AIBU to dread sharing my cruise with a clingy colleague?

[InkyOctopuswithLegs]

Just found out someone i work with is going on the same MSC cruise as me.I am polite and always say hello but this person is someone I wouldn't want to spend time with. They are clingy and talk non stop, if they see you in a communal area they will make a bee line for you and start telling you about what they are doing, boasting mostly.
They told me yesterday about the cruise and I was speechless🤣 in didn't let on i was on the same cruise but I'm gutted and don't want this person chasing me around the ship🤦‍♀️

I wouldn't bank on it. We got the coach to Southampton, talked to a couple going on the same cruise. We bumped into them at least once a day during the cruise!

Don’t forget that if she knows DH, he will also have to go in disguise. Either he’s going to have to grow a beard/moustache pretty quickly or shave them off if he already has them.

🤣 Haha, I did wonder, but she showed me her pictures at my next appointment.

I actually had a friend on the same cruise ship, she’d tagged herself at the port side. We was on for 2 weeks and I bumped into her once ! And we was actively looking out for each other.

Option 1- go in disguise. Dark glasses,hat.

Option 2. Pretend to be your own doppelganger and that as such, you don't know her.

If she's going with others, presumably she'll stick with them ?

I’d change my dates 😆

Could you start some Chinese whispers about how you and DH are going in the hope for some swinging action? Put a pineapple on your desk in preparation?

risky though, could go one of two ways 😂

Oh poor you, I feel your pain. It’s a reason I would never go on a cruise.
Boundaries, boundaries. Don’t let her ruin this trip for you. Practise a ‘script’ before you go and stick to it. Wave from a distance and don’t go over. Acknowledge with a wave and nod and then look down again. If they come over one of you stand up as if walking off and keep a conversation short. Never ever ask them to sit down. Always make sure there are no spare chairs where you’re sitting so she can’t sit down. If they ask to join you say you were just leaving. Don’t encourage them to sit down.
Set ‘rules’ out when you see her for the first time. ‘Oh Hi, isn’t it lovely? Anyway we won’t bother you, nothing worse than seeing someone you know on holiday isn’t it ha ha ha’ and walk off.

If she persists, an obvious disappointed look and sigh might help.
You’d be surprised at how easy it is avoid her - don’t let it ruin the holiday. Have a wonderful time

We changed a holiday as three kids from my work were on flight and hotel. They had 2 of the worst behave kids I've ever known
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Are you on the Virtuosa?

Although it is a big ship, it’s a lot more busier and crowded because a chunk of it is reserved for the Yacht Club, so it feels smaller than its equivalent on say P and O.

You may be lucky and not bump into them as there is so much to do and places to go. But make boundaries clear if you do bump into them

You could try and move the holiday.

Or upgrade to Yacht Club.

.

I had to look up "pineapple badge" 😄 I'd be careful with that as she may well be up for it!! 🤣

If you are sailing on Virtuosa it holds 6000 passengers so you might be lucky to avoid her.
Or pay to upgrade to yacht club then you'll be completely away from her unless you choose to visit the main areas.

They may be huge ships but you know the odds of them being in the next cabin have now shrunk considerably. 😉

Having just returned from a cruise ( and we have done quite a few) this wouldn’t even bother me at all. There are plenty of places to eat if you were very unluckily and most unlikely were allocated the same table at dining. I’ve been on a cruise when a friend was on and we arranged to meet up a few times. Other than when we met deliberately we only saw her once by the pool. If you are that bothered blame your husband ‘ he has social anxiety so don’t be offended if we don’t stop to chat’. Mine is utterly antisocial so I could legitimately use that as a reason. Enjoy.

This is genius.

I know cruise ships are enormous, and the chances of bumping into her are low, but what would kill me is the FEAR of seeing/bumping into her and constantly being on edge in case she might appear and say "SURPRISE". OMG.

Sorry OP, I know that's not helping, but it's how I'd feel.

We went on a cruise last year with Royal Caribbean. I was surprised when waiting in Barcelona for the coach to the ship to discover a cousin of mine was also there. During the trip we only bumped into each other twice.

Flirt outrageously with her husband and only speak to him and try to keep her out of the converation or change topic whenever she speaks. (Tell your husband first of course of this ploy). She should then be trying to avoid you.

I went on a cruise a few years ago, I knew someone on there from work was also going, we didn’t see them once.

You must report back after the cruise!

I reckon you'll be fine. I bumped into someone I knew on a cruise once....we had no idea each other was going to be there and then I never saw them again for the entire holiday!

It's hard enough when you're purposefully trying to find your family members on a cruise ship!

I’d go one further than this and say multiple wigs and accents?
Big sunnies too and a few good hats.

In all seriousness I hope you manage to find some good spots to get away from them. Are you going with someone who’ll help keep them at bay?

Such a nightmare situation!! Sympathies, you won’t be able to relax knowing she could pop up. I’ve got one particular friend I can tolerate in short bursts and only if I’m not tired/stressed for another reason. She’s just too much!!

If you see her on the cruise, tell her you’ve had a spot of norovirus and still getting the diarrhoea part. Then say “actually I feel a bit sick now” and that you’re going to sit apart… then walk off 😂 Least awkward way to get rid of her!!

If you’re not bothered if she doesn’t speak to you again then get your husband to be vocal if she corners you both - something like “inky is having a break from work for her birthday and we really just want to have a complete break from everything and anyone we know. Nothing personal - enjoy your cruise!”

I know someone like your colleague though. She just talks at you about all her problems.

Had a similar situation while at a Euro camp in France . Had arranged to go with another couple by choice as DCs same age . But when I went to join my friend in the pool I saw she was chatting to another school mum . Complete coincidence. Unfortunately she wasn't someone we would normally hang out with as she was a complete misery and always complaining about something. I put on a pair of goggles and swam away under the water like a submarine.