Don't forget about roll calls!

[Tansy Mews]

If you are new to Cruise Critic, you may not know that your itinerary likely has a discussion forum just for it. Your itinerary, your departure. Even if you are using oLife for some tours, you might be interested.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/321-oceania-roll-calls/

 

Frances

Edited November 12, 2019 by Tansy Mews

[sitraveler]

 Currently on Regatta. My last several cruises the roll calls have been very quiet. I miss the private tours that we would organize. 

[LHT28]

I agree  Lou

Since  the O Life excursions have come about not many like to do private tours

Then there are those  where  they fear  of being left in port  by private guides

 

 

[clo]

I 'signed up' but have no interest in M&G's, shared tours, etc.  We used to have an apt. in Rio (where we're embarking) so I thought I might be able to advise people.  

[sailco]

Can understand 'old hands' not being interested in roll calls but newbies learn so much from experienced sailors. Our upcoming roll call has about five posters who aren't interested in 'chatting'. About anything.  Definitely not online. If they're so bored now......

Edited November 12, 2019 by sailco

[Jay23]

We are doing The Med/Adriatic in August '20 and I would like to share a taxi from Nice Airport to Monte Carlo and from Venice to the airport.   I have put an entry on the roll call but have had no interest at all........ well a few views.    That's the way it goes these days.    J

[Glenndale]

To be fair, arranging a taxi for next August does seem a little premature 😀

[pinotlover]

My experience shows that destination plays a huge factor in Roll Call activity. Going anywhere in Europe, especially the North and Iceland usually yields plenty of forum activity and private tours. The same for Australia, NZ, and French Polynesia. However, I found the Roll Call dead for our SE Asia cruise. Many were scared to get off the ship for an O tour no less a private tour! Eat a Vietnamese or Thai lunch, hah! Those tours had better be back to the ship by lunch. I have never sailed O in the Carribe, but hear the Roll Calls there are equally dead. A lot of people just stay on the ship.

 

We are doing a BA to Lima cruise in February 2021, and looking at the RC for upcoming cruises there, they appear active.

 

I have likewise found when I take the effort , do the work, and set up and post a land tour; I have always filled that tour regardless of destination. Often times I have a waitlist. If you want to generate buzz, then do the leg work and don’t wait on others to do so.

 

Let me also add, I typically get a lot of emails directly from my tour postings. Some of those views are people interested, they just don’t respond in the RC. 

 

Another factor. Some cruises fill early and stay filled. Others have lots of cancellations along the way. I hate placeholder cruises! But that’s a different topic. Anyway, some I know will not post tours or activities on a RC until after the PIF date. They get tired of filling up a tour, turning people away, then having to go back out and refill it once or twice afterwards. Plus, there are the jerks that cancel the cruise but don’t tell the tour organizers, so after the PIF date it is mandatory for the tour leaders to get an acknowledgement the passengers are still there. Some, therefore, just wait until after PIF to post anything.

[Essiesmom]

I'm on a Caribbean cruise that was supposed to be all Cuba.  It had an active roll call until Cuba was cancelled.  Now there are a few of us (I only booked a few weeks ago, after FP) but we really don't know how many of the originals are still going...EM

[Glenndale]

27 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Another factor. Some cruises fill early and stay filled. Others have lots of cancellations along the way. I hate placeholder cruises! But that’s a different topic. Anyway, some I know will not post tours or activities on a RC until after the PIF date. They get tired of filling up a tour, turning people away, then having to go back out and refill it once or twice afterwards. Plus, there are the jerks that cancel the cruise but don’t tell the tour organizers, so after the PIF date it is mandatory for the tour leaders to get an acknowledgement the passengers are still there. Some, therefore, just wait until after PIF to post anything.

I would say that the above is a big factor in people not going to the trouble of organising a tour.

I have been involved on roll calls where private tours have been set up, filled and then after final payment people have cancelled.

It would certainly put me off organising anything, especially if minimum numbers have to be met.

[schmerl]

I am on a roll call for a July 6 Baltic cruise. Not really much going on with that roll call. 

A few people have come on to look for others to add to their private excursion. 

[LHT28]

I do not have the stamina I once had  but not old & decrepit yet either   but  I just  run out of steam after 5 hrs

So I do not bother booking tours  for the whole day

I did try to book some short tours  in April  but it was a struggle  to get people to share  as it turns out it may have been mixed blessings

As we missed Dublin because of the weather  & in Le Havre  the tour went ahead  without us  as DH was not well (cruise cough/bug going around)

but I did pay our share so the other 4 would not be paying more (only fair)  since I organized the taxi trip

 

We are trying Crystal in Dec & just trying to get  4 people to share a car service  to the airport from POM is futile

people would rather pay 3 time as much to Crystal for their shuttle 😲

We will just grab a taxi for us

 

 

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, schmerl said:

I am on a roll call for a July 6 Baltic cruise. Not really much going on with that roll call. 

A few people have come on to look for others to add to their private excursion. 

Yes I find many communicate privately  & not on the RC

I can understand that when they have a private tour set up but the roll calls are not what they used to be  that is for sure

[pinotlover]

30 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Yes I find many communicate privately  & not on the RC

I can understand that when they have a private tour set up but the roll calls are not what they used to be  that is for sure

Yes; I often receive numerous messages directly from posts I make on RCs that people won’t make online. People ask specific questions or have requests. People I’ve toured with before signing up for my tours and getting me on their unpublished tours.

 

Lastly, the 900 lb gorilla, the old “ We’d love to sign up, but not if World Travelers ( fake name) are on the tour(s). You don’t want them on your tour!” You know you’re in trouble when you get the same email from three different couples. I believe some posters can almost single handily shut down a RC! An effect from being on cruises with 70+% repeat cruisers and numerous people knowing one another.

[clo]

8 hours ago, sailco said:

newbies learn so much from experienced sailors

Like what?  I'm not being snarky, I promise.  I can't remember who wrote this recently but a cruise ship is really just a "floating hotel."

[Tansy Mews]

Just now, clo said:

Like what?  I'm not being snarky, I promise.  I can't remember who wrote this recently but a cruise ship is really just a "floating hotel."

 

Well, I cruise for destinations. Not everyone does that. Lots of Oceania people seem to - at least ones I meet on the ship. 

 

And I like using the roll call because I like to do independent excursions. It seems on my upcoming trip in February (Australia and New Zealand) the more interesting ship's excursions are not part of oLife. And the price difference is substantial between doing the same thing independently. Unless you opt for all excursions (unlimited). 

 

That being said, on our last two cruises, we took oLife tours and found them good value.  This time we cancelled oLife, partially because our son is travelling with us and sharing our cabin. He is not eligible for oLife. And so many of the most interesting tours were not available as oLife. Not sure if this is because of the location or because of a change in oLife. Have to watch and see.

 

Frances

 

[clo]

Just now, Tansy Mews said:

Well, I cruise for destinations.

Oh, we are definitely port-oriented.  But, for us, DIY means just the two of us going off on our own.  We had a number of escorted land trips and got super tired of the whole group thing.  No one is wrong and thanks for replying.

[Mura]

I don't disagree, Clo, but tours that I have arranged (or joined when someone else did the organizing) have rarely been more than 8 people.  I don't consider that number "a group thing".

 

I don't refuse to go off on our own, but I also like the smaller private tours.  I also agree with Frances that with only one or maybe two exceptions, our ship's tours under oLife have been very good.

 

It often depends on just where you are.  Are you in a huge city?  Or maybe a small village?  When we want to go OUT of town (as we did, for example, in Halifax) it's easier with a small group since I don't want to bother with renting a car.

[kucherov]

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

I'm on a Caribbean cruise that was supposed to be all Cuba.  It had an active roll call until Cuba was cancelled.  Now there are a few of us (I only booked a few weeks ago, after FP) but we really don't know how many of the originals are still going...EM

Same here EM.  As soon  as Cuba was canceled I could hear the crickets on the new Caribbean Delights roll call. In contrast, on a Caribbean cruise last year on the Riviera, there were 80+ on the roll call and most of those at the meet and greet.  We were able to arrange two great private tours.  Still 3 months to go,  so who knows.  Stephen

[LHT28]

JMO

I think those that like to DIY  & have zero interest in doing tours with others  or meeting anyone prior to the cruise  the Roll calls are  useless to them

 We enjoy chatting with those on the roll call we may not do tours together  but it is so nice to put  a face  with the name once onboard

We have  met so many frequent cruisers on the RC   & we may or may not do tours with them  but we enjoy meeting up  maybe for drinks or meals 

as always  YMMV

[canuck.qc]

I just started up again on CC after several years of land travels and

I can't believe how much the site has changed! 

It is reassuring to see the regulars are still here sharing their advice & comments.

We recently booked a B2B cruise thinking we'd go onto the RollCall, as in the past, and share tours but there is no Roll Call! 

We have met so many lovely people through tours arranged on the RCalls and have had many great experiences, I am disappointed in the change.

 

 

 

 

[LHT28]

5 minutes ago, canuck.qc said:

I just started up again on CC after several years of land travels and

I can't believe how much the site has changed! 

It is reassuring to see the regulars are still here sharing their advice & comments.

We recently booked a B2B cruise thinking we'd go onto the RollCall, as in the past, and share tours but there is no Roll Call! 

 

Just start one  then 

"build it & they will come "  😀

 

If using the roll call finder tool  you may not find  the one you are looking for   scroll through the actual pages  for the Ship you are sailing on

[Jay23]

8 hours ago, Glenndale said:

To be fair, arranging a taxi for next August does seem a little premature 😀

I didn't intend to arrange anything, just to find out if anyone might be interested.    J

[Mura]

While traffic was definitely reduced on the Roll Calls for our last two cruises (Nov '17, May '18) we did have sufficient traffic and we were able to set up several private tours on each cruise.  Since we had opted for oLife tours on those cruises, we weren't trying to book private tours in each port.  I realize the participation on a Roll Call can vary widely depending on itinerary.  Both of these were Med cruises (Rome-Barcelona, Monte Carlo-Rome-Venice).

 

As Lyn says, when you can't find a Roll Call, just go ahead and start one!  Many people, especially newbies, I think, aren't sure just how to do so.  It's not difficult.  And sometimes you end up with two different Roll Calls being set up ...  That is easily fixed as well.

 

[osandomir]

14 hours ago, Jay23 said:

We are doing The Med/Adriatic in August '20 and I would like to share a taxi from Nice Airport to Monte Carlo and from Venice to the airport.   I have put an entry on the roll call but have had no interest at all........ well a few views.    That's the way it goes these days.    J

We just grabbed a taxi from Venice to the airport after the cruise on the several occasions. It wasn’t terribly expensive. We wouldn’t want to bother with sharing.

Edited November 13, 2019 by osandomir