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?

@happilybemused I haven’t even mentioned you in a post, not until you responded to my post to the OP! My very first post was in response to the OP not you!? You responded to my post to the OP and I thought it was the OP responding!

I’ve lost my Dad too, as I mentioned in my post!

Why did you respond to my original post which was in response to the OP?

'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.'

Exactly this ^
There is a balance surely. Nothing wrong with op's parents having their cruises and enjoying the fruits of their labour. It is fantastic but not as the sole topic of conversation. Why should op be interested in her parents escapades when they haven't taken an interest in their grandchildren or in op's life by the sounds of things. It works both ways.

YANBU. Yep. Easy to get totally pissed off listening to stuff like this when you’re working hard and feel you’re struggling. Gets tiresome and tedious. They should have more sense than to keep binding on about it but they’re probably unaware of how it affects you. Either suck
It up or tell them. Not easy either way. Good luck.

I thought round the world was more than 6 weeks? Or is the QE2 world bigger?

Thank you everyone, I fucking love Mumsnet, I love the whole range of humanity we get here. It's really helped me get a grip over the years.

I'll look at the tv tomorrow, pick a time and call my parents. I'll be thankful there is someone to call. I'll be a little sad they are not the perfect but imaginary parents we've never had.

I'll feel sorry for their neighbours who will be fed the perfect news from my family that my mum quite literally invents (another thread).

I'll have a stonkingly large glass of wine before hand.

I'll send my mum a shop bought mother's day (might lash out, go Emma Bridgewater) and my mil a photo. Each will be happy in their own way.

I can't believe I will miss my parents as much as many of you do, but I will have a lot of happy photos of them standing on board grinning at the ships photographer.

Cruising is a crazy environmental disaster, the low grade bunker fuel they switch to out of port is disgusting. That is for future generations to judge. OK Boomer.

@grassisjeweled I think it was about three months, not sure, but it involved me driving 1.5 hours with a toddler and a baby to check their house (the major stress was obviously that we'd make it worse!) multiple times.

It wasn't a great success, they enjoyed being 'a round the worlder' rather than just the poor, poor people on for a couple of weeks but got tired of the company, the tiny cabin, buying booze in port and smuggling it on, the endless quest for free Wi-Fi, norovirus..... We heard a lot about Wi-Fi.....

Occasionally they mutter about doing it again, 2022 possibly!

@CruisingBob

This thread had been absolutely fascinating and I totally agree that the environmental aspects and the cruise marketing boards have a sin to answer.

Haven’t read the whole thread and I’m sure others have mentioned it, but cruise ships are turning some places into over crowded, over priced, hollowed out hell holes. Dubrovnik already, Cadiz is going that way and Marseille is also affected. It’s hideous.

Not unreasonable at all. Every Single Conversation? That's a bit much.

"But AIBU I don't want to hear any more about them, it's just making me angry." No, you're not. Their choices and all, but we *are living through a pandemic. People are dying. 120 000 (at least) so far from covid. More are trying to survive. A bit of empathy wouldn't go amiss.

We all need a light at the end of this tunnel. Making plans is one thing. Booking and complaining about booking conditions? Not so much. That's incredibly insensitive. Every single conversation? Ouch.

@Bluntness100

What is it you want op? Them to not tell you good things in their lives, or to give the money to you instead?

Thought the same reading the OP.

www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/2/25/21152903/coronavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak-cruises-sexual-assault-environment

Interesting article on cruising industry

YANBU - My MIL went on one afternoon about ‘all the cruise clothes in her wardrobe that she won’t get the chance to wear’.... after they had to cancel two cruises last year, amongst other jaunts. I had to be a bit sympathetic as it’s a big upset for them, but likewise naffed off - with massive financial impact of last year on us - along with lots of others and people loosing dear family members - (and as we have had one week in lanzarote in 10 years that my dad paid for - you do wonder if they ever think!) but it’s their money at the end of the day.

Why would you want to deny your parents the enjoyment of talking about their future holidays? Talking about it before and after makes up half the fun of having a holiday in the first place. Please don't let your misery about the present situation spread to them. There's enough misery in the world at the moment. Be happy for them.

@MrsScarlett007 please do actually read my response. Comment line on line if you must.

At least read it accurately.

Hopefully whilst doing this you will refrain calling other posters 'dicks' and other offensive terms for not agreeing with you.

There are inter generational priorities. We all have our priorities. Again. Sigh

My Mums all alone, depressed and unhappy after being a Nurse all her life, now she is stuck miles away from anyone with fibromyalgia, arthritis and sciatica.
I'm really far away from her with my kids, haven't seen her since Xmas 2019, and I wish with everything I have that she was interested in something, anything when I ring her...anything to hear her passionate about. I would give up all I own to see my Mum happy just once.
I understand anyone going on and on about anything is boring, but honestly, it can be so much worse. xx

@happilybemused again, I haven’t even read your posts, I was responding to the OP’s original post! I’ve no idea what your posts are about as this isn’t your thread!

Sigh!

My opinion stands in my response to the OP’s! The very first post in this thread which has NOTHING at all to do with your post, wherever that is!

Personally I hope I don't retire to a life of luxury then watch my adult children struggle.

I would rather have a modest existence and help out.

It's bonkers that the years we need the most money, trying to get established, are often the ones where our earnings take a hit from childcare.

I'm not speaking from a place of resentment. My parents weren't loaded, and live a very modest but comfortable existence.

I’m not a fan of cruises myself - not my choice of holiday AND they are very environmentally unsound - but the topic isn’t really the issue here.

What is the issue here is that OP’s parents sound like they are being tactless and self-centred. I wouldn’t want to listen to anyone banging on endlessly about difficulties booking their holiday every time we spoke. Or anyone banging on about their blocked drain, or the broken windscreen wiper on their Jag, or anything else that is a minor inconvenience/first world problem. If they want to moan, they should moan to each other.

@MrsScarlett007 you did respond to my first post. You were not responding to the OP.

I can copy and paste. Or perhaps you can respond line on line to my original post accurately.

@happilybemused I can assure you, I read @CruisingBob post and at 17:51 I responded to her post and her post only! At 18:25 @CruisingBob responded to my post so she knew I was posting about her post.

I honestly have no clue why you think I was responding to your post! My only error was responding to you thinking you were the OP!

This is FACT! Stop making things up!

I live in Florida, on the Gulf Coast. Cruises are huge business here. But, us locals say they are for “The newlywed, the overfed and the nearly-dead”. Just thought I’d throw that out for a giggle.

There is heavy metal cruise if anyone is tempted
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/70000_Tons_of_Metal

I'm sorry @Carriecakes80 your poor mum.
My neighbour, on his own, we've been making an effort to see across the garden fence every week. Had a Xmas drink, sang happy birthday, swapped national trust & RHS magazines. He fell apart last week, he's had one vaccine, coped amazingly well, I think we are so so close to the end. Won't be long now. Dealing with pain is never going to be easy and the NHS care is being concentrated elsewhere. Hope it all works out.

@KateRose my mum can literally bend anything to refer to the sacred cruise wardrobe.
Department stores going bankrupt are discussed in terms of really 'nice' outfits from concessions. Mentioning the kids are growing and we need the changing rooms open - that is immediately transformed into 'i don't know how they expect people to put an outfit together, they'll have to open before everyone's summer holidays'

My teens have grown in front of my eyes, forsix months my youngest has been dressed as the Dude from the Big Lebowski.

@CruisingBob your post in some ways reminds me of The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, off to Google what the plot was

Are @MrsScarlett007 and @happilybemused still fighting
@Mumsnethq, any weddings/cruises/NCT meetings- please put Mrs Scarlett and Happily Bemused on the same table, thank you.

Should liven up our social events. We are going to be all so socially unskilled after this last year we will need the conversation starter.