Have a Minute To Help Us Out? We're Redesigning Our Ship Review Page!

[Kel040]

here is a review that keeps all readers on the edge of their seats (or should I say keyboards) just waiting for the next entry....

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1281134

[bluebeast]

Page looks good to me. I do like the reviews (both good and bad) being easily available.

[Bunti]

Laura, Thank you for including me in. This makes me feel appreciated as a user.

 

I read most of the responses (skipped pages 4 & 5), and found that most of the suggestions had value.

I group them into 4 major categories:

1. Pictures, most people mention them

2. Prominence of Member reviews.

3. Look & feel of the page itself

4. Information available.

to comment:

1. The pictures, even when expanded are small and rather low resolution. And for me the "Celebrity Millennium Photos" link brought up nothing. {Browser = Safari} AND some posters have asked for a source & date for the photos which would be a very good idea. More photos related to the sections (dining, cabins, public spaces, pools, etc.) Again hopefully something other than stale publicity photos provided by the Line. If anything were to have Flash or any motion, it could be a photo "band". Lord only knows your users have more photos than the lines themselves.
   
2. Member Reviews. These are what most users believe and trust the most. The front page review of ALL ships reads like a PR release (pablum). And, provides relatively little actual information. Perhaps as part of the (hopefully repositioned) Member Reviews, the most recent review could be featured with a button then for "Read All Member Reviews" (keep the ability to sort by date or rating etc.). I definitely agree that some basic information should be "starred" as required when writing a review, e.g. Date of Sailing & Cabin Category, and a few others. Yes you MAY get a few less reviews because of the requirements, but they would have more relevance for the readers.
   
3. Look & Feel of page: Your review pages are all visually very "busy" and distracting. Upon opening, the eye does not know where to go. However for frequent users of CC we are used to it and can find our way around. This is NOT the first impression any web page wants to make. And this page definitely screams CC. With just a cursory scan of the page I counted 9 (!) ads in at least 5 positions throughout the page. And I probably missed some. The reader NEEDS some definition/distinction between "information" (the reason he is on the page in the first place) and PAID advertisements. Yes, as all have said, we know you need to pay for the site, but at the cost of confusing, or worse losing, readers ? The ads, when relevant AND well done, could offer information that would attract the reader to open them (the only desired result!). The colors and fonts are MUCH less important than the reader being able to find relevant information upon first quick scan. The one writer about "twisties" is totally correct about web page protocols. Yes, BRAVO on the inclusion of deck plans. It has always been my hope (on all cruise line sites) to display the deck plans on a "exploded" stacked format. And yes they need all the keys and cabin categories fully available.
   
4. Information: Data, Details, FAQ's, ETC.: The reason I quoted the above w/ my RED highlight. IF this is to be a true Ship Review/Information page, there NEEDS to be a separate page with build date, company, sales, re-builds, drydocks, wetdocks, special features, smoking policy, crew/PAX ratio, space ratio, cabins @ Sq.Ft. (within categories), accidents, fires, registry, ETC. ETC. Basically anything and everything that can be measured and/or quantified ! ! and predominant nationalities of the crew & staff EVERYTHING ON ONE PAGE. Why should CC not become the industry standard for accurate information ?????? After all some of your frequent posters have been the go-to source for ship information, complete with photos & histories !
   

 

Truth is we need CC and will come here no matter what, but it is because we care that we participate with this feedback.

Hope some/any of this helps.

 

r.

This quote pretty much says it for me.... with the addition of dates to all pictures and to the "professional" review.

 

On the separate ship facts page, info should include refurbish dates as well as the info listed above. One of the best additions in the last year or so to the CC review site (I think) is that now we can check deck plans from it.

 

I usually review the user reviews, the professional reviews, the board section for the cruise line, and then I do a search for pictures based on what my interests are.... this usually takes me out of CC. If there were more pictures here, which were dated I might not do that search.

 

This is the go-to page on CC that I refer new or potential cruisers to...or folks I meet aboard ship who aren't having as good a time as I, or comment on things we know about the ship we are on..... I have found that folks who don't know much about the type of cruise they are taking, are ofter disappointed,or will miss some of the best things about cruising. I also talk about the forums, and recommend they check them out regarding their ship, the line, the destinations-- with the caveat that often folks who are unhappy write the loudest--a reminder that there are many opinions.

[CruisinFinsUp]

Most important for me is Dates of the reviews and if there have been any dry docks since the review and what was done at the dry dock. Then we can tell if certain parts of the the review are no longer applicable, and we can understand why certain parts of the review are in conflict with more recent review's.

That and lots of photos!

[Lefty Bob]

Everything looks good.

 

Bob

[DHux]

Well, this review page has been a around awhile......but if it is giving us up to date information that is all that should matter......but the photo's are great but I think we need real time photo's keep up with the wear and tear of the ship.......also the CC review should be updated as just like the members keep giving up to date reviews.....but sometimes as we all know not everyone sees the same thing on the same ship.............

Yes, little change is good..........but keep the format of the review page because it works......thanks for letting me give my thoughts............

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone!

 

We're in the early stages of redesigning our ship review pages, and we'd really like your input, because it matters to us.

 

For example, take a look at our existing Celebrity Millennum page.

 

Then, tell us anything and everything; we really want to know what you think! Some topics to get you started:

 

• If you were sailing on Celebrity Millennium, do we have everything you need to make a decision about the ship?
  
• What other information would you like to see on the page?
  
• Is there too much of something on the page? Too little?
  
• What about the colors? Do you like them? Any suggestions?
  
• If there were one single thing you could change on the page, what would it be?
  

We're really interested in your opinions and ideas, so let it out!

 

Oh, and thanks!

 

Laura

[skunkee]

It looks good to me. It's quite informative and easy to navigate.

[sailwithsinbad]

I would like to know the cost of things, ie. martini, beer, coke, stakes at the craps table/roulette table, pictures taken by staff photographers and there are other things also. Persons on budgets need to know what to expect.

[KSTAZMAN]

Ship review page will only be able to tell us how things are with a ship at any one point in time when people do reports and have them list all the flaws and the good each week of the year. These ships work 24/7 unless in drydock. Carpets get snagged.Paint peals. Railings get new coats of shellac and the metalwork gets scraped and repainted constantly. Crewmembers come and go.Entertainers are replaced with good and bad talent.

So we the people who use this forum for info and to do our part to keep the page fresh.

[Sassy L]

Hi fellow Cruise Critic Members.

I need your help despreatly. We love to get dressed up for the theme night on the ships. We have sailed out of Galveston Tx. on Royal Carribean their theme was western we dressed up in cow boy and cowgirl garb (boy did we enjoy that). DO ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE THEME NIGHT ON THE TRIUMPH IS? We will be cruising 11-8-10. If you've recently cruised on the Triumph and know what it is please contact me asap we have only about a month before leaving. Please send me an email to Lsusanearl@aol.com ( put cruise theme in the subject).

 

Thank you so much

SASSY L

[poodlewamp]

Laura

 

I would really like to personally thank you for your "snarky responses", forum that you posted a while ago.

 

I am very new to this site, and have quite a few cruises

under my belt, but was dismayed at some of the comments

posted on line..to myself & others.

 

I have posted a few questions & responses, but was very

dismayed to find some "old hats" post things like.." oooh hear we go again"...or " tired of hearing this subject"?????

 

What these people must remember, is some of us have never

been to this site, and the newbies, are asking these questions for the very first time...!!! Although it might be repetitious

for some, it is brand new to others. I think we must all keep this in mind, when questions do come up.

 

I did find many remarks, very rude, and degrading, which makes

me ponder doing this site again, or recommending it to friends.

 

 

Lets all be tolerant of others.......and remember when we were

new to cruising, and needed answers to everything..!!!****

 

 

Hope to enjoy this site...and keep talking to first timers, as

..." I do remember when I was one " ..and so wish there was

wonderful sites like this..where I could ask & talk to people !!!

 

 

 

Thanks so much for listening

 

 

 

B.J.

 

 

( 19 cruises...and hoping for many more !!! ):)

[freshiecruiser]

I do like the present page - All I can offer is that it looks fine to me and maybe when I get a bit more experience using the boards I may be better able to offer more and meaningful suggestions.:)

[andy mac]

I've always wanted to have a date listed so I can see how long ago the ship review was updated.

i agree

[3kmerlin4]

Helloe Laura......we don't have any thing to add as yet because we just registered.

3kmerlin4

[fisheswithbears]

Thank you for considering our opinions, with your ultimate goal of making the site better for all of us!

 

As this thread has been rolling for a while now, I'm can't add much.

 

I do find the advertising confusing and a little clumsy.

 

Perhaps the statistics on the ship, such as when the ship was built, passenger numbers, crew numbers, etc could be listed separately from the text of the review.

 

Dates included with the review and on any pictures would be very nice.

 

Thanks!

[Cathy p]

I liked it also, however, I feel more photos of every angle would be great. I also go based on the looks of the ship. Thanks for asking.

[CruisenLexie]

I want a date so I know when the review was done. Seems there use to be dates but then I did not see them anymore.

[boewok]

I, too, would like more, larger pictures. Pictures are used to make the first cut. Then I read the fine print, Maybe cabin reviews could be divided to standard and deluxe.

[Doonan]

I agree about he pictures but otherwise excellent.

 

Colours are great and its to the point not a lot of jazz.

 

Adverts ... I live in a commercial world and realise ... no adds will add up to no cruise critic.

 

Keep it up ... great

 

Neil

[Mamma Jamma Cruiser]

I find the reviews of the ships very informative and the page very easy to maneuver.

[ozdroggy01]

I see that there are already three people highlighting one of my concerns.

 

What is the carry on policy regarding alcohol in particular.

 

In booking a Balcony stateroom with a mini bar/refrigerator I do so in the expectation of sitting on the balcony with a G & T or whatever without having to pay the 'service charges' associated with bar/room service. I am quite capable of pouring my own drinks;).

 

This info can sometimes be found by an examination of the fine print but experience reviews tell it how it is.

 

Availability of self service laundry facilities is also another wish.

 

Otherwise most other things have already been covered quite adequately.

 

Great site and valuable planning resource. Thanks....

[kennicott]

I see that there are already three people highlighting one of my concerns.

 

"What is the carry on policy regarding alcohol in particular.

 

In booking a Balcony stateroom with a mini bar/refrigerator I do so in the expectation of sitting on the balcony with a G & T or whatever without having to pay the 'service charges' associated with bar/room service. I am quite capable of pouring my own drinks;)."

 

Ozdroggy01: Now you are a person after my own heart.

[rsquare]

I have not had the time to go through 20 pages of comments, so forgive me if I am repeating anything which has previously been posted.

 

First off, I really like the ship reviews that CC does. I like the length and depth of detail, and I like the style in which they are written, with the writer not afraid to post personal reactions (eg, "This is one classy vessel" etc.). Any criticisms or suggestions that I have are basically buffing and polishing to an already really good product. That said, there are a few points.....

 

1) I would prefer not to have the review broken across two pages, so that I have to click a link on the first page to get all the details. Seems to me that you could get the same effect by typographically setting off the first section as an Overview, perhaps by boxing it or lightly shading the background.

 

2) You might want to have your reviewer nose around the cruise line forum for the ship under review to pick up issues unique to that ship or its class. For example, given that you used Celebrity Millenium as an example, that class of ships has a number of cabins called "the Sweet Sixteen." No one reading this review and then encountering a reference to a Sweet Sixteen cabin on the Celebrity Forum would have a clue as to what they are. Indeed, Millenium also has "hump" cabins with larger balconies and slightly smaller rooms, and this variety within the same general type of cabin is not mentioned. Kudos to you, though, for mentioning the deck 10 overhang which tends to darken deck 9 balconies. Something else missing, either in this section or in a section of its own, is whether or not there is in cabin wi-fi or (as on M-class ships) a requirement to bring your laptop to a hot spot, or use a ship's computer.

 

3) I thought that the Fellow Passengers section was a bit thin. I realize that this is tough, given that a review is probably based on a single voyage, and that fellow passengers will vary by season and locale (eg, Caribbean vs Mediterranean). Perhaps you could get demos from the cruise line, or just talk a bit more about the atmosphere, eg how many men wear tuxedos on formal nights given that dress codes are a lively discussion topic on many cruise line forums.

 

4) Why doesn't the rating summary on the first page match the organization of the review on the second page? It actually looks a bit odd to have certain categories hyperlinked in bold blue type and other categories in regular black type. It also raises the question of how and why you rated categories which were not reviewed.

 

5) Finally, I find the color scheme a bit circusy, with red headlines, orange dividers and blue ribbons. Perhaps you could have a somewhat more harmonious color scheme, maybe greens and blues, or purples and blues - various cool colors together, rather than a mix of hot red and orange with cool blue and black.

 

All of these are truly nits, and none of the suggestions should be read as detracting from the great job that you are doing with these reviews.

[crazEwaldo]

Hi to all,

 

new to this place but i agree with "terigo"

Huge an informative page but layout looks a bit outdated...

Anyway...i´m glad i found this!!!:rolleyes:

 

Keep cruisin´.....:cool:

[cruizer2d]

Is it possible to put in info which balconies (or block of balconies) are covered or uncovered? For example, a lot of Princess ship decks are cantilevered,making them uncovered. On Epic, most are covered, but some on the 8th and 9th are uncovered.

Also, more info on the casinos (for us gamblers!).