Are you a member of Facebook Groups for Cruise Fans? Worldwide we are all dealing with life turned upside down. We are all used to going about our lives, running errands, going to work and attending activities for our children. It seems like we blinked and the world just stopped turning.
We are all stuck at home, sheltering in place, in the hopes that we can flatten the curve of this viral threat. To be honest, most of us have the mindset that I will do what I want when I want. Obviously, there are obstacles to vacation time and budget, but the idea that the world would be “shut down” and we are all practicing social distancing has really been unheard of in our time.
How are you coping? In search of comradery, community and also longing for the return of travel adventure, I’d like to suggest checking out Facebook groups for Cruise Fans. Cruise focused Facebook groups can provide a sense of community over a shared interest, a few laughs and the feeling that you are not alone during your social distancing adventure.
However, just like choosing a village in life, there are a few values that you should look for in your new online community. I’ll share my tips for choosing the right Cruise Facebook Group for you and a couple of my favorites you should consider checking out.
Tips for Joining the Right Cruise Facebook Group for You
Tip #1 Be Specific (within Reason)
Each Facebook Group for Cruise Fans will have a description. This description will give you a good indication of the typical topics and conversations within the group. Yes, it’s a group for cruise fans, but does it focus on a particular brand, is it tailored for people with lots of cruise experience or those brand new to cruising?
These differences can add or subtract from your sense of community within the group. For example, If you love the party atmosphere on Carnival and would never consider sailing with another brand, don’t join a group focused on luxury cruise travel.
Keeping your options open to other brands is a good thing but a total departure from your comfort zone is likely to leave you feeling left out of the conversation. Maybe you don’t want to just be in a Carnival specific group so you look for a group that focuses more on all of the American Based cruise lines including Carnival, Norweigan, Royal, etc.
Tip #2 Size Matters
I am a member of several groups and they all have their benefits. I am a member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society Group as a group of Royal Caribbean Fans. Both groups are independent of the cruise line but are filled with “fans”. These mega groups can provide valuable information but it may be more difficult for you to quickly feel part of the community in such a large group.
Especially during this time, becoming part of the community is key. I spend the majority of my time in groups of less than 5,000 with very few exemptions. I feel that this size group or smaller provides enough interaction yet it’s not big enough to be worthy of “troll” time. You know about trolls – people who spend their time online with the sole purpose of spreading negativity and hate. Who has time for that?
My goal for 2020 is to grow my group to around 1,000 members. My cruise group is currently small and that’s ok. I am able to really get to know the members and they are getting to know each other as we grow. This group has been a blessing for me, especially during these days of social distancing. Our group focuses on conversations that include all of the major market cruise lines and I would love for you to check it out.
Tip #3 Administrators
As the size of the page or group grows the strength of the administrator or administrators of the group becomes increasingly important. Closed groups will have rules that each member agrees to when asking to join. Typically these rules include guidelines regarding hateful comments or language. Make sure you are comfortable with the rules before joining a group.
Tony, from La Lido Loca Facebook Community, refers to this as “The Hammer”. It sounds a little harsh but the intent in “laying down the hammer” is to stop hateful speech before it infects the group. This is a good thing. From an administrative perspective, you want to protect your group. You aren’t protecting them from honest comments, just comments that are meant to be hurtful to other members of the group.
Strong administrators help members feel confident that they can post their questions, thoughts, etc. without feeling like they are subjecting themselves to potential post attacks. As a group member, you should not hesitate to leave a group if you feel that the administrators do not try to protect its members.
Tip #4 Points for Positivity (and Honesty)
When looking for the right Cruise Facebook Group for you, you should also give points to positive groups. However, having a positive atmosphere does not mean that there aren’t real-life comments. I personally feel that there is no such thing as a “bad cruise” but there are times that a warning is warranted.
In my experience, most cruisers typically enjoy their overall cruise but may have one thing they wish they would have known prior to booking. Things like sailing during spring break or a mega-ship vs. a small/quiet ship and other honest feedback can be helpful to other members. Shared positive experiences also lead to a greater community.
The ability to share cruise pics, how you spent your time on in port, or even packing tips all add to the group experience. I have been cruising for nearly 20 years and I still learn tips from the members of my group.
Tip #5 Get involved
It’s hard to truly know if a group is right for you unless you really give it a chance. Put yourself out there and introduce yourself. Ask a question or post a picture from your favorite cruise. You already have a shared interest so built from there.
Many groups allow you to post or even create a poll to get to know the other members and more about their experiences. For example, are there other first time cruisers in the group? Do any members have experience with Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program? Ask away!
Consider this about Facebook Groups for Cruise Fans
They can simply be a way to connect and learn information about cruising. They can also be the start of a lasting community where friendships are built. For example, We just happened to have beach chairs next to each other at Great Bay Beach in St. Maarten. We hit it off and I gave her my business card and she joined my Cruise Facebook Group. We have become such good friends that we just booked a cruise together this fall! Without my Facebook group and her involvement, we may not have gotten the chance to really know each other. It can happen! So, you’re ready to dive in and check out a couple of groups.
Here are a few that I’m involved in and think are run by good people.
Large Groups Facebook Groups for Cruise Fans
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald
If you are a fan of the Fun Ships, I highly recommend the Carnival Group run by their brand Ambassador John Heald. Yes, it’s a GIANT group and there are some negative nellies but in general, this is a fantastic group. John has a wealth of Carnival knowledge and delivers information in a clear and positive manner. He can also be quite entertaining. Check out his community here.
La Lido Loca
This group is run by husband and wife team Tony and Jenny Barnette. You’ll see a theme in my recommendations and note that I only recommend people that I feel genuinely care about their community and Tony and Jenny definitely fit that requirement. Tony provides daily cruise news updates on their Youtube channel and actively engage with their Facebook Community. The Group has generally very positive posts and an active administrative group that eliminates any ugly behavior. (Remember, tip #3!) 
Mid-size Facebook Groups for Cruise Fans
My definition of mid-size groups may be different than yours but these two groups are well run and have great community involvement.
Cruise Life Group
Self-proclaimed cruise addict, Matt does a great job with his Facebook Group – Cruise Life Group. He provides cruise industry updates, shares his love of cruising in a very “real-life” way and has great community engagement. His photos are also spectacular!
I really enjoy being a member of his group and I encourage you to check it out as well. You can also check out Matt’s blog for great cruising content.
Life Well Cruised
Illana is a fellow blogger with an active Facebook Community. She brings a great deal of cruise knowledge to her community and shares that information in a very clear and effective way. I especially value her insight and experience with Princess and Celebrity Cruise lines.
She is building a strong community and I encourage you to check it out. Don’t forget to also check out her website for more cruise information and tips.
Small but Mighty Groups
Specific Sailing Groups
While this is usually a short term group, joining a Facebook page or group for a specific sailing can have great benefits. Members may post about pre-cruise discounts on drink packages, specialty dining or even excursions. You can ask questions of people who have sailed that particular sailing or time period before.
Get suggestions on pre-cruise hotels and more! To find a group for your particular sailing just use the search bar and type Ship name and sail date including the year. If there isn’t one available, start your own!
Last year we were part of a sailing specific group and we signed up for a bar crawl and met so many wonderful people a few of which are in my Blog Facebook Group now!
Finding Jillian Cruise Crew
Finally, I’d like to invite you all to visit my Facebook Group. As mentioned above, I genuinely care about the members of my group. As our group grows, I am committed to sharing helpful cruise updates, tips, excursion information and more. I’ve enjoyed growing this group slowly so that we have a great foundation of people and information.
I’m ready to grow the group to the next level with a goal of 1,000 members in 2020. For me, that’s the perfect size group goal to maintain the “community” feel and positive nature of the group. Whether you’re a pro (regardless of preferred cruise line) or just considering booking your first cruise, we’d love to have you in our community. All cruise enthusiasts are welcome!
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