Reviews, What Do You Like To See In A Review

[cruisinnorth]

Hi All,

 

I have a question for everyone.

 

I would like to write a review of our next cruise. I would like to know what other cruisers look for in a review.

 

I have read some reviews that are very bare bones in content and read others that will describe every detail including the content of the phone calls they make. Somewhere in the middle is the perfect review... what do you think?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[ellbon]

I like hearing about the ports even i have been ther as I might try something new. if new ports it might make me go there.

 

On the ship I like hearing what music is better for drinks or dancing. if you really hated the meal I want ot know what it was so i do not get it. same if it is good.

 

I like knowing about the pool area and service there.

 

more on the gym or spa.

 

general ideas like that

[knitpurl]

I like to know about the library,,

also cabin #,

location, good and bad of same..

also if you used and liked the spa ...

exercise classes? did they do a walk a mile ?

thanks

[BurgerBits]

What a great question - very thoughtful of you to ask!!

 

Other than the generalities that affect all cruisers (embarkation/disembarkation both on the cruise itself and in ports, cleanliness and condition of public areas, etc.) I like to know:

 

1. What cabin you were in and what you liked/disliked about it and its location.

 

2. What dinner seating you had, table #, and a recommendation of your food service team if they were very good - by name.

 

3. Anything special or remarkable that happened aboard (holidays, etc.).

 

4. If you gamble, how was the casino? # of decks at table games?

 

5. If you work out, was the fitness center well-equipped? When was it crowded?

 

... and, of course, YOU and your traveling companions! What are your reasons for cruising? Why did you choose this particular cruise?

 

Overall, I'm interested in hearing about the people that made your cruise wonderful (waiter, room steward, tour guide, guest relations staff, anyone else). It's so nice to meet someone aboard and be able to say that they were spoken of glowingly by a former passenger!!!

 

Thanks again!!!!!

[Muushka]

All of the above and PARAGRAPHS! Makes it so much easier to read.

 

What I look for in a trip report is neither all good or all bad. But an honest, objective review.

[ellbon]

All of the above and PARAGRAPHS! Makes it so much easier to read.

 

What I look for in a trip report is neither all good or all bad. But an honest, objective review.

 

 

I second that one. I have stopped reading some due to no paragraphs

[petesweet]

I like a balanced review--good and (if any) bad.

 

I like DETAILS about the ship, and that's what I put in my reviews--e.g., what games are available in the game room, details about signing up for the mystery dinner, any "secrets" about the ship, where the muster drill is held (inside our outside).

[diboja]

Two of the mose recent reviews that I have enjoyed were written by "tuggers" and the other by "sailorJack"! One is full of humor and the other is full of specific information. Both were wonderful to read.

 

The following is a condensed version of what I picked up on another site and it makes sense....

 

1. Start your review off with a summary and put it at the top. For example "We loved this ship because the crew catered to our every need. Maybe we plan to read the full reviews later, but for now just want a bird's eye view.

 

2. Stick to specific categories - Cruises have certain elements that are pretty common across the board. We are all interested in your experiences with cabin accommodations, food, activities and entertainment, ports, and both embarkation and disembarkation.

 

3. Try to be balanced - By all means, let us know what disappointed you. If the food was not good, say so. But surely there must be some redeeming qualities about the trip. If so, make mention of them too. By being fair and balanced, you will keep people reading because they will truly want to hear what you have to say. If all they are getting is a stream of negatives, or never-ending positives, chances are they will file your review under the "less than reliable" category and it won't have the impact you intended.

 

4. Be specific - If you didn't care for something about the cruise, try to give your readers some specifics. For example, "the food was terrible" isn't a very useful comment. Readers prefer to have more details. Was it because the choices were limited, or it was served in an unappealing way?

 

5. One technique I've seen some cruisers employ is to eliminate specific headings in their review, and instead use a "plusses and minuses" format for their review. If this works best for you, then by all means use it.

 

6. Have fun with your review - Writing a review on your cruise should be a fun experience. Feel free to interject your own style and even humor in your review. Don't worry about how you sound or what you write. Instead, just write from your heart. If you used a specific vendor in a port for a tour, tell us about the experience. Again, it doesn't have to be a super-detailed review, but give us an overall sense of what your experience was like. If you were disappointed in a tour please tell us why. If you had a wonderful time, tell us about that too – but tell us why!

 

7. Cruise reviews can take many forms, so use the one that works best for you. As long as it is organized in a reasonably easy-to-read format, broken down in sections, your fellow cruisers will benefit from what you have to say. Even if you had a terrible cruise, your review could save someone else from a similar experience and that's exactly why you should write one

[cruisinnorth]

Hi All,

 

This is great feed back... and I absolutely agree on paragraphs. They will be there.

 

Thanks to everyone who has responded and I welcome other opinions also. I am going to take these thoughts with me and try to incorporate as many as possible.

 

Dave

[Sky Sweet]

This is what I like to see in a review.

 

Highlights of the cruise.

 

Best parts of the cruise.

 

Weakest parts of the cruise.

 

Things that made it different from other cruises.

 

Advice to avoid problems that may have been encountered.

 

Favorite and least favorite ports.

 

Feedback on ship sponsored shore excursions.

 

Opinion of pre cruise hotel.

 

I realize that I am in the minority, but I prefer relatively short reviews which incorporate the above than verbose reviews that include every detail from the moment that the person left their house until they returned home.

[sarplum]

The best review I ever read was by Tuggers further down on today's

listing.

[Breezey]

All the above but try to not make it read like a diary. I am with Sky Sweet. Some are way too long and provide too much detail about arriving at the departure city, waiting in line to board, etc. and some are too short and provide no value added to the reader.

 

Hints regarding the specific ship (e.g. where to find something to eat in the middle of the night, where the best entertainment is, where there are cozy or private areas if you want to get away from the crowds on sea days) are always appreciated.

 

Paragraphs are great. I tend to write mine in categories, eg. food, service, ports of call, variety and quality of entertainment etc.

[jackdiamond]

Concise, specific and objective observations, sans rhetoric, are very helpful.

[petesweet]

One question I always have is transportation from hotel (or airport) to ship--especially the cost so I can plan to have the right amount of cash ready. (And how long the trip is.)

[cvat]

Details,as many as posssible!

What shoes did the concierge lady wear, what kind of cufflink did the captain have?!

 

A summery of the ship!

Staff who is friendly who not!

Friendly with pictures and not friendly, as with well pictures.

Bars, menus, what programm is offered.

[junglejane]

I agree with the comments thus far, especially about paragraphs and organization and not making it read like a diary. I also think it helps to know a little about the reviewer: i.e, approx. age, cruising history, and their expectations. Disappointment means something didn't meet the reviewer's expectations, so it's helpful to know something about what those expectations were.

 

The other thing that interests me is some comparison to other ships or other cruise lines. It's not my top priority in reading a review, but I do find it interesting to hear how the reviewer thought the cruise compared to others. Sometimes it helps me get a frame of reference.

 

--Junglejane

[Sky Sweet]

I agree with the comments thus far, especially about paragraphs and organization and not making it read like a diary. I also think it helps to know a little about the reviewer: i.e, approx. age, cruising history, and their expectations. Disappointment means something didn't meet the reviewer's expectations, so it's helpful to know something about what those expectations were.

 

The other thing that interests me is some comparison to other ships or other cruise lines. It's not my top priority in reading a review, but I do find it interesting to hear how the reviewer thought the cruise compared to others. Sometimes it helps me get a frame of reference.

 

--Junglejane

 

Hi Jungle Jane :)

 

I agree with you about the importance of a frame of reference.

 

If someone who has been on five different cruise lines within the past two years says that Celebrity has the best food, it is very different than hearing it from someone who has only sailed on Celebrity ships in that same period of time.

[Muushka]

Being the nosey type, I also like to know the cabin number if the reviewer is making an observation about the location, odors, cigarette smoke, tiny balcony, huge balcony...you get the picture.

[BurgerBits]

ALSO - forgot this one in my original reply - the age ranges of you and your traveling companions.

 

For instance, "We were a family group of 8, ages 22 - 76," or "DH and I are in our 30s."

[Longboysfan]

All of the above and PARAGRAPHS! Makes it so much easier to read.

 

What I look for in a trip report is neither all good or all bad. But an honest, objective review.

 

Be positive and high light the thing you liked and why.

[donaldsc]

I will tell you what I do not want to see in a review. Remember, this is a review of a cruise, not of your life.

 

1) I do not care about how you got from your home city to the cruise city.

 

2) I do not care about missed plane connections or traffic.

 

3) I do not care that you are going on the cruise w your Uncle Charlie and his 6 kids and your mother-in-law.

 

4) I do not care about the problems you had getting from the pre-cruise hotel to the ship.

 

5) I do not care about the quality of the room at your hotel and the fact that burger-a-go-go had really good fries.

 

6) I care even less about problems with your flight home.

 

7) I do not want to see pictures of your entire family at the hotel in Miami or at the restaurant where you had dinner the night before the cruise.

 

My interest starts when you arrive at the embarcation terminal and end when you leave the terminal.

 

Do you get the idea - this a cruise review, not a life review.

 

DON

[Breezey]

Don that was great.

 

Made me laugh out loud! Exactly my sentiments!!!

[Spender Nui]

Pretty much what most have said. An honest objective review stressing things that might provide information that might inform and help someone planning a similar cruise.

[Sky Sweet]

Don that was great.

 

Made me laugh out loud! Exactly my sentiments!!!

 

Hi Breezey and Don - I feel the same way :)

[oceanbums]

I like to hear about the ports and excursions, and the activities on board, especially if it's something that goes beyond the usual hairy chest contests, bingo, trivia, etc. Pictures are nice as long as they aren't repetitive. I like to see different areas of the ship.

 

Maybe it's just me, but knowing every little thing that someone ate in the course of the day is a little to much information, so I would highlight the food likes and dislikes and leave it at that. Just my opinion...