Avoiding "Cruise Ship" Locations

[Janie88]

How do you know that they didn't tip?

The DM told me as we were all leaving the resort. I had talked about issues with the dive shop needing to also assign an extra DM to the boat since the group insisted on having the one DM tow the handicapped person around and so was not available for us at all,

 

[DreadnoughtNH]

I've never been on a cruise as I spent too much time at Sea and being confined on a boat with thousands of strangers for a week sounds not like fun.

But talk about a broad, sweeping generalization and lumping people together into a single class of behaviors. This is pretty much the definition of elitist racism. However, the term has been twisted to be pretty much unrecognizable at this point.

As your profile shows you as living in the USA are you part of that group too? Or do you just not like folks who don't think or act like you?

Wow.

::shrug:: you haven't offered anything useful to thread, but thanks.

 

[DreadnoughtNH]

I read somewhere that Asians had taken over for the ugly Americans in Europe.

I mostly disagree about Cozumel. I've never run into cruise divers there. The reefs made a good rebound during the pandemic, but I think this was more due to the southern hotels being closed than cruise ships not being in port. Cruisers come in from 9 to 6, and then are gone. They rarely go back from the main drag more than one street. I'm usually diving for most of their visit, and can head to restaurants where they won't venture. The only really annoying thing I've experienced there was one ship blaring music on loudspeakers to welcome the cruisers back. I was staying in a front room at Casa Mexicana. The noise was coming through the sliding glass doors and also bouncing off the open air dining area wall, making the sound come in through the room door.

I agree with the idea of smaller ops. I've dived twice in Providencialis (not a cruise destination). First time was with a small op and was great. Second time was with an outfit that took us to the boat in a school bus. That wasn't nearly as good.

It's possible that I was taken to some poor reefs, but I felt the reefs were just grayed out. I think a small op in Belize is in my immediate future. Thanks!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I didn't encounter any crowds of hooligans in Santorini.

Ever been to Rhodes? Santorini is way too expensive for them. Faliraki on the other hand....

 

[Kimela]

From what I have experienced, and having some Canadian diver friends, my belief is that if you politely inform Canadians of their faux pas they will be totally and sincerely apologetic. I believe we Americans tend to be less apologetic, even when we know we messed up.

I think it's generally true that if you politely inform MOST people of ANY culture of their faux pas, they will sincerely apologize and correct their behavior. But the kind of boors we're talking about know no cultural bounds. Sadly, they're everywhere. The challenge is in figuring out how to politely, and without being offensive, inform them of their faux pas. That's when it's great to have an awesome crew who will say 'please move your bag under the bench so others can pass through here safely'.

 

[Snoweman]

It's possible that I was taken to some poor reefs, but I felt the reefs were just grayed out. I think a small op in Belize is in my immediate future. Thanks!

I went to Belize in 2012, with only one crappy dive under my belt. Even then, I felt the reefs in Placencia were horrible. Maybe the ones further north are in better shape. And, that was nine years ago. I was shocked at how a year (and a pandemic) changed the reefs in Cozumel for the better.

 

[Janie88]

I think it's generally true that if you politely inform MOST people of ANY culture of their faux pas, they will sincerely apologize and correct their behavior. But the kind of boors we're talking about know no cultural bounds. Sadly, they're everywhere. The challenge is in figuring out how to politely, and without being offensive, inform them of their faux pas. That's when it's great to have an awesome crew who will say 'please move your bag under the bench so others can pass through here safely'.

Exactly. The burden should be on the crew/DMs to inform guests of issues etc. And there is a difference between politely asking someone to move their bag so you can put your gear away - maybe they did not realize, etc., and people who are obviously in their own world and don't give a crap.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I think it's generally true that if you politely inform MOST people of ANY culture of their faux pas, they will sincerely apologize and correct their behavior. But the kind of boors we're talking about know no cultural bounds. Sadly, they're everywhere. The challenge is in figuring out how to politely, and without being offensive, inform them of their faux pas. That's when it's great to have an awesome crew who will say 'please move your bag under the bench so others can pass through here safely'.

I agree. I was only trying to stand up for Canadians. After Kiwis, I think Canadians may be just about the politest people in the world. Sorry you had the few exceptions on your boat.

 

[Snoweman]

I agree. I was only trying to stand up for Canadians. After Kiwis, I think Canadians may be just about the politest people in the world. Sorry you had the few exceptions on your boat.

But all y'all need to learn to tip when not in Canada.

 

[Kimela]

I agree. I was only trying to stand up for Canadians. After Kiwis, I think Canadians may be just about the politest people in the world. Sorry you had the few exceptions on your boat.

Agreed. When I lived in Grand Forks, ND, we went up to Winnepeg. When we parked on the street we were scrounging our pockets, looking for a Canadian quarter and came up empty. At least two different locals approached to offer us parking money! Super nice people.