LukeJ

Yes that's true, before we go down the route of how much assumption of alcohol, I agree that the professional way of bartender is far better. I'm not known for drinking at home, I much prefer to go out and socialise and get served by a bartender. There is something about that, it makes it taste better at least. In my opinion. To drink out is a treat and sometimes I can get excited just for the thought of going out for a drink with a friend or a group, rather than just having a drink in the house watching TV.

I agree mental health is an attribute. But why do people do them on cruise lines? I wonder if it's a fleeting hoorah before they say goodbye for good. Is it in their minds to go in the best possible way rather than doing it at home. It's very very sad when people find no other way out than to end their own life. Even in today's age when you are encouraged to talk and seek help, people still find it harmful and embarrassing to do that, instead deciding to go the other route.

I hadn't heard that but that is just barbaric. It's bad enough for adults to see, I'm assuming children must have witnessed this surely. And how can this be classed as legal in today's world. This is on par with fox hunting, something I couldn't get my head around. All classed as sport. There is nothing sporting about any of these acts.

There are some horrible children about these days. I see it in society, passed down from horrible people. It shocks me that the attitude nowadays is pure ignorance. The disrespect and the foul mouth and even the way they think is just horrid. I was on a plane last year and there was a child just kicking the back seat of a gentleman seat and the mother just sat there and allowed it. The child was kicking for a good twenty minutes maybe longer, and the parent didn't flinch. I felt so sorry for the gentleman in the seat. Absolute horrid child.

It is sad when something takes over from you. To feel the need and the reliance of certain things is hard to take.

This saddens me. It seems to be very forthcoming and more frequent now. Do people go on these ships you reckon wanting to go overboard? Is it pre planned ahead of time as a last final blowout before jumping or do you think something snaps in them when looking out at the ocean.

@Cruising Caribbean i haven't been on cruises where this incident has happened but on vacation somewhere and also in my home town it's happened several times. I'd just rather the act do their job and not try to get the crowd involved. I don't even like them engaging with the crowd. Maybe that's just me, a little fussy. If the act is good enough, then they won't need to have distractions, if they are good enough, they will hold the crowds attention anyway.

@Cruising Caribbean yes in things like quizzes and such. I love participating in things like that. I can be competitive and I love the challenge of it all. What I'm speaking about is the singers and the comedy acts that force people who do not want to participate up on stage against their will. If it's a show of hands, and they volunteer themselves, then by all means continue. But I've seen singers pointing at people, they refuse and then they are still pulled up despite they clearly not wanting to due to peer pressure or sometimes physically pulled out of their chairs from the act.

It's like most things, the abuse of them spoils it. Alcohol is savoured and enjoyed by majority of the world, but it's a shame then when you see people rely and consumed by alcohol and it runs their lives for them. I'm fortunate that I don't have an addiction to anything, I can't fathom how hard it would be to be fixated on things. As you say, moderation is a societal norm.

It sounds as though your husband and I are on the same page. I hardly had vacations as a child, and I still to this day don't see the fascination with them. My wife and I argue over them. She wants to go on about three million vacations a year, and I just rather stay at home in comfort and do days out. I'm all for going on vacation at least once,but no it's just simply not enough.

No you're right there. I am too no fan of genetically modified foods. What I do find ironic is that companies started this, and now charge us more for organic produce, and that is something that we had in the first place.

I just came across the article, and started reading it. I was amazed by the content, as it wasn't that I had even thought about before. It was quite alarming when you start thinking of the damage that it can cause. And I'd be interested in reading stats that flying and driving can cause as well.

You could have a variety of entertainment, as long as the acts that want to get the audience involved are willing participants. I've seen it so many times, acts literally forcing people against their will up on the stage. Bullying them, even belittling them to do what they want them to do. And that totally ruins it for me then, and it even spoils the artist for me then, I see them in a different light.

It's frightening if you don't have a foothold on your surroundings, especially in a place you are not familiar. I like to know where I am at all times, and not at the mercy of anyone because my brain can't function due to alcohol. The world is a dangerous place at the best of times, at least allow yourself to be aware of your senses.

I'm with you on that, I don't like karaoke and especially getting up on stage. The same reason I'm not a fan of comedians and entertainers as they drag people up against their wills on stage. I don't like that type of thing, in the same vain as singers trying to drag people up to dance. If people want to dance, then they can go up and do it, but often I've seen people being bullied and shamed to get up, as well as singers walking through the crowds and shoving the microphone into people's faces. It's not for everyone, so I don't like that. Especially in today's age where anxiety affects people, this isn't entertaining.

And I for one can't handle it. I can drink, and enjoy, but my body won't like it the following days.

I had been reading interesting stats in cruise ships emissions, and one large ship alone would release around 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to 2.2 million cars. Sulfur Oxide Emissions emit large amounts of sulfur oxides, contributing to air pollution and acid rain. For instance, in 2022, Europe’s 218 cruise ships emitted as much SOx as 1 billion cars. Cruise ships also release nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, affecting the environment and human well-being. Cruise ships accounted for 15% of the nitrogen oxide particles emitted by Europe’s passenger vehicles. As well as carbon emissions, black carbon, heavy metals which are bad for the environment, Some cruise ships that use LNG emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, due to methane slipping from their engines. Waste streams. It's quite frightening really. It intrigued me, reading stats from the cruise ships, and made me see how the unseen emissions can cause issues. There is still a long way for cruise lines to go to make it cleaner.

@Cruising Caribbean the issue I have, and I'm sure many also is that it's not just the 24 hours after, it tends to be a 48 hour hangover sometimes. It's a weird feeling, not feeling right or 100% for, as you say a few hours of fun. And because of those feelings, I wouldn't want to waste a couple of days on vacation.

To get drunk on vacation doesn't appeal to me. I understand when at home, sometimes the day of life gets to you, you have a few too many in an area you know well and comfortable, and if you feel ill the following day, the worst thing you could do is spend a day in bed and miss the mundane aspect of work. But in vacation, there is so much to see and do in such a short time, I don't see why anyone would want to get into a state that was stop that.

Amen to that, especially when you are in a foreign land. It's important to stick withing their rules and laws, or it could really come back and bite you. I've seen it many times before, as ive worked abroad for a time, and even tried to warn people that if they continue to act the way they are through alcohol, it would spell trouble. In some instances it proved true.

Maybe there is, but it's certainly no good for the environment, all these large cruise ships travelling back and forth every day. So that is one thing I do believe they made the right call for. Cruising is such a luxurious lifestyle, and for some people, I bet they wished they could do it every day.

Yes I understand what you're saying, I'm aware the cruises still call at the port, I didn't mean otherwise, just the way I wrote it perhaps, but the cut down of ships will help the community not hinder it.

Personally I've never been on one of those vacations. Only once I've been on a trip with friends, all other vacations have been with partners. Don't ask me what was the most fun. I guess it all depends on the situation.

@3Sisters the one thing I agree with you, is that as long as the ice cream is full of flavour and is creamy, then yes it would be very hard to dislike. That's all anyone would want I assume. That's what makes it a very special treat. @PaulB I chuckled at some of the names on offer, I love the funny company names, shows that the owners have a great sense of humour, and it certainly stands out for customers to remember. I remember many years ago and ice cream van driving past called "Jack the Ripple".

@Shanna that sounds s absolutely disgusting. That poor bird, innocently minding it's own business and ends up treated in such a way. Humans can be vile, especially these days. They have no respect for one another, their attitude is pathetic and to get away with things like that, shows how low is as a society have fallen. As a father, if I had found out that my child caused that, he would be severely punished and made to understand that this is not acceptable. But people nowadays just do not care.