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🤦‍♀️

It's only the same as finding yourself at the same all inclusive hotel abroad.

This. The worst outcome is that you haven’t availed yourself of the opportunity to tell her you’re on the same cruise, and so she will think that you copied her and booked the cruise after she told you she was going - and hence she may think that you want to spend time with her!

Oh god, she sounds like my mother! Except she’s retired so it can’t be her. 😂

Get a large floppy hat and a big pair of sunglasses! Good luck.

Your husband also has an identical twin who happens to be in a relationship with your twin sister 😁

Love all the replies 😀 big hat and sunnies will be packed!
This lady at work is someone who will just start talking loudly to herself if she sees someone coming. I usually smile and walk by but honestly she will talk to anyone, usually complaining about something or someone. Shes got a kind heart I guess but she has a reputation as a talker.
Nobody will believe me when I say we've been on the same cruise 😁
Im feeling more confident now that we may not see much of her and I will just smile and wave🥺

Just tell her straight. I'm sorry but I need to completely detach from work and so I will not be spending time with you.

This is a simple fix -

Tell your husband that if/when you bump into her you are both to say "we are spending precious time together and we are not a sociable couple. Enjoy the cruise." Then scarper. Rinse and repeat.

Then noticeably avoid her. If unavoidable - hello/goodbye without breaking stride.

Having seen Carry On Cruising it put me off for life. Ditto threads on MN, the fact I don't like "fun" and I don't want to be with my partner 24/7, stuck on a ship for 7+ days. Quite fancy the food though.

If she spots you and starts talking just say "oh I think that person over there was saying earlier how they'd love to have a chat with you"....direct her to some random and accept you'll be going straight to Hell.

How about, “Sue! Fancy us both being here! We must meet up - how about 3pm for afternoon tea on Thursday? (insert specific time/activity several days hence) See you then!!”

I would make sure I don't wear very identifiable clothes all the time...eg large prints , keep them simple and so then you won't stand out and be easily seen from a distance especially if you go with sunglasses and sun hat to camouflage.

Alternatively if you see her say you just want to get away from work totally and switch off as you and your husband have had a stressful year and want alone time. If she is persistent say you'll meet her for coffee the following week at x time but make it have a definitive end time , ensuring it isn't something she can say ...we will come along too .

I’m on a cruise ship at the moment. It really is not the same as being in the same hotel as someone; with any luck you may not even bump in to your colleague - on an MSC there’ll probably be 3 to 4000 people on the ship. If you see her in the queue for a restaurant then go to a different one. Chances are she’ll be on a different deck to you for accommodation, and if you do bump into her just tell her you have a busy itinerary all week and be vague about any trips you’re doing. Good luck OP.

I had to look up the pineapple bag too! My worry with that is you may get many offers or approaches not just repel your colleague and DH! 🤣

Hopefully you won't see her. And if you do :
"I know this sounds rude, but I came on holiday to get away from work, so I am going to ignore you if we cross paths again. Hope you have a lovely week, see you when we're back in the office."

I would just say you and hubby are treating this as a second honeymoon and want to just be alone. Have a lovely time x

It's really not like that! I was dead against cruising until a few years ago. There is so much to do, I can go all day without seeing DH let alone 'sue'🤣
Then there's the theatre, pool, spa etc etc
And also the ports to visit. And yes the food is good!

I have absolutely no intention of arranging any meet ups with her. If we do bump into her we Will probably have a conversation about what a surprise to see you etc then that will be it!
She's actually off work this week so I won't have to hear her talk about it 😀

If she doesn't know your husband, pretend not to know her and get your husband to call you by a different name. It will be so funny when she gets back and tells you about your doppelganger she met on holiday 😂