What do you enjoy about a review?

[Xcitdcruiser]

Our cruise is almost here & I'm eagerly waiting to read reviews of the Summit out of San Juan.

 

This got me thinking, why? I LUURRVVVE reading about other people's experiences on places we are heading to, the ships insider tips & tricks (ie special handshakes ;)), looking at photos & most importantly, it gets me excited!

 

I hope to contribute with a review of my own upon my return - what do you enjoy about reviews? What makes a X cruise review successful?

[Doudounka]

Here is what i don't like about some reviews :

 

All out bashing, all out everything was so wrong, all out how this cruise line or ship is so bad, that nothing is good.

 

Also

 

All out loving, all out everything was perfect.

 

In my opinion a good review will list the near perfect things, the good things and things that need improvment.

 

But i will never believe in reviews that are a 0/10 or a 10/10, there is always good and bad, sometimes more good than bad, but there is always a shade of grey somewhere.

[Fouremco]

I'm totally with Doudounka. Give me a realistic, balanced review.

[miched]

What the others posted

 

What I don't like is a full diary about every moment that someone did from the time they boarded until they got home. Don't need to read that someone woke up, took a shower, ate in the buffet, and etc unless it relates to something that adds to the review.

 

 

.🎃

[cricketgal]

Here is what i don't like about some reviews :

 

All out bashing, all out everything was so wrong, all out how this cruise line or ship is so bad, that nothing is good.

 

Also

 

All out loving, all out everything was perfect.

 

In my opinion a good review will list the near perfect things, the good things and things that need improvment.

 

But i will never believe in reviews that are a 0/10 or a 10/10, there is always good and bad, sometimes more good than bad, but there is always a shade of grey somewhere.

 

 

Totally agree with this. I also like reviews to include paragraphs. I find it very difficult to follow a long review not broken down into subjects/paragraphs.

 

Also like details on food, beverage, service, entertainment, embarkation/debarkation, cabins, ports, and so on

[snyniew]

Personally new to the cruising thing the best review I've read has been from JW. He included personal experiences which also included the area of the ship and the cruise. Left me waiting and wanting for more. Another good review I've read was from Library Lady on the Reflection. She included great points of the ship as well as pictures that gave you a great idea of what the cruise was like.

 

But for the entertainment factor nothing beats a JW & Jerome review. Reading one now and can't wait for the next installment.

[Bstein493]

Reviews are ok, but everyone has such different tastes, that I read them but make my own decisions when I get on board. Nothing is ever perfect but I am thankful just to sail. Don't want too many details either.

[OCruisers]

Especially enjoy reading reviews with opinions of both the good and the bad. :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[wvufan]

What the others posted

 

What I don't like is a full diary about every moment that someone did from the time they boarded until they got home. Don't need to read that someone woke up, took a shower, ate in the buffet, and etc unless it relates to something that adds to the review.

 

 

.

 

I agree 100%. I also don't like those who "inspect" the ship for every flaw. Heck, I want to sail on her, not buy her ;).

 

Radio makes by far the best reviews I've ever read.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

[Nebr.cruiser]

Totally agree with this. I also like reviews to include paragraphs. I find it very difficult to follow a long review not broken down into subjects/paragraphs.

 

Also like details on food, beverage, service, entertainment, embarkation/debarkation, cabins, ports, and so on

 

Yes, please, paragraphs--I don't even attempt to read reviews that are one long page with no breaks--too hard on the eyes and head.

 

I agree with others, concise, organized, objective and balanced. I also love a little humor, if applicable.

 

I don't want to hear every little detail, as in 'we stopped for gas on the trip down, ate at ....., walked to the supermarket, bought XXXX souvenirs, etc.

[phoenix_dream]

Here is what i don't like about some reviews :

 

All out bashing, all out everything was so wrong, all out how this cruise line or ship is so bad, that nothing is good.

 

Also

 

All out loving, all out everything was perfect.

 

In my opinion a good review will list the near perfect things, the good things and things that need improvment.

 

But i will never believe in reviews that are a 0/10 or a 10/10, there is always good and bad, sometimes more good than bad, but there is always a shade of grey somewhere.

I agree overall with what you said,but truthfully I have been on a handful of 10/10 cruises through the years. I would say for those types of reviews, look at some of the author's other reviews if there are some. That will give some perspective as to whether they are just cheerleaders or if the cruise was really that good. My pet peeve is overly personal reviews filled with TMI. It's a review, not a diary

[jackdiamond]

Brevity.

[wallie5446]

The good, the sad, the ugly, the nice, it don't matter. The mere fact someone gives the rest of us a bit of their time to share. We all look at a vacation with different expectation's and have very different feelings as we look thru those rose colored glasses:D

[Texed]

The good, the sad, the ugly, the nice, it don't matter. The mere fact someone gives the rest of us a bit of their time to share. We all look at a vacation with different expectation's and have very different feelings as we look thru those rose colored glasses:D

 

Great post. :)

[jakenashleysmom]

I agree 100%. I also don't like those who "inspect" the ship for every flaw. Heck, I want to sail on her, not buy her ;).

 

Radio makes by far the best reviews I've ever read.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

 

Agreed about Radio's reviews! That said, I don't read reviews unless they have pictures!

[HeatherC430]

Our cruise is almost here & I'm eagerly waiting to read reviews of the Summit out of San Juan.

 

This got me thinking, why? I LUURRVVVE reading about other people's experiences on places we are heading to, the ships insider tips & tricks (ie special handshakes ;)), looking at photos & most importantly, it gets me excited!

 

I hope to contribute with a review of my own upon my return - what do you enjoy about reviews? What makes a X cruise review successful?

 

Detailed picture reviews are my favorite! I appreciate a detailed, play-by-play of everything start to finish. These reviews help me most in the planning process. As others have said, layout and organization of the review is also helpful when reading.

 

I have noticed, these picture reviews seem to be harder to find on the Celebrity board (at least in comparison to Carnival). Does anyone know why this is? I’ve only found a handful of reviews of the Southern Caribbean on the Summit. I'm excited for my first Celebrity cruise & wish there was more available to read pre-cruise! It looks like you’ll be on the Summit a few weeks after me!

[kayehall]

pictures

[lovestx]

As a relatively new cruiser, I have to say that I love it all about reviews. And I love all of the little details as it helps me with my planning. Comments about timing (how long to get through embarkation lines, when to line up for tender tickets, etc.) can be very helpful as I (over)plan my upcoming trips.

 

I'm not as big a fan of food porn or even food descriptions but understand that others are. So I just skim through those spots.

 

But I will focus on things like "plenty of loungers available at the pool at 11 a.m. on a Sea Day" or "to find the Metro stop in Athens port, keep the water on your left" as that really helps me.

 

Thanks to all for writing them!

[theampres]

But for the entertainment factor nothing beats a JW & Jerome review. Reading one now and can't wait for the next installment.

 

if you like 'entertaining' reviews, you must read any by SailorJack - imo, the absolute best in entertainment value! great writer, LOL funny, and informative, too. he's got quite a following on these boards. (most?) recent review, Antarctica on Infinity, this past Jan-Feb, I think...discovered him a few yrs. ago when sailing around the Horn, BA to Santiago - one of my all-time favorite reviews of anything ever! a must-read for anyone doing that cruise or simply if you want a good laugh! love, love, love SailorJack reviews :):):)

[CruisingGatorGirl]

I am also somewhat new to cruising, well new to X. I wrote a review on our last trip. Mine are on the personal side, more diary style. I do try to add informative bits but in general mine are more like a story. I am not big on food porn pics, or seeing the Celebrity Today- because I like to be surprised when I am on ship :) However, I do like LOTS of pictures!

 

Everyone has a different style and likes and dislikes. I like all reviews for the most part because I am just glad to read about others experiences and it gets me excited to cruise :D

 

I do a lot of research and academic writing in my personal life, therefore when it comes to trip reports I try to make them fun, go with the flow, write how I feel- if that makes sense! I am so tired of sources, facts, and statistics that when I write for pleasure I avoid it! :rolleyes::o

[Nebr.cruiser]

if you like 'entertaining' reviews, you must read any by SailorJack - imo, the absolute best in entertainment value! great writer, LOL funny, and informative, too. he's got quite a following on these boards. (most?) recent review, Antarctica on Infinity, this past Jan-Feb, I think...discovered him a few yrs. ago when sailing around the Horn, BA to Santiago - one of my all-time favorite reviews of anything ever! a must-read for anyone doing that cruise or simply if you want a good laugh! love, love, love SailorJack reviews :):):)

 

Love SailorJack reviews too! Really, he should publish a book. His review of what most would call 'a cruise from Hell' in South America is absolutely priceless--I think it is the review you are referring to, where there ship was more or less 'stuck' in harbor for days and everything that could go wrong di go wrong--but his sense of humor made it all seem like fun.

 

I like some pictures in reviews, but not dozens or hundreds, and prefer report style rather than diary style.

[yukongold]

if you like 'entertaining' reviews, you must read any by SailorJack - imo, the absolute best in entertainment value! great writer, LOL funny, and informative, too. he's got quite a following on these boards. (most?) recent review, Antarctica on Infinity, this past Jan-Feb, I think...discovered him a few yrs. ago when sailing around the Horn, BA to Santiago - one of my all-time favorite reviews of anything ever! a must-read for anyone doing that cruise or simply if you want a good laugh! love, love, love SailorJack reviews :):):)

 

The Infinity review was priceless...and I don't like cold weather!

[Maligator]

I like humorous, balanced and objective reviews that focus on realistic observations and details about the reviewer's itinerary. I like photos and anecdotes and vivid descriptions of their experiences.

 

I don't care for bullet lists of everything that went wrong. I don't care for obvious slighting based on some bias: dislike of a specific cruise line, unabashed love affair with their favorite cruise line (i.e. "ABC was sooooo disappointing, which is why I cringe at sailing anything but XYZ.") and such.

 

[clears throat; innocently points to the review linked in my signature] :D

[Xcitdcruiser]

Really interesting to see that many CC's don't enjoy the 'diary' style of a review. I have found that these are the ones that get most attention (hits / views) & constantly stay on the front page - which is what gets me hooked!

[Xcitdcruiser]

Detailed picture reviews are my favorite! I appreciate a detailed, play-by-play of everything start to finish. These reviews help me most in the planning process. As others have said, layout and organization of the review is also helpful when reading.

 

I have noticed, these picture reviews seem to be harder to find on the Celebrity board (at least in comparison to Carnival). Does anyone know why this is? I’ve only found a handful of reviews of the Southern Caribbean on the Summit. I'm excited for my first Celebrity cruise & wish there was more available to read pre-cruise! It looks like you’ll be on the Summit a few weeks after me!

 

I'm a new cruiser, the upcoming Summit will be the first one since the internet has been around & the reviews get me so excited!! We are actually flying 30 hours to get to Puerto Rico!!

 

I have come across a couple of Carnival reviews - if there are any that you recommend, please post away.

 

Looking forward to reading about your adventures!