Calling all HAL CC addicts out there ... would you pay to use the Boards?

[HeatherInFlorida]

Okay, I admit I saw this over on the Celebrity boards, but isn't duplication the sincerest form of flattery?;)

From what I read on the Celebrity thread, CC is considering offering "premium" membership in the CC message boards for a fee. On the Celebrity Boards they made this a poll, but I've had enough of polls for the short term:o , so I'm just putting the question out there because I think it's a fascinating one.

If you have to pay to use the CC message boards, will you? My answer is it depends how much. That's my answer for almost everything:) .

Also, I suggested it could be a membership like Webshots where you can only post a certain number of times per month if you're a non-paying member. Guess that would make some of us stop and think before we start tapping the keys!!! LOL!!!:D

So what does everyone think? How addicted are you?

[trubey]

I've been wondering if this would happen ever since I came across the User Control Panel option called "Paid Subscriptions".

Susan.

[tiffnco]

Hmmm...I'm with Heather...it all depends on how much. I do subscribe to Webshots and don't mind paying the fee...since it lets me post as many pictures as I want to an album.

I do get a ton of information from this site and if I couldn't access it...you have to wonder...how much information would be on here? I'm sure we'd lose some folks...but I for one think I could be suckered into paying a small fee. After all, where else would I go to chat about my favorite activity :rolleyes:

Tiffany

[dakrewser]

It would depend on three things:

1) the actual price
2) the benefits for subscribers
3) the availability of non-paid cruise discussion forums

[Cuttle]

Like everyone else, it would depend on how much?

As a virtual "newbie" to these Boards (I found the web site at the end of December) I have had a lot of pleasure reading and learning and even posting once in a while. We have been on 16 cruises, (usually the longer ones) for a total of 199 days and I have learned more in these last three months than I ever knew when we were cruising. Due to ill-health we may not cruise again (I am still hoping??), but it all depends..... Just to read about other peoples' cruises, their anticipation as they book and get close and then go on their cruises and post a report either from the cruise or after, keeps my cruising memories and longing alive. If everyone had to pay we may not get the same help and information as the membership would be more limited. Now I have found CC I would really miss my daily check.

[CrabbyHarper]

Probably not. I enjoy the boards, but I am too much of a skinflint to pay for these boards. There is so much good stuff out there that is free. You just have to look for it.

[SHayesShip]

No!
Steve Hayes

[FlorenceItaly]

depends on cost, benefits etc, BUT, on the other hand there are other FREE sites out there, AND I spend way too much time on the CC boards anyway...

Marie

[tomc]

Depends on what "Paid Subscriptions" means. The site? Extra features?

[Adk~Cruiser]

On another board I am on, you can choose to be a sponsor...and depending on the level of sponsorship you get various perks for doing so...but the board is still there for all to use with the exception of a private forum for said sponsors.

I lurk a lot here and really enjoy the board - I guess it would depend on the amount, etc.

[K&RCurt]

As may have said already ...It depends on how much was charged.

HOWEVER....If I were PAYING to post and access this site I would expect CC to show more restraint before pulling threads w/o explaination. As an example there were several threads regarding the resignation of the head of RCCL on the Royal Caribbean board that just disappeared. If I were PAYING for the privilige to post the excuse that "It's their BB and as it's free so you have no right to complain" would no longer be valid. I would expect the moderators to explain why threads were pulled, not just have them disappear.

Just m $0.02

[HeatherInFlorida]

K&RCurt, that's a very good point!

Cuttle, I love your post ... most especially I love this part: "Just to read about other peoples' cruises, their anticipation as they book and get close and then go on their cruises and post a report either from the cruise or after, keeps my cruising memories and longing alive."

[Cuttle]

Heather:

I should have added, "looking at everyones' cruise photos" It is wonderful that they "share" these on the Boards.

[HDBoy]

Absolutely Not. "Internet informations are supposed to be free"

HDBoy

[Aussie Gal]

No I don't think I would pay. I would miss the C.C. Board very much but there are other boards out there and really I do spend too much time on this and not enough time doing other things!

I know my DH would be much happier if I wasn't on the Board so much.;) ;)

Jennie

[paradisegal]

Nope.:rolleyes:

[jhannah]

I think it would drive folks to another board. Of course, that one might implement a fee as well. While I'm basically against having to pay, it would depend on how much. Then, if the price were reasonable, I would expect NO ADVERTISING and a board that was kept up and running efficiently 24/7.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I'm with you there, Jim, 100%. In fact, that's how Webshots is. If you pay then you have no advertising. I don't pay. I have 2 accounts, but they're both the free ones. I'm happy limiting the number of photos I put up there.

But being limited in how many posts I could make, or how much access I would have, could be a problem for me;) ... I'm not exactly a woman of few words. No comments, anyone!!!:p

[newcruiser452]

But I would not pay for the service. I would most likely start looking elsewhere.

[mayesd]

I do quite a bit of lurking here and I've learned the value of the information so I might pay but probably not. If I had never been to this site before I know I wouldn't pay to find out what's going on.

[Catnip]

A big, fat NO!!!!!!!

Maybe if you were allowed more leniency with your posts, but I feel the censorship is way too tight here to pay for........ (just my $.02 worth)

[peaches from georgia]

I think CC would be making a big mistake by charging.

There are way too many other cruise boards where information and cruise talk are available and they would benefit from CC members moving over.

[Cuttle]

What you don't become aware of on these boards is amazing. After only finding CC recently, now I learn there are other similar boards. I have never searched for them, but this thread has me Googling around. Interesting what you find! Contrary to what I posted previously, I would like to change my "vote" - I guess I'll stay with CC as long as they don't start charging a fee.

[Iggipolka]

I miss the old days of the internet, before the Web, where information was traded freely. I'm getting really tired of having to pay for so much stuff online that used to be free.

In order for me to even think about paying for CC they'd have to remove the censorship (i.e. allow users to share their TA's contact info), have the board working much more smoothly on a consistent basis and have zero advertising on the paid site.

[iluvcruzin]

Many good points listed. I personally wouldn't pay. There's plenty of cruise message boards out there existing that are free for use. To comment on HDboy's "Internet information is supposed to be free" - this isn't always true. If the board is privately owned (I'm not sure who owns this one as I haven't paid attention), they can control who can view & participate and have free reign of censorship. They can also put a price on the information if they choose.

[kryos]

I do get a ton of information from this site and if I couldn't access it...you have to wonder...how much information would be on here? I'm sure we'd lose some folks...but I for one think I could be suckered into paying a small fee. After all, where else would I go to chat about my favorite activity :rolleyes:

I would imagine you could always read the boards, even without paying the fee. You probably just wouldn't be able to post, or would be limited in the number of posts you could make a month.

I guess paying a fee to use the boards is probably inevitable. We see how slow these boards become sometimes and that is because the servers are probably overburdened. To upgrade to better, more faster servers that could handle the traffic is gonna cost money. That money is gonna have to come from somewhere and unfortunately, paid subscriptions is the most logical choice.

I would just hope that if there is gonna be a paid subscription, there would be some added services that we don't get now. Perhaps each subscriber would have a special area where photos could be posted ... maybe even a limited amount of web space where the subscriber could put up their "cruise pages." I just hope the paid subscription option would offer premium service like these types of extras, with the basic services we get now remaining free.

If we go paid subscribers for the same services we get for free now, there is no getting around it. We're gonna lose a bunch of folks. With their loss is gonna come the loss of the diversity of opinions we get now on these boards, and that is gonna degrade the value of the boards overall.

Paid subscriptions are fine, but give a bunch of extra services for the money and keep what we have now as free. Then we'll have the best of both worlds as long as the cost for a paid subscription is reasonable.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[HeatherInFlorida]

I want to clarify for anyone who may not have read my OP. I'm not saying that they're going to charge. I said that it APPEARS from what LauraS wrote on the Celebrity thread about this, that they're thinking of charging for "premium" members. Those members would have added services.

I was going to provide a link to the Celebrity thread, but it seems to have mysteriously vanished! Maybe I just can't see properly, but I can't find it andit's no longer in my "subscriptions". Guess this will be gone soon, too!

I did not get the impression that everyone would be charged so no need to go running anywhere YET:D :

[Landlubber54]

If I continue to have access to the informative and entertaining boards, I really don't feel much of a need for additional benefits.

[WillK]

A decent magazine subscription can easily run $30.00 and I get at least that much pleasure from reading the board. Will

[Ziggy7]

I wouldnt pay, I would just lurk :) I cant get into trouble that way either!

[gizmo]

NOPE, I would not pay, even for some kind of premium membership.

There are plenty of other sites out there.

[SueOverend]

It would depend on the level of uptake. If only 10% of people paid up, the level of information on the boards would be diminished, so being a paid member would not therefore be worth it. I think it would be a big mistake by Cruise Critic if they did this.

[FlorenceItaly]

I love your Westerdam banner/ ticker!!!

Marie

[Himself]

I have my doubts as to whether I would pay to use these boards.

[dakrewser]

I wouldnt pay, I would just lurk :) I cant get into trouble that way either!

I'll bet you can get into trouble even while you're asleep!:rolleyes:

[Ziggy7]

I love your Westerdam banner/ ticker!!!

MarieHey Marie, please feel free to use it! Are you joining us ??? I sure hope so!


Dave - Now be nice :p

[HeatherInFlorida]

Ziggy, I'm pretty sure Marie is onboard with us:D . Marie, I don't think I have your email address! Send it to me, okay?

[BCEagle78]

I too have enjoyed this forum for getting information on the fine art of cruising...but I don't think it would be worth it to me to pay for this.

Like others have said, if this was a paid-subscription the supply of contributors would be diminished so the information would be limited. Charging a fee would risk making the CC boards irrelevant. Just too many other choices out there...

[FranD]

Nope, No Pay, No Way! Cheers!

[Charliesmom]

I wouldn't pay. But then again, I won't pay to shop in a warehouse club either. Cruise Critic used to have sponsors who advertised specials at the top of the page. I guess they still do since there is a "Cruise Agencies" at the top of the page. I never noticed it until tonight.

Roberta

[Cruiseoften]

My first reaction is that I would NOT want to pay for CC or any other message board. I'd have to know just what

"premium" members. Those members would have added services. means....and cost would also have to be very reasonable.

Many of the questions posted on CC could be answered by a good TA, reading the brochure or, in some instances, a call to the Line's Customer Service number......and dare I say, a little research!.....some posters seem to want everything handed to them on a platter!

Most Lines have brochures which spell out the dress code, tipping policy etc. etc. You must read and compare.

We started cruising long before there was "http://www." - we went by what our TA and the Line's brochure (we read it cover to cover!) said..........we were on our own................

Our first cruise was a wonderful, magical adventure.....we learned as we went along. We met people, made friends and have kept in touch with several couples ever since. Now, some 40 cruises later, we're still learning. Frankly, I don't want to always have all the answers - life could become very dull if there is nothing to be discovered! Every cruise is what YOU make it!

[HeatherInFlorida]

..........Many of the questions posted on CC could be answered by a good TA, reading the brochure or, in some instances, a call to the Line's Customer Service number......and dare I say, a little research!.....some posters seem to want everything handed to them on a platter!

Most Lines have brochures which spell out the dress code, tipping policy etc. etc. You must read and compare.

We started cruising long before there was "http://www." - we went by what our TA and the Line's brochure (we read it cover to cover!) said..........we were on our own................

Our first cruise was a wonderful, magical adventure.....we learned as we went along. We met people, made friends and have kept in touch with several couples ever since. Now, some 40 cruises later, we're still learning. Frankly, I don't want to always have all the answers - life could become very dull if there is nothing to be discovered! Every cruise is what YOU make it!

I love what you said! I couldn't agree more. In many ways, our first cruise was our best cruise. There is adventure in mystery and vice versa.:)

Which is why I almost wish they'd charge ..... and break my addiction.;) I was fine before the CC boards and I'll be fine after. I'd just be a little richer for the friends I've made here and I can take them with me.

[cruznon]

No, wouldn't pay. I' d miss CC boards--it's become addictive. There would probably be another "cruise board" that would surface, be free and attract many cruisers.

[Himself]

Please explain "premium services". I don't know what these would be
Himself