopping by just to "check in".

 

I still remember my first one....we had 6 of us show at the meet and mingle...yeah...however the one couple we met has cruised with us the since.

 

we do cocktail parties...Wrap parties...shot night at the casino bar...excursions together.

To be honest I am amazed what good friends we have all become

 

If it wasn`t for them I would be cruising less.

 

Thanks Cruise Critic!!