I don't want to hear about cruise ship holidays.

[CruisingBob]

My parents worked very hard, retired and like to go away on cruise ships.

For the last 15 years they have probably gone every nine months for at least a fortnight, often six weeks even did the epic round the world.

Some have been a bit miserable with norovirus and other flu type bugs. The round the world one lost it's novelty. On the whole they have really enjoyed them, the social side, the whistle stop tours, the food.

We are happy for them, their money, they worked hard, their choices.

But AIBU I don't want to hear any more about them, it's just making me angry.
I have two teens sharing a bedroom, we are working hard, our modest holiday plans were torn apart last year. I just want my kids back in school and free to see their friends.

Everytime I speak to my parents, cruises get mentioned. They've missed two during covid. First it was "wasn't it awful Australia refusing entry to the cruise ship" then worried about deposits, terms and conditions and refunds, then new dates being released, it just goes on and on.

I've said " look for a new type of holiday, you've had a good run, something different"

Their vaccination has just given them fresh fuel along with the relentless marketing from the cruise companies.

AIBU to just not want to hear anymore about bloody cruises?

I sympathise with the OP...mine do the same, it gets v v wearing but we paste a smile and let them enjoy their cruise ‘bubble’ 🙄

Interesting @mimichou perhaps it's a personality type, there's a certain % of every population, independent of racial heritage, that just love what a cruise offers.

I am so pleased @MrsScarlett007 that my parents have had 15 ish years together of retirement and cruises, it was in particular my mum's dream to go to sea. I have listened dutifully, ordered gifts for onboard birthdays, anniversaries, even signed my brother's name, sent emails....

And for everyone who's loved ones went too soon, who have caring responsibilities, life can be very cruel and we are right to value the good times.

But AIBU to have tipped to the point I never want to hear about it again. My dad had a small stroke last year, I honestly heard more from my mum about Cunard's booking cancelation small print than the physical therapy he got.
Top tip: the woman at M&S insurance was apparently lovely. I let it go then because maybe the distraction was helpful or comforting.

I just don't want to hear 'Yolo' like @mimichou 's relatives. My parents have not missed out in anyway.
I want my teens to go to a local music festival, for a day, like I did in my teen years.
I want my girls to buy new clothes and try them on in a shop!
I want my parents to have a lovely summer and care that menopausal me and my teens also do too. I don't want to hear about the dread of 'gangs' of teenagers hanging around Dawlish after school.

My parents would never want to pay to take us away, cruising is something they could only afford to do in retirement, apparently DH & I will get there one day (very unlikely). They are quite divorced about the amount of annual leave and the obligations and terms that normal workplaces now dictate.
It sounds like cruising really does become obsessive, even a global pandemic can't steer behavioral change.

You sound green with envy, what makes it even worse, it against your own parents. You yourself said they have worked hard for it.
I would be so happy if it were my parents, my parents aren't here anymore, so to hear someone so resentful, makes it more despicable!

I've read through your comments on the thread, YANBU. Age is no excuse for self-centeredness.

It always surprises me how some adult children resent their parents spending their own money on holidays or any other luxuries! They have worked hard presumably and earned the right to spend it how they wish!

This is the second ageist thread I’ve seen today. It’s awful. With any luck you will be old one day.

@Owl55

It always surprises me how some adult children resent their parents spending their own money on holidays or any other luxuries! They have worked hard presumably and earned the right to spend it how they wish!

That's not what the OP is saying. She is sick of hearing the boring minutiae over and over again.

I can understand what you mean. We went on a tour of India and we met a nice couple but all they talked about was the food/films/entertainment on their cruises. Nothing about the countries they saw!

You sound jealous. My mum and dad worked hard all their life, were careful and saved up so they could travel in their retirement . My mum got early onset dementia when she was 60 and died last year. They love cruises you should be happy they are still alive and well and able to do something they enjoy.

@SecretWitch

My mother has earned the right to travel and use her money in any way she wishes to. You sound very unpleasant, op.

OP please don't listen to this, I honestly think some people are reading a different thread. If there's any unpleasantness I think its on the side of your parents who frankly sound self absorbed, shallow and uncaring. And for the last time YOU DON'T SOUND JEALOUS!

@MrsScarlett007 as I wrote we all have our priorities and I nodded and smiled.

But yes, when they are saying they are annoyed at my children going back to school because their cruise should be a priority.

Not something I agree with.

As I said an inter generation battle.

Perhaps read before you comment in future

I've been watching 'Cruise Ship Killers' on Crime & Investigation. It's put me off ever going on a cruise!

I've just thought about when people used to go on holiday and take a million photos then when Trueprint had posted them back after developing them they insisted you look through every single one.

Other people's holiday are not that interesting.

I'm really sorry @mumof2exhausted that you lost your mum far too early to dementia, it's a cruel disease.

My parents have prioritised cruising. They saved for it, they did the overtime, they been able to chose their retirement. I will have the choice of dozens of photos of them in front of nearly all the global landmarks. We were looking for pictures today of them with the grand kids to print out for mother's day - I gave up in the end for recent, there's certainly nothing from the last five years.

You don't sound jealous.

Most people working just as hard now will have much less than the better off current pensioners, eg time and money.

YANBU to be unimpressed with their self absorption!

@happilybemused you never mentioned the fact that your parents were annoyed at your dc going back to school in your original OP! Perhaps you shouldn’t drip feed from now on. I was responding to the quite detailed opening post!

You said you were angry! Why? They’re your parents just wanting the best out of a bad situation, don’t be angry, be happy for them!

Tbh I think it is irresponsible to be running huge cruise ships anytime soon, if ever again. Aside from the environment impact, cruise ships pack thousands of people in small spaces and move from port to port- a huge breeding ground for covid and spreading mutations.

Even when all the UK is vaccinated, the countries the staff come from may not. Developing countries could be waiting years for it.

As for your parents, it sounds like they have moved into a common retirement mindset I hear often, where the world revolves around their holidays or small details of their day.

@MrsScarlett007 not my parents they are long dead. Please actually read something before commenting.

@happilybemused my first post was to the OP, I’m on my phone so didn’t check the username. You responded to me as if it was in answer to my post. I didn’t check the username, that is all.

My posts are to @CruisingBob

I cannot imagine anything more hellish than being stuck with Jeff and Maureen from Ilkeston - Jeff having built up a small engineering company in the East Midlands - for 6 weeks on their dining table hearing on a daily basis about Brexit, immigrants and how they ought to bring back capital punishment/the birch/grammar schools.

But these holidays are not aimed at me. They are aimed at the Jeffs and Maureens of this world. As I unlikely to encounter them socially, it's something of a blessed relief, and neither of my parents were even remotely interested in them. They (separately - they got divorced) were/are obsessed with coach trips, which I would find equally hellish, but perhaps aimed at Bill and Sally (where Bill was a retired School Caretaker) who will probably hold similar views to Jeff and Maureen. Neither parent has felt the urge to tell me how much they loved them, what they did and what they are planning to do.

@happilybemused I did read the OP, thanks!

I have also lost one parent and have a remaining frail parent I am in a semi caring role for. Yes it's devastating to lose a parent- I know, but I'd be upset if my parents watched me struggle bringing up my kids and had little interest in anything but their own comfortable lives.

@MrsScarlett007 I am not the original poster. You clearly however didn't read mine. My parents died many years ago. Your comments were hurful.

YANBU - I'm not sure how old your parents are but it's classic entitle generation. They may have worked hard but I bet they didn't work as hard as you do. They probably also benefited from cheap houses.