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?

@CruisingBob

The inheritance thing isn't big in our family. Pre my parents no one had a pot to piss in so the idea of handing over money for university, cars, house deposits just isn't expected or has ever happened.

I suspect my parents will spend on holidays and new cars while they can, then care homes will take the rest.

I think I flagged up our circumstances to highlight we're not sipping champagne complaining that my parents are spending on Presecco.

You've already decided your stents are going to end up in care homes?? Wow

*parents

May be suggest these? If not already mentioned

www.cruisetradenews.com/6-of-the-best-environmentally-friendly-cruises/

It's tough I agree. Some people are not that empathetic and fail to see when they are upsetting others. That will be your parents. Mine were a bit similar. My mother was almost completely uninterested in my life and saw my visits (never often enough) as a chance to mull over her own interests. It made for disappointment on all sides. I can't offer any solution except to say I feel you.

Its good they have something to look forward too...look at it like that.

There’s a certain group of people for whom cruises aren’t just a holiday, they’re a passionate interest and lifestyle. So Yabu to just tell them to try another holiday. There’s groups where people are working themselves up and have been for months, watching rumours, announcements, guessing what will happen in the cruise industry, worried about staff etc -it’s a massive part of many people’s lives.

You say you have no interest or expectation of their money which is also right.

If you don’t like the lifestyle you can afford do something about it, retrain for a higher paid role etc.

I spend hours each day listening to subjects I’m not really interested in but I love the person so I listen.

I think once you’ve sorted your own life so you are satisfied-your parents holidays (or lack thereof) won’t bother you as much.

Just a tads thoughtless of your parents imho. It used to be people/friends wanting to show off their useless holiday snaps - 100's of the damned things, but at least you could minimise the times they had the opportunity, but with parents that is difficult.
If only they would understand their wish to be away from reality isn't something shared by everyone; home and a few days away in Blighty will suffice for many of us. As for cruises I can honestly say I wouldn't go on one if offered one of the 'best' as a freebie. I've simply got better things to do!

@MNWorldisCrazy you seem to be easily surprised by the lives of others - hence the username I assume? Speaking to parents once a week is pretty normal for a lot of people I know. Especially in the situations we're talking about here where no one has much to say. Everyone has a different relationship with their parents and a different life. I assume the OP is being slightly humorous about care home fees but it's actually not remotely heartless to think about whether a care home is the best place for someone - for many people it is unfortunately. Refusing to admit that fact can cause a huge amount of heartache and unnecessary suffering, to elderly people and their wider families. But I doubt the OP plans to sign her parents in once they reach 75.

@CruisingBob my own parents are dead, and it's been a very long time indeed since I had any parenting - that doesn't mean I don't find it hard to have a relationship with in-laws who are such hard work at times, or get upset on DH's behalf when he feels let down or hurt by their behaviour. I've never once told him he should be grateful just to have them just because my parents aren't around. The only partner I've ever said that to was an ex, who was a total shit to his mum, and I found that very hard to watch.

"It's really sad that some people think like this... My Mum worked all her life and ended up being screwed out of her pension by RBS (long, awful story) who she'd worked for, for decades.

She's now a widow on state pension. Owns her tiny home outright (thank god) and lives on £400 state pension per month with whacking great credit card debt (from all the unexpected expenses she couldn't cover over the years since my Dad died). It's awful and she's miserable. So it breaks my heart to think that there are people out there who could possibly presume she is in any way loaded.

She has £4 spare every month"

@MNWorldisCrazy

I doubt the poster thinks every person over a certain age is loaded but there is certainly a subset of people in the UK and Ireland too who you might say hit the sweet spot of opportunity and economic growth and prosperity and the right kind of jobs and had both working lives and retirements which are an anomoly in historical terms. Many of their own peers - like your mum - and other generations too have a right to envious of it because it ain't coming back. Envy is not the same as jealousy

OP I feel your pain. I have parents who love their holidays and equally love talking about them to the pint it's their only conversation, and not something you can join in. They are holiday bores and still go on about holidays years ago

Anyone they have met or paid them any attention (coz er staff are paid to suck up to you) becomes their best friend. " Miguel said this, Miguel then did that ad nauseas

It's exhausting

They sound insufferable OP. This is not just about cruising though is it.
My parents haven't asked about my child's GCSEs , sixth form options, how our endless cycle of DIY is going, couldnt be arsed to watch a tv thing my company was featured in..
They are so self absorbed they can’t see past their vulgar, indulgent obsession with cruise ships & their image.
YANBU.

@HeathIns

They sound insufferable OP. This is not just about cruising though is it. My parents haven't asked about my child's GCSEs , sixth form options, how our endless cycle of DIY is going, couldnt be arsed to watch a tv thing my company was featured in.. They are so self absorbed they can’t see past their vulgar, indulgent obsession with cruise ships & their image. YANBU.

This does remind me of a time that really upset DH. His father had a very niche career from which he retired at 50 with high blood pressure (on full pension) and is an obsession of his; he uses internet forums about it a lot, talks about every event that he remembers, attends regular reunions with ex-colleagues. He's never shown much interest in DH's job even though, objectively speaking, it is really fucking interesting. Anyway, by a very long shot, DH ended up doing some work covering FiL's old job and published something about it. FiL has never read it, claiming to be too busy. I guess that takes us out of the normal self-absorption and into a whole other realm of resentment, power struggle, inverse-snobbery even? But it plays out in everyday ways all the time, and lack of interest in our lives at the expense of their own holidays is the main one.

I have a similar scene
every christmas (though Not last covid Christmas ) Thankfully-
where we have to listen, endure my Father in law telling us all about their
Motorhome holidays in Italy, France and their cruise
ship holidays around the caribbean.

OP, you're maybe being unreasonable but I will sit with you in the Unreasonable camp and grump alongside you! I know they've earned their money ... but frankly, right now, I think constantly harping on about the next cruise is pretty tactless and thoughtless. Look at what happened with cruise ships at the start of the pandemic. Who on earth is even considering booking onto one of those floating petri dishes this year?

Plus, if you can't get away and couldn't last year, I completely get your grumpiness over this. I've been thinking gloomily that this summer, the only UK tourists likely to leave the bloody, soggy country will be the Smug Vaccinated. Both their jabs done by early summer and off they go, leaving the younger Brits with families fighting over the last patch of unclaimed sand in Bournemouth.

(Disclaimer for the humourless: I am of course using hyperbole for grim effect.)

Thank you once again, I am reading all the responses, not just cherry picking what my head wants to see.

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

I've also got The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen on order!

The cruise ship companies clearly allow no ethical considerations to get in the way of profit. I know other industries that I use aren't squeaky clean but it does make uncomfortable reading.

I also know my parents are targeted by very slick marketing, they could opt out but choose not to. You could probably compare aspects with the Tobacco companies - enjoyment, branding, loyalty, suppression of evidence of harm, addiction despite a global pandemic.

I was genuinely pleased for my parents for their first cruise, it was such a big deal for them but as I'm sure you can tell I have heard a lot about the ins and outs, the etiquette, the unchallenged prejudices of their peers. It must be well over 20 trips, many weeks, often months. I think exposure combined with Covid means I've become hypersensitized

@GlomOfNit... I totally agree, who's want to be on one of this 'petri dishes' right now? Definitely not me...yuk!

I will have had my second jab by the end of April but I'm not being 'smug' about it and I guess not everyone in my position will be either.

There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with taking UK holidays with your kids, I only went on one holiday during my whole childhood and that was a soggy September week in Skeggy! I didn't actually leave the UK for a holiday until I was 46 (7yrs ago) and probably will never go again. There are hundreds of beautiful places to see within the UK so there's actually no need to be spreading C19 around the world. Yes, yes, yes, you want it to be sunny on your hols but has no-one seen the upsurge in temperatures/hours of sunshine being experienced here over the past few summers?

Maybe those families who've not been vaccinated yet (by virtue of their young age and good health - us oldies are jealous!), will actually look at this country and realise that there's so much to do here that they don't need to increase their carbon footprint by flying off somewhere else and will enjoy some of what this beautiful country has to offer instead!

Anyone wanting to go on a cruise. Good luck to you. I am not a virologist. However enclosed spaces and multiple locations possibly have their problems.

I am so sick to death about people talking about holidays. It is always the most boring people who go on about them the most.

Blimey, there seems to be a lot of people on here who begrudge their parents happiness................................................. (not many parents who have been ill with covid then........................)

@daisystone

I am so sick to death about people talking about holidays. It is always the most boring people who go on about them the most.

Apparently on MN holidays are the most important thing in life, even during a global pandemic.

I was never keen on going on the floating Novovirus hotels anyway but now?
There is no way in hell I’d go on one.
Diamond and Ruby Princesses pretty much cured me of any cruising desire ever.
Modern day plague ships.

Love a good cruise, me....................................Princess best, followed by P and O the RCI.

Gorgeous view!

Wish I was there now!

Wonder how everyone will behave when they are the age your parents are now ...... I wonder if you will remember how you felt 20/30/40 years ago .....