what % of people do recearch before a cruise

[steveomaha]

Was just wondering what percentage of new cruisers do you think search the net for info about a cruise before they book ? do the TA 'S tell new people about this site ? i was amazed at how Manny people i met when i would go down to the ports to see the ships in Lauderdale that had never herd of this site ,or had not found out any info about there ship they where about to go on .. it made me so informed and felt like a school teacher telling all i new about the ship ....

 

steveomaha

[Cruising89143]

I've actually talked to people who could not even tell me what cruise line or ship that they cruised. That's pretty sad.

[steveomaha]

i know i can relate and here i know so much about ships and cruises and i havent even been on one yet lol ... i found this site one day while looking up a cruise ships and i love this site .........

[The Viking]

I think many people go to a TA and book a cruise and for many it does not matter which cruise line, just as many people do not care which airline they are flying on. Many just want to go on a cruise for a set amount of money and have a good time.

 

In the past we have contacted TA's for various travels and always been dissapointed. We now make our own arrangements for all type of travel worldwide.

 

We are not all alike which makes this world so interesting to live in.

[cb at sea]

I can't believe the number of folks who book a cabin, and have no idea where it is, or what they booked! Very few do any research at all. Sad, isn't it? Reading about your ports, the ship, viewing the deck plans, really adds to the satisfaction factor of your vacation.

[TravlGrl]

Before my first cruise (2007) I researched extensively for about 2 years (starting in 2005), using this site (but not the bulletin board section) as well as online TA sites. I booked through an online TA after determining the exact ship, itinerary, and cabin I wanted...then kept calling back the TA for questions about special food diets, how to book excursions, etc. While on my first cruise, there was a CC group, and they talked me into registering on this (board) section of the site, and I've been here ever since.

 

I've got some co-workers who talk about their upcoming cruises with no knowledge of the ship they'll be on, the area of the ship their cabin is located, or even all of the ports of call they'll be stopping. They just want an easy vacation that's all planned out for them.

[cruisePRN]

what % of people do recearch before a cruise

 

 

 

 

12.749 %:D

[SheltieLady]

I've actually talked to people who could not even tell me what cruise line or ship that they cruised. That's pretty sad.

 

I work with people that have cruised and can not tell me what cruiseline or ship there were on. For our cruise on the Jewel last year I saw the show on Travel Channel on the Radiance of the Seas and liked the look of the ship so I did a search looking for cruise in the Caribbean the cruise had to go over my dh birthday as it was his 50th and found the Jewel of the Seas I spent about 9 months research cruises before I booked while doing my search I found Cruise Critics. love this site had a great Cruise Critic get together last year on the Jewel. I learned so much from this site that made are cruise so more enjoyable found out about the Seaview Cafe from this site and had to try the milk shakes came highly recommend from this site.

 

 

Christine

[land lover]

I can't believe the number of folks who book a cabin, and have no idea where it is, or what they booked! Very few do any research at all. Sad, isn't it? Reading about your ports, the ship, viewing the deck plans, really adds to the satisfaction factor of your vacation.

 

 

OR the disappointment, sometimes to much info can wreck the adventure in MHO...........no expectations not disappointment........

[Aquahound]

I (like most people here) research where I am going thoroughly prior to any trip. That doesn't mean I read forums. But I do read reviews, look at hotel amenities, surroundings, etc.

 

As for cruises, when I board a ship, I know exactly how to get to my room and what it is going to look like.

 

While golfing the other day, I had a friend tell me he went on a cruise two years ago. He said "I think it was Carnival, but I don't remember the name of the ship." That drives me crazy. I almost hit him with my 9 iron.

[cruiserbryce]

we were loaded with questions prior to pur first cruise...even now that we have been on a few we still do everything we can to collect information prior to sailing

[critterchick]

I didn't do any research at all before my first cruise, LOL. We went on the Nordic Empress in 1995, and I can't even tell you which ports we visited. I do know that we missed Coco Cay (although I wouldn't have remembered the name of the island, either, LOL) and had an unexpected sea day. I do remember that we had an awesome time!

 

Now I'm a compulsive planner. Sometimes I think I should go back to the way I was.

[funfamilyfun]

We took several cruises before we did research. Our first cruise was with a group of girls...4 to a cabin and it was little and an inside. We probably would have been better off with 2 separate for a few $$ more! My second was my honeymoon...no research, but it was the Big Red Boat and it was a great cabin with 2 bathrooms! Our 3rd was when I started to research...sort of...we thought we were both booking ocean views across the hall from each other! It did work out and gave us a little privacy from each other since there was an entire ship between our cabins!

 

Now I research everything!

[lablvr2]

I sure wish had known about this site before my first cruise on the Granduer back in 98. Ever since then I have used every tool possible to find out about how to book and the ports. I am dumfounded by people that tell me about a cruise they took but they don't know which one. What the *&^% is up with that? I've since learned there are two class of cruisers - the ones who know where there are going and on what ship and the other class that just go along for the week. Sad thing, isn't is?

[petesweet]

We took several cruises before we did research. Our first cruise was with a group of girls...4 to a cabin and it was little and an inside. We probably would have been better off with 2 separate for a few $$ more! My second was my honeymoon...no research, but it was the Big Red Boat and it was a great cabin with 2 bathrooms! Our 3rd was when I started to research...sort of...we thought we were both booking ocean views across the hall from each other! It did work out and gave us a little privacy from each other since there was an entire ship between our cabins!

 

Now I research everything!

 

:confused: I guess a lot can happen between the honeymoon and the next cruise ten years later. Now we're across the ship from each other!!

[LAKaye]

Every sailing has on it people who range from all of us CC experts to those folks who have never been on a cruise.

 

Last week on the Explorer, I was a bit surprised to hear a group of 4 couples say on the very first day at 1PM on Deck 9 looking for their rooms for the first time....."wait---where is our stateroom? Is it on this side or that side?...." OK that's a given....but....

 

Three days later, they are still puzzling "Wait, which way are we facing? We're on this side! oh.....we had this same trouble on the last two cruises.....wait, what's our number? Are we on the inside or the outside? .....(and so it went on)...."

 

Throughout the entire 9 days, these folks were lost..... :) I hope they had a good time nevertheless......

 

Often I talk to folks back home who have trouble remembering the cruise LINE they sailed on. There's no chance of them remembering the ship! :D Wow!

 

Leslie

[T-N-C]

We are going on our first cruise next March, and I feel like all I do is research. I am constantly looking up things to help me preapare for our journey. This site has been the most helpful for me. I have learned more than I ever expected. I still have many questions and I am sure they will keep coming. But thanks to all those in cruisecritic land I am sure I will be more prepared than most when our ship sets sail.

 

Thanks to all. :)

[RicardoC]

Board a cruise ship not knowing her name? Her Line? Not knowing every single square foot??? IMPOSSIBLE!:eek: ! I always need to search abut my ship...actually I always search, read, and that kind of stuff even not booked....I just like ships...and when I cruise it's awesome and unny because my parents know that I already know everything so they wont get lost...:D

I'm sorry for all the people who aren't obsessed about ships(and these people might not be here) but who doesn't know the ship that cruised name or the line's name didn't really cruise:o

[triplej2484]

I would say like 80%. I worked Shore Ex on the Pride of Hawai'i and it was amazing what people asked. Are we in Honolulu? (keep in mind this is where we embarked from and where these people had to fly to), do we go to Maui? or if they knew we went to Maui, we're here overnight? And my favorite, the ever popular mispronunciation of Kauai, "Kowee".....I was often baffled. Oh and then there was where is the casino? The anger induced what do you mean there's no casino?

[mommy1]

My in-laws just went on what I believe was a 9 day on the Grandeur out of Baltimore. After she booked it she told me it was the largest category of ships... she was wrong. My FIL was flipping out about going to Haiti .... Labadee.... it's a private area.... they weren't even going to get off the ship because they were so worried. I can't believe the TA didn't even explain that to them. My FIL was not going to get off the ship in San Juan either, I think they just feel intimidated by other unfamiliar areas. They would totally be the type to cruise and never leave the ship once. They never booked any excursions (not that I normally do something through the ship, but they would never even think about trying to do something on their own) and when they went to the excursions desk, 2 of the 3 they were interested in were all booked. I was so shocked that they spent this amount of money on a lengthy cruise and went into it so blind. I am a vacation researcher, I know everything there is to know before I go. But I am also a travel bug and these two are not like that. I'm not sure if it's a generational thing, or if it's a personality thing. My husband isn't a researcher like I am, so maybe it's just a personality thing.

[petesweet]

I always have to do ALL the research for our family and friends group who travel together. Up to 7 people, and only I know what is going on. Could I ever lead them astray.:D :D

[SomeBeach]

When I first started cruising in 1979 computers were not available like they are now. You went to a TA, booked a cruise, received a catalog, read up on excursions, and booked them on board.

Nowadays the only cruises that I research are when I'm doing a Transatlantic or European. I'll check out the ports before deciding which type of excursion to take, one through the ship or a private one.

For the Caribbean, I just look at a few lines and see which date works for me. I don't do any research as I've been to about all the islands (several times) so I rarely even leave the ship.

 

To answer your question, I would guess maybe 75% of folks look into.

[PudgiPoo]

Every time I cruise I make a book of things about the cruise and the ship. First thing I make a calendar so I know what day of the week we are in each port. I research everything. My DH says I am obsessive. Well, I want to know everything. I love to cruise and my research entends my time with the cruise. These boards are a wonderful resource tool. I love all the links and pictures. I have a lot of pictures of our room on the Grandeur in January. I can almost see myself on the balcony looking out over the wake sipping a cool drink. Ahhhhh:cool:

[funfamilyfun]

:confused: I guess a lot can happen between the honeymoon and the next cruise ten years later. Now we're across the ship from each other!!

 

 

Oops! I guess I didn't explain this very well. We went on a cruise with another couple...we thought we were booking across the hall from each other, when we were really on opposite sides of the ship.

[Desert Cruizers]

I also have talked to friends etc who never heard of CC, I even alerted two people from a Game Site I go to , Pogo, and they came & signed up and joined a Roll Call. One is soon to take their cruise in abt 50 days. As far as planning, I check the itneraries, Cost per cruise lines, then afterwards, check out the Deck Plans and where we will be. I have always booked thru my TA so have everything in hand when I see her, and she calls Cruise Lines.