RCI Profits down 44%

[aurelius180]

Yes some little freebies, like I am doing a overnight (free) on Carnival next week and I have two free cruises from other lines but they don't count towards points and that is what your were saying, that it would be easy to get to diamond plus that way.

That is not how it works! It would be nice if it did.

 

 

Yes, it's called marketing. Apparently the cruise lines value the work done and revenue created by TAs so much that they give them short cruises to test out the product. If TAs weren't enough of an asset to the cruise lines this practice would end.

[spongerob]

Is there anything wrong with that?

[coxswain]

Is there anything wrong with that?

 

 

Well as long as they're transparent when giving advice or providing reviews - ie this cruise line gave me this cruise free !!

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[spongerob]

So basically what you're telling me is that if someone from RCI buys me a drink on my cruise, and I say nice things about RCI, I should qualify my statements with an admission that I was given a free cocktail.

 

Should we then also demand the same transparency from those who continually put down their product? You cannot have things both ways. Everyone has motives...

[Sue L]

Thanks Sue for being honest - but i hope these new rules from the FTC will clear things up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

 

Again as TBS and others pointed out there is NO rules from the FTC the stuff you are pointing to has nothing to do with travel agents or even most of the industry. So you should stop bringing it up because it does NOT relate to anything we have all been discussing and your constant posting this bogus stuff totally destroy any credibility. We are clear and transparent and if you don't feel that way then you are dealing with the wrong agent or company.

 

 

The Carnival freebie is an inaugural for agents to see the ship, it will be nice to see it but I don't know if it will be any more likely for me to recommend them and can't say it until I see the ship and the service, that is what a cruise should be judged on. All the lines host different events and lunches, tours because it is much easier to sell what you have seen. They are not giving me a free cruise they are giving me a tour of the ship that I happen to be able to spend the night on, we are not even leaving port. The other two I have are for other lines that I earned by taking a LOT of hours of classes to complete their companies training program.

 

Most of the different companies want TA's to sell their products and provide little trips that they call FAMS (familiarization trips) but they are FAR from vacations. I was able to attend one a couple of months ago with Sandals in Jamaica. We were there in July with about 100 degrees and VERY humid. We arrived at our hotel Sandals Whitehouse at about 7pm, quick shower and change to have a pre planned dinner with the other 16 agents, next morning up at 6am and in a bus by 8am to tour and did not get back from seeing 4 properties in the blistering heat until 8pm that night, next morning had 4 hours of class and then at 1pm we had free time but it poured, so no sun and relaxation fun. Next morning packed and left for the airport late morning. So yes, I got a trip but it was business not vacation. It was a wonderful opportunity but it is not a relaxing vacation.

[xpcdoojk]

So basically what you're telling me is that if someone from RCI buys me a drink on my cruise, and I say nice things about RCI, I should qualify my statements with an admission that I was given a free cocktail.

 

Should we then also demand the same transparency from those who continually put down their product? You cannot have things both ways. Everyone has motives...

 

Spongey, he can't even seem to understand anyone can sign up on cruise critic or any other web page and be anyone they want to be. It is an anonymous forum. Anonymous means you don't know who people are. People are under no legal requirement to post the truth here (this allows jj's posts to stay since truth and jj posts so rarely converge). Therefore I can come on here and pretend to be a socialists coxswain and nobody can prove I am or am not. Therefore, with simple logic, read everything on the internet with suspicion. Caveat Emptor, buyer beware. Then this stupid FTC statement implies that someone is going to vette forums like this, seriously. Delusional doesn't even begin to cover it. Something like that probably happens in Red China... does jj really want a police state in the UK or the USA? Really?:rolleyes:

 

I think everyone needs to think about how impossible it would be for the FTC to make sure that posters at CC who are positive or negative are not being paid to make those posts. Like I said, impossible and looney.

 

jc

[coxswain]

So basically what you're telling me is that if someone from RCI buys me a drink on my cruise, and I say nice things about RCI, I should qualify my statements with an admission that I was given a free cocktail.

 

Should we then also demand the same transparency from those who continually put down their product? You cannot have things both ways. Everyone has motives...

 

 

 

No thats not what i'm telling you - i'm saying if given a free cruise or a number of free cruises and then you're reviewing them or giving advice it should be made clear that you are a TA.

 

 

Let me make it clear i don't feel its wrong that TA's are given free cruises because at the end of the day they're are trying to sell that product to the public - and i feel that most TA's do a great job.

 

But there could be a perception that some people ( and i say people because we've no way of knowing who is a TA on here unless like they're honest enough like Sue-L to say ) are given free cruises for providing favourable online reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

 

jj.......

[Sue L]

No thats not what i'm telling you - i'm saying if given a free cruise or a number of free cruises and then you're reviewing them or giving advice it should be made clear that you are a TA.

 

 

Let me make it clear i don't feel its wrong that TA's are given free cruises because at the end of the day they're are trying to sell that product to the public - and i feel that most TA's do a great job.

 

But there could be a perception that some people ( and i say people because we've no way of knowing who is a TA on here unless like they're honest enough like Sue-L to say ) are given free cruises for providing favourable online reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

 

jj.......

 

How dare you, do NOT put words in my mouth , where did I say we were given free cruises to give favorable reviews? NEVER!!!!! EVER Do NOT even insinuate it!!!! as it is not true. You have gone to far and I DEMAND an apology for that remark

[spongerob]

But there could be a perception that some people ( and i say people because we've no way of knowing who is a TA on here unless like they're honest enough like Sue-L to say ) are given free cruises for providing favourable online reviews.

.......

There could also be a perception that someone who is consistently negative and posts unsupportable accusations is receiving some form of compensation as well. Particularly when that criticism has only a single target.

[spongerob]

Spongey, he can't even seem to understand anyone can sign up on cruise critic or any other web page and be anyone they want to be.

jc

I know. But it's fun to keep it going.

[coxswain]

Yes some little freebies, like I am doing a overnight (free) on Carnival next week and I have two free cruises from other lines but they don't count towards points and that is what your were saying, that it would be easy to get to diamond plus that way.

That is not how it works! It would be nice if it did.

 

 

 

If you look at my words Sue - i was pointing out that you were honest enough to say you're a TA. Therefore people can read your reviews and bare that in mind.

 

I didn't say you were providing favourable reviews if you read my post again carefully.

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

[xpcdoojk]

jj, are you getting a list of names from the Oasis pre-inaugurals so that that FTC can implement their brilliant new strategy? I heard a rumor that RCI was only inviting people willing to blog on the internet about the Oasis were being selected for the "free" cruises. I heard something about an old football term called flood the zone. They are going to dump so many paid for shills into these forums that they will completely drown out all voices to the contrary that Oasis is not the best cruising experience ever. I have this from someone very high up at RCI, I am going to drop a couple of initials just on the outside you have heard of it so you can get to the bottom of this crisis, ag.... There are going to be thousands of these leads that the FTC must follow to stop this travesty....

 

jc;) now knows what rocks hear when spoken to.;)

[Sue L]

If you look at my words Sue - i was pointing out that you were honest enough to say you're a TA. Therefore people can read your reviews and bare that in mind.

 

I didn't say you were providing favourable reviews if you read my post again carefully.

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

You insinuated it by putting it in the same sentence with your ludicrous statement and making it sound like that is what I was honest about, not about being a TA, where is my apology????

[Cruising89143]

No thats not what i'm telling you - i'm saying if given a free cruise or a number of free cruises and then you're reviewing them or giving advice it should be made clear that you are a TA.

 

 

Let me make it clear i don't feel its wrong that TA's are given free cruises because at the end of the day they're are trying to sell that product to the public - and i feel that most TA's do a great job.

 

But there could be a perception that some people ( and i say people because we've no way of knowing who is a TA on here unless like they're honest enough like Sue-L to say ) are given free cruises for providing favourable online reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

jj.......

 

 

jj.......

 

 

And how much are you being paid by the Carnival Corporation to come to the different cruise boards and start negative threads about RCI? Come on, let us know. It goes both ways. ;)

[xpcdoojk]

And how much are you being paid by the Carnival Corporation to come to the different cruise boards and start negative threads about RCI? Come on, let us know. It goes both ways. ;)

 

I have been asking him to prove he isn't paid by Carnival for months. He still has failed to provide that proof. Therefore he does work for Carnival. QED.

 

jc:D

[Cruising89143]

You insinuated it by putting it in the same sentence with your ludicrous statement and making it sound like that is what I was honest about, not about being a TA, where is my apology????

 

Sue, you're in losing battle with this guy. He is always right and everyone is wrong. :rolleyes:

[Sue L]

Sue, you're in losing battle with this guy. He is always right and everyone is wrong. :rolleyes:

 

Well, I don't like my reputation affected, even by him, you would never know we were on the same tour two weeks ago in Venice.:rolleyes::eek:

[Cruising89143]

Well, I don't like my reputation affected, even by him, you would never know we were on the same tour two weeks ago in Venice.:rolleyes::eek:

 

I don't blame you at all but just take his comments for what they're worth. Nothing. I think the majority that read this board have come to the conclusion that he is only here to stir the pot.

[coxswain]

You insinuated it by putting it in the same sentence with your ludicrous statement and making it sound like that is what I was honest about, not about being a TA, where is my apology????

 

 

 

I don't feel i've anything to apologise for and if anyone reads my posts i'm sure they'll see i was actually praising you for admitting you're a TA.

 

Therefore members can read your reviews in that context.

 

As the FTC says

 

"The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that 'material connections' (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers--connections that consumers would not expect--must be disclosed"

 

 

 

Which once again i say is great for the consumer.

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[coxswain]

Well, I don't like my reputation affected, even by him, you would never know we were on the same tour two weeks ago in Venice.:rolleyes::eek:

 

 

 

Now Sue - was that the tour i recommend to you ?? what if i was to tell you for recommending that tour to you and your friends i got it for free ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[Sue L]

I don't feel i've anything to apologise for and if anyone reads my posts i'm sure they'll see i was actually praising you for admitting you're a TA.

 

Therefore members can read your reviews in that context.

 

As the FTC says

 

"The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that 'material connections' (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers--connections that consumers would not expect--must be disclosed"

 

 

 

Which once again i say is great for the consumer.

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

 

Once again, has nothing to do with this board or travel agents, once again ...pure dribble.

[Sue L]

Now Sue - was that the tour i recommend to you ?? what if i was to tell you for recommending that tour to you and your friends i got it for free ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

 

I would say fine as many places give free things for bringing in people, not that I would believe you but.... I thought the tour guide was part gestapo and she is lucky none of us were given the opportunity to review her.

[alexkrn46]

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/ftc-bloggers/

 

It will be interesting to see how the administrators on this site handle this.

 

If RCCL infiltrates forums with positive reviews on the Oasis, it will be another mistake.

[coxswain]

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/ftc-bloggers/

 

It will be interesting to see how the administrators on this site handle this.

 

If RCCL infiltrates forums with positive reviews on the Oasis, it will be another mistake.

 

 

 

I agree it will be interesting to see - i'm sure they'll be working with their parent company to put new rules in place.

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[Sue L]

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/ftc-bloggers/

 

It will be interesting to see how the administrators on this site handle this.

 

If RCCL infiltrates forums with positive reviews on the Oasis, it will be another mistake.

 

 

this is not a blog though, besides it is a lot of hot air to legitimize the existence of the agency, they can't get rid of porn do you honestly think they are going to go after someone who got free dog food?