Some thoughts from an old-timer: Now I see why first-timers are saying they're "terrified", "overwhelmed", "panic-stricken"

[MacMadame]

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

But, how do you know if you need a filter if you don't know anything about what you are reading?

Common sense? I mean reading that food isn't included on a cruise, I wouldn't just say "Oh, no, I didn't know that." I would assume the poster was confused.

 

I've learned a lot from these boards and I think lots of people can say the same.

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

We all must be diligent of what we read on any online platform today.

 

I have witnessed quite a few first time cruisers get some good information here on CC, but of course it is subjective to the person providing the guidance.

 

Your impression may be different than mine, and sometimes someone rushes to post an answer that may not be completely true....

 

But, how do you know if you need a filter if you don't know anything about what you are reading?

 

The answer to your last question is your opening sentence!

 

I agree about there being a lot of good info on these forums and should be careful to not downplay that.  

[Hlitner]

We think the OP's post is brilliant and touches on a subject we have not seen here on CC.  I started my world travel life back in 1967 (thanks to the USAF) and my first cruise was in the early 70s.  In those days, once you decided (with the help of a travel agent) which cruise, you just went along with program with few decisions (i.e. early or late seating).  

 

Now, after more than 50 years of extensive cruising and DIY world travel, most travel-related issues are pretty easy....for me!  But when we chat with other cruises (many of whom also have decades of travel under their belt) I realize that we are not the norm for most Americans.  For us, renting a car in Europe and just driving (we recently drove through Slovenia, Austria, and Italy...after a cruise) is not any more difficult than renting a car near home.  But others tell me they are reluctant to do anything on their own, worry about language barriers, have no clue about driving rules in other countries, etc.

 

On cruises there are now many dining options (some ships have more than a dozen restaurants), multiple entertainment venues, etc.  As a long time CC contributor (from the first days of CC) I am biased and think this site is one of the best places to get the info necessary to deal with cruise lines and even some DIY travel.  I do think younger folks are truly blessed to have so many options, but also realize (partially because of the OP's post) that the travel/cruise world can be intimidating to many folks.  I also think that the mass market cruise lines have made a science out of using these self-doubts as a lever to get folks to spend money where there is little/no need.  Such is life in the 21st century.

 

Hank

[shipgeeks]

I should mention that most of the misinformation I read is on "another site" rather than CC....but it is very popular, and followed by millions rather than thousands.  I always said I would never take part in that site, but I got sucked in by becoming aware of some truly bad information, and took on the role of teacher/advisor.  Now I can't stop.

[john watson]

The big problem with internet website forums with topics such as cruising is that not every contributor is genuine.  People post information which they know is not true disingenuously and others have heard what a friend of a friend said about a specific aspect of cruising.  Others have heard things which were true many years ago but no longer happen.

 

Regards John

[ldubs]

17 hours ago, john watson said:

The big problem with internet website forums with topics such as cruising is that not every contributor is genuine.  People post information which they know is not true disingenuously and others have heard what a friend of a friend said about a specific aspect of cruising.  Others have heard things which were true many years ago but no longer happen.

 

Regards John

 

It is kind of sad to think someone needs to intentionally mislead.  I'm sure many folks, myself included, have unintentionally provided bad info.  Especially with those hearsay type things that seem to take on a life of their own.   

[shipgeeks]

46 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

It is kind of sad to think someone needs to intentionally mislead.  I'm sure many folks, myself included, have unintentionally provided bad info.  Especially with those hearsay type things that seem to take on a life of their own.   

I see a lot of those hearsay things.

And then there are those who reply to "I'm so excited; I just booked a cruise on XYZ" by saying "That was stupid; that's the worst ship in the fleet!"  Some people are just mean.

[john watson]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

It is kind of sad to think someone needs to intentionally mislead.  I'm sure many folks, myself included, have unintentionally provided bad info.  Especially with those hearsay type things that seem to take on a life of their own.   

 

There is no shame in posting things you genuinely believe to be accurate, correct and still applies today. Whenever you glean information on Cruise Critic you should always realise it is the posters opinion. Anyone should exercise common sense in assessing whether it is true and the only overall authority in most cases is the actual cruise line.

 

Regards John

[ldubs]

43 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

I see a lot of those hearsay things.

And then there are those who reply to "I'm so excited; I just booked a cruise on XYZ" by saying "That was stupid; that's the worst ship in the fleet!"  Some people are just mean.

 

Yes, there is entirely too much of that.  

[john watson]

45 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

I see a lot of those hearsay things.

And then there are those who reply to "I'm so excited; I just booked a cruise on XYZ" by saying "That was stupid; that's the worst ship in the fleet!"  Some people are just mean.

 

When reading this type of post a sensible person will ask themselves; What experience has the respondent had in respect of that cruise line.  I am thinking, to be the worst ship in the fleet one would have needed to sail on every XYZ line vessel to come to this conclusion.  Why has the guy persevered with all the ships on such a line? In addition any assessment of a ship is subjective and how has one assessed this particular ship.  It might be that breakfast in the MDR finishes at 9 am thus ruining one guys cruise but irrelevant to 99% of all other cruisers.

 

Regards John

Edited May 19 by john watson

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[CDNPolar]

18 hours ago, john watson said:

 

There is no shame in posting things you genuinely believe to be accurate, correct and still applies today. Whenever you glean information on Cruise Critic you should always realise it is the posters opinion. Anyone should exercise common sense in assessing whether it is true and the only overall authority in most cases is the actual cruise line.

 

Regards John

 

I am certainly more careful now because I have in the past posted something that I "believed" to be true, but then was corrected by others.  

 

Now when I do post I will often add, if appropriate, "this is my opinion" or "in my opinion" because your personal opinion is not always the same as fact.

 

Although I never intended to post something that was not true, I am grateful to those on CC that have more experience and are also skilled at politely correcting you with the correct information.

[ldubs]

22 hours ago, john watson said:

 

When reading this type of post a sensible person will ask themselves; What experience has the respondent had in respect of that cruise line.  I am thinking, to be the worst ship in the fleet one would have needed to sail on every XYZ line vessel to come to this conclusion.  Why has the guy persevered with all the ships on such a line? In addition any assessment of a ship is subjective and how has one assessed this particular ship.  It might be that breakfast in the MDR finishes at 9 am thus ruining one guys cruise but irrelevant to 99% of all other cruisers.

 

Regards John

 

I think some posters also jump on the bandwagon.  One person says ship XYZ is terrible.  All of the sudden, many people are saying avoid ship XYZ. 

[CDNPolar]

18 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I think some posters also jump on the bandwagon.  One person says ship XYZ is terrible.  All of the sudden, many people are saying avoid ship XYZ. 

 

Yes, "bandwagons" are a thing for sure!