Delicate situation

jacketwatch · May 4, 2009

How do you get a message across to folks you've been travel partners with that you would rather cruise alone? The couple we've cruised with the past three yrs. wants me to plan another cruise for 2010. The trouble is we would rather go alone. We like them but honestly this last time it got to be a strain. We like to enjoy our vacations but honestly were distracted from that by their persistent bickering. It just got to be too much for us. There are some other issues too but suffice it to say we want to go by ourselves. Any advice?

JoeyandDavid · May 4, 2009

How do you get a message across to folks you've been travel partners with that you would rather cruise alone? The couple we've cruised with the past three yrs. wants me to plan another cruise for 2010. The trouble is we would rather go alone. We like them but honestly this last time it got to be a strain. We like to enjoy our vacations but honestly were distracted from that by their persistent bickering. It just got to be too much for us. There are some other issues too but suffice it to say we want to go by ourselves. Any advice?

Yes Larry.. Joey does have a suggestion...simply tell them that you "would like to have some "Alone time" or some "us" time if you will and that you plan to tune out the rest of the world..and just concentrate on each other.. and maybe we can do something together in 2011"..

TheSkipper · May 4, 2009

Larry, I like Joey's suggestion, except I don't know if I'd make any reference to 2011.

We have the same problem with both of Roe's sisters. One just a pain in the A.. on a cruise, nothing suits her. And the others husband is so "hyper" he drives everyone around him crazy.

So, we simply have not included either couple in any of our cruises in the last couple of years.

The question of "Why" has not come up yet, but I'm sure it will someday.

sailingrose · May 5, 2009

I agree with Joey. Great way to deal with it Joey, I'd also leave out the 2011 like Ed said. Maybe they'll get the hint.......

TheSkipper · May 5, 2009

You have to be careful Larry. I did my first three or four cruises with another couple and later married the other gal!!

DebbieandJerry · May 5, 2009

Straight forward is the best way. I agree with what has been posted. Just say that this vacation is going to be the two of you alone. Make no reference to future vacation plans. Tough dilemna

jacketwatch · May 5, 2009

Thank you all. I really do appreciate the advice. The "we want to be alone and spend some quality time ourselves" sounds good. Maybe I'll say lets do something together "next" time w/o a refrence to a date. Its tough because he really enjoys seeing new places. He's like a kid in a candy store but we feel like referees sometime.

JoeyandDavid · May 5, 2009

Thank you all. I really do appreciate the advice. The "we want to be alone and spend some quality time ourselves" sounds good. Maybe I'll say lets do something together "next" time w/o a refrence to a date. Its tough because he really enjoys seeing new places. He's like a kid in a candy store but we feel like referees sometime.

if thats the case .. you guys need this cruise alone... good luck Larry!

jacketwatch · May 5, 2009

You have to be careful Larry. I did my first three or four cruises with another couple and later married the other gal!!

:biggrin: Well they have been married 40 yrs. and us 30 so..... :smile:

GottaCruz · May 5, 2009

Good advice, Joey. But I always like to be prepared. What if the other couple responds to what Larry says with something like let's go together anyway but we'll agree to do our own thing unless we choose to get together. That happened to us once , so I'm just posing this as hypothetical so Larry can be prepared just in case. We had to just solve that situation by saying we made very last minute plans , which is not far from the truth.