What are the odds?

[superduper123]

What are the odds of randomly seeing the same couple (complete strangers) on two different cruises? We sailed Celebrity in June - Cape Liberty, Bermuda itinerary, and then Enchantment in Sept., Baltimore to NE/Canada. On the Sept EN cruise, I recognized a couple that I had seen on a previous cruise. After a brief chat, we confirmed they were on the same Celebrity sailing. Thought it was certainly unusual. Not sure it happens very often. 

Cross posting on Royal Caribbean board as well.

[phoenix_dream]

We've sailed 65+ times on Celebrity and we have definitely seen familiar faces in fellow travelers over the years.  

[kathynorth]

I think what makes this more interesting is that you were cruising on two different cruiselines. Maybe you are destined to be friends?

[JLMcruise]

We sailed in April from Vancouver to Hawaii and then sailed from to Alaska in August  - we had 12 couples from the Vancouver cruise on the Alaska cruise - not planned. On the Alaska cruise we met 3 other couples who are doing Hawaii to Sydney next October. Not uncommon at all.

[Arizona Wildcat]

Probably 50/50.  Most people cruise itineraries not exclusively the cruiseline.  Cruisers, especially from Florida cruise often.

It is unusual to not see someone on board that we have met before.

[superduper123]

Thanks everyone. After 15 years of cruising, it was the first time I had noticed this. But apparently it isn't that unusual after all. 😅

[SHIP TRAVELER]

1 hour ago, superduper123 said:

Thanks everyone. After 15 years of cruising, it was the first time I had noticed this. But apparently it isn't that unusual after all. 😅

It may not be unusual but it is a very a fun happening.  We shared a table with a couple (strangers at the time) on a Trans Atlantic.  We hit it off and still exchange Christmas travel updates each year.  Three years later we spotted them at the Diamond breakfast on a RC cruise out of New Orleans.  We did a double take because the live in Maryland and cruise mostly off the east coast.  We enjoyed both cruises with them and would love to cross paths again but at least the Christmas cards are still happening.

[miched]

If sailing out of the same port and ship at the same time of year it happens.

 

People will sail to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries so it will be the same time of year.   The ship will be the same because it is close to their home or just a cruise itinerary they like. 
 

We tend to only sail in the Caribbean as we can drive to the port and it is during our anniversary.    Have seen the same couples many times especially those that live in FL and are sailing to earn a higher status.  
 

Have seen the same couple many times as they are Zenith and are usually the couple that gets the award for sailing the most. 
 

We use to see the same couples in Vegas when we would visit a few times per year.  We stayed at the same casino and played VP at the bars and went celebrating our anniversaries and birthdays.  We live in Mi and they were from PA,  MN, TX, CA, and AZ.  It became a joke as we would say see you in a few months or we missed you the last time here. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

[Jeremiah1212]

Pretty common in two scenarios if I were guessing. Longer and unique itineraries tend to bring in similar people year after year. Unique repos, the Mardi Gras cruises, cruises that are prime for B2B's, etc. Also if you cruise from the same port at the same time of year. Three times, on different ships, we cruised from Fort Lauderdale the first week of February. We saw several familiar people. 

[gfkcruiser]

Just got off Silhouette TA.  Saw a couple we had cruised with on RC Brilliance of the Seas Baltic, August, 2019.  

[Pinboy]

We had a fun experience re the above ---

On one of our cruises a gentleman sitting at a table beside ours with a group of friends ( we did not chat with them, as they were a group of 8 ) ordered a chunk of blue cheese every night as his appetizer--- just the blue cheese ( no 3 shrimp cocktails, etc ).

The following year we were on a cruise , ( can't remember where, but , it was THE day they had the " Best Deals " etc, etc )---

While " You Know Who " was taking advantage , oops , taken advantage of , I sat down on the " Men's  Wait Here " bench --- and guess who was sitting beside me ? Yup, it was him--

Ya should have seen his face when I started a conversation with " Bye the way, do you like blue cheese"?

We shared a " good laugh "--- 

(ps---If you are the man I'm referring to, does that Rolex watch your wife bought still work)?