AIBU to dread sharing my cruise with a clingy colleague?

Oh no, you’ll just have to wear a disguise. Make sure any table you book has only two seats.

You can have some fun with this lol,if you see her just put on a funny accent and say you must have a double or long lost twin.I spent 10 days in a hotel on lanzrotte with my granddaughters once and a chap who I had been working next door too for 10 years(spoke everyday )was in the same hotel,his wife kept saying that chap by the pool looks just like your friend next door,I never saw him until we were getting on the bus back to the airport 😂 we were both shocked as each other,neither of us had mentioned we were going on holiday lol.Ive been on a cruise and it’s likely you won’t even see each other.Have fun

When you run into her, tell her you have a strict separation between work and personal life, wish her well and walk away.

I'm pleased you enjoy cruising, thank God we are not all the same eh?

Interesting to hear what she says about the cruise as you have done exactlynthe same holiday. Will you ever confess you were there too?

Do you? What's your point? I made one by giving a wide range of examples from experience.

Not as "dramatic" as giving Carry on cruising as your evidence!

People from my work went through a spate of ending up in the same place on holiday. I don't think it was deliberate but it was odd, it happened three or four times in a fairly small team (maybe 30 odd in the wider team at the time).

Glad you didn't see her OP - I was going to suggest getting a temporary hair colour change and always wearing glasses (if you don't usually).

You have the advantage as you know she’s going and can avoid her. Hopefully you won’t bump into her.

Prejudice?! Bit dramatic, people are entitled to their preferences no matter how different they are from yours.

Feel better now?

1. carry on cruising was made in 1962.
2. It's fictional.
3. Cruise ships are nothing like that.
4. No idea what you mean about "fun". It's just like a floating 5* hotel that takes you to different places almost every day.
5. The range of options you have on a cruise ship is immense - guest speakers (on our last one, these varied from a historian talking about the archaeology of the places we were visiting, a geologist, an ex-detective talking about famous cases; there was a master chocolatier onboard and he gave classes (all included) which my partner attended - we disembarked with bags full of high quality chocolates she'd made. There are dance classes, fitness classes, films, all sorts of hobby activities you can join - or you can just use the library if you like, find a spot to read (it's easy, as the OP has pointed out, to avoid people if you want.
6. Yes, the food is fabulous.
7. You're no more obliged to be with your partner 24/7 than you are on any holiday - we often go off and do separate things. What on earth makes you think that?

Basing your prejudice off a silly film (I've seen it) made 64 years ago is just daft.

Maybe she saw you first and successfully managed to avoid you.

If she doesn't know your husband, pretend not to know her and get your husband to call you by a different name. It will be so funny when she gets back and tells you about your doppelganger she met on holiday 😂

I would just say you and hubby are treating this as a second honeymoon and want to just be alone. Have a lovely time x

Hopefully you won't see her. And if you do :
"I know this sounds rude, but I came on holiday to get away from work, so I am going to ignore you if we cross paths again. Hope you have a lovely week, see you when we're back in the office."

I had to look up the pineapple bag too! My worry with that is you may get many offers or approaches not just repel your colleague and DH! 🤣

I’m on a cruise ship at the moment. It really is not the same as being in the same hotel as someone; with any luck you may not even bump in to your colleague - on an MSC there’ll probably be 3 to 4000 people on the ship. If you see her in the queue for a restaurant then go to a different one. Chances are she’ll be on a different deck to you for accommodation, and if you do bump into her just tell her you have a busy itinerary all week and be vague about any trips you’re doing. Good luck OP.

I would make sure I don't wear very identifiable clothes all the time...eg large prints , keep them simple and so then you won't stand out and be easily seen from a distance especially if you go with sunglasses and sun hat to camouflage.

Alternatively if you see her say you just want to get away from work totally and switch off as you and your husband have had a stressful year and want alone time. If she is persistent say you'll meet her for coffee the following week at x time but make it have a definitive end time , ensuring it isn't something she can say ...we will come along too .

How about, “Sue! Fancy us both being here! We must meet up - how about 3pm for afternoon tea on Thursday? (insert specific time/activity several days hence) See you then!!”