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?

Cruises are expensive and people who go on them usually love them for the ease of travel to multiple locations without the hassle of flights, and packing/unpacking. *The food is great and they are just a great way to holiday. Obviously they aren't for everyone but can you back your comment up or are you just totally insulting something you've never done so therefore have no idea what you're talking about ?
As for being ashamed due to damage to the environment , do you seriously think flying is any better ? Everything we do comes at a cost to the environment in some way. You're just a complete idiot .

Something tells me you like cruises!

My mum’s the same, OP... I hear ya!
The travel company my dad uses is hitting him with loads of cruise offers.

It’s the first thing my mum wants to do, when all of this is over. “So those poor people can get their jobs back”

I said that I didn’t think that or long-haul flights were such a good idea, and my mum just said “I don’t care”

@DaphneduM

OP - you have my sympathies and speaking as a boomer here!!!! The selfishness of some of my age group is incredible. Yes, of course we've all worked hard, etc. etc. but we have had the most beneficial economic climate ever in terms of employment, pensions, housing wealth etc. I can't understand why boomers wouldn't want to help out their children when things are tough. We don't go in for cruises or expensive holidays - our choice, we prefer Uk and Europe. We gave our children their house deposit, paid for their wedding in full and often help out with bits of cash for things like broken household appliances, or when things are obviously tight. They work hard but don't have massive disposable income. Contrast this with the in-laws who have a house worth double ours but no help is ever forthcoming. We also do childcare a few times a week - our total joy and pleasure - so that saves nursery fees. In pre-Covid times we also volunteered too. Bearing in mind the economy has pretty much shut down to protect our age group and beyond, the least we can do is offer support where we can.

You sound fabulous! Part of me thinks good luck to the people who were fortunate to benefit from that particular set of circumstances and get to enjoy - health allowing - long and comfortable retirements. But what I can't abide is the sort of self-absorption and lack of perspective or empathy for people who through no fault of their own and certainly not for want to hard work, don't and crucially never will have that kind of life. That this would include their own kith and kin makes it worse obviously but a bit of giving back to the rest of society which has provided pretty damn well for them wouldn't go astray either.

But what I can't abide is the sort of self-absorption and lack of perspective or empathy for people who through no fault of their own and certainly not for want to hard work, don't and crucially never will have that kind of life. That this would include their own kith and kin makes it worse obviously but a bit of giving back to the rest of society which has provided pretty damn well for them wouldn't go astray either.

It's not really behaviour to be applauded imo.

Cruises - some people love'em and some think they're floating gin palaces.

They're at a different phase of life. You might be all about cruises in 40 years, annoying your own DC's.

@Daisyhoney

daDUMdadaDUMdadaDUM ' Cruises are the worst, lowest form of holidays imaginable ' - been on any have you ? Cruises are expensive and people who go on them usually love them for the ease of travel to multiple locations without the hassle of flights, and packing/unpacking. The food is great and they are just a great way to holiday. Obviously they aren't for everyone but can you back your comment up or are you just totally insulting something you've never done so therefore have no idea what you're talking about ? As for being ashamed due to damage to the environment , do you seriously think flying is any better ? Everything we do comes at a cost to the environment in some way. You're just a complete idiot .

Actually flying IS better for the environment.

Well my Mum’s into conspiracy theories including vaccines and so on. She can talk without drawing breath.

She doesn’t give me her money either.

Wanna swap?!

I can understand where you're coming from, but honestly as someone dealing with the alternative I'd be utterly fuckimg delighted to have independent parents who were doing their own thing and only required a weekly phone call to keep them happy.

When you're on call 24/7 dealing with all manner of emotional trauma and physical drama including no holds barred bodily functions with virtually no support from health or social services, I can assure you you'll be desperate for the days on endless witter about cruises.

Flying may be better for the environment compared to cruising - I agree - but it IS still damaging and as I don't fly I don't feel ashamed at going on cruises.

@TheSparkleJar

They're at a different phase of life. You might be all about cruises in 40 years, annoying your own DC's.

My parents are at that phase of life and while maybe not as fabulous as @DaphneduM, have managed to continue to have a life which has meaning and purpose - and pleasure - beyond their next bloody holiday. So yes, they enjoy themselves with friends and family, but also help out a bit with us, their children, volunteer in their local community, give generously to local and other charities and are more than just consumers, determined to blow as much carbon as possible on their way out. I don't think this is a 'phase of life' situation so much as a selfish people situation, only now they feel justified in doubling down on it cause you know, they worked hard all their life.

I think this is more about having only one topic of conversation

Anything mentioned every time you speak would get boring.
My in laws liked to go cruising. I went once and was bored out of my mind.
I sort of knew I would be but they were paying and it did get them to shut up about me going again.
The similarity to Butlins was evident with Butlins coming out ahead because you can walk out of Butlins if you aren’t enjoying it
Also in laws didnt believe that someone could be sea sick for the whole of the 5 days till they saw me turn green
Worth it for never having to hear about cruising again.

Get in the queue @SomeRandomerOnBumsnet, @DaphneduM is getting my adoption application.

My Pil some how manage to go on the odd eye wateringly expensive holiday and I feel nothing but joy for them. So I'm not sure I'm a hideous, jealous menopausal dementor.

On clothing, my mum is not deceived by 'relaxed' dress code. I can assure all her relaxed casually thrown together outfits are shop fresh, carefully thought out with accessories. This is now part of the problem, the sheer amount of luggage needed means that they have to leave and return to Southampton by boat or possibly cargo plane.

I am worried they will end up in a Diamond Princess situation, turned away from ports. When they both went down with norovirus, they bought another cabin!

Again with the Butlins comparison - depends on the sort of cruise and cruise line. Last one we went on had some interesting talks about Van Gogh, Chagall and Dali. Don't think you'd get that at Butlins.

Just put boundaries on the calls as you would with anyone who goes on and on:

1. Shorter calls.
2. Less frequent calls.
3. Surf the internet while they drone on (I order the weekly shop )
4. Get a doorbell noise on your mobile or get one of the kids to shout for you because something urgent has happened in the kitchen... GOTTA-GO-NOW-BUH-BYE!!!

I sympathise Op but I don't think its actually about the holidays (although I'm not a fan of cruises) just the obsessively single minded topic of dull conversation and not pretending to have any interest in anything else.

My generally lovely PILs are like it with their village. They moved there after DH had left home - he's never lived there. Every time we went for lunch we had a complete run down of the latest parish council shenanigans. Now the parish council meetings are on zoom so they record them and send them on to us to watch. Unfortunately there is no Jackie Weaver in the village to chair them and the chairman always has plenty to say for himself....

YABU it’s clearly important to them an I’m guessing they don’t have much else to talk about right now. If it gives them something to look forward too to get them through lockdown . You sound bitter and very jealous.

I wish my parents could bore me with cruise stories. My DM has advanced dementia and can’t get herself dressed never mind pack a cargo load of ‘fat’ clothes, she’s 70 and my DF is dead.

Depends. If they are continually moaning about things going wrong with their cruise plans, and expecting lots of sympathy from you, I don't blame you for finding it irritating. If you feel that that they shouldn't talk about their holidays at all because you can't do the same things, I do think that is a bit U,

OP I hear you. My mum will not stop complaining about how her '60th birthday year' was ruined. Baring in mind her birthday in 2020 was before lockdown and we had a huge celebration! At the same time, I am now almost at 2 years without seeing my dad/step mum/young sister as they live in a country that has been locked down since March 2020. I am devastated and she doesn't give a shit about that, I can't even bring it up as if I do i'm just trying to make her feel guilty

DaphneduM

Not all “boomers” are in your position to have been able to take advantage of the beneficial economic climate and some of us still have teenage children living at home.

I think people forget that those born in the early 60s weren’t old enough to buy a house in the 70s and then be in a position to take advantage of the rise in house prices in the 80s
All we got was the inflated prices. A lot of my friends are still living in rented and have never bought.
When I left school my first rented place took 75% of my salary. Without extra evening and weekend jobs I would not have survived.

Completely get this OP. YANBU
My DC will not be travelling this summer like every other student before them including me because they won’t have had the vaccine and have been chucked under the bus with Uni fees and remote learning as well.
Another kick on the teeth.

No takers for the P & O Staycation Cruise?

@StarCat2020

No takers for the P & O Staycation Cruise?

Right now I would take anything over these four walls .