BTW - Some cruisers I like still post there who haven't made it over here (namely, DocDesdin, especially since we socialized on the Mariner and have exchanged a few emails since we got back), so I occasionally look to see what's up.

For starters, I took the time to submit a review of the Mariner March 9th (an abbreviated version, mind you) and have yet to hear from them or see it posted.

Today, however, I was really dissapointed by a troll on that board. Someone (a new poster, with about 17) innocently asked how she could find Ngaire, because she wanted to refer her parents to her website, she thought the website was really nicely laid out and provided a lot of information. MarnaLou was kind enough to provide the link. NOTHING REGARDING PRICING WAS EVER MENTIONED ON EITHER POST. This troll (who has only 2 posts) sarcastically said that Ngaire's website may be easy to read, but that Ngaire didn't have the best pricing and that Radisson may not be the best choice for this person's parents, the claim was made that their TA could beat Ngaire.

I mean, seriously, who asked this person for their opinion? I know there are people who don't like Radisson, fine, we are all entitled to our opinions. It almost sounded like another TA with some sour grapes.

BTW, I did shop the Nov. 9 cruise around very extensively (went back to the outfit we used for March 9th and some others) and Ngaire DID have the best pricing overall (and she knew this before I booked, because I told her, and she generously replied that if someone had a better price, she would appreciate that...now that my friends, is pretty classy). The final 3 (of which Ngaire was a part of and so was the outfit we used for March 9th) all were within $100 of each other and she WAS the best.

I think some other outfits don't like the idea of Ngaire's transparency on the website, where she clearly posts all the fares (for both new to RSSC and Socitey Members) for each category, and is clear about all the charges. Most of those other sites require a big song and dance to get some sort of info out of them.

More surprisingly, I think the troll must be one of those "CC sponsored" agencies, because the thread is there, and as I understand the "new rules" you can't even suggest a TA to another boardie...true or not???

I think the reason the thread is still there is because the person did not post a TA name, only that his TA had better prices.

There is just too much bad charma there! It is sad, with out CC I wouldn't have found the wonderful information that we now share here - but I'm not interested in dealing with all the trolls lurking there.

You're right, CC is pretty dead any more, but I still post there to try to give info to those genuinely interested. When Lynn and I started cruising again two years ago CC and the Radisson board in particular was invaluable. I feel as if I owe some payback to others.

CC used to be a truly great place to share and gather information. Sadly, it has changed.

I do think there are those on that board that have hidden agendas, whether they are TAs, posing as posters, etc. or just simply a troublemaker who has nothing better to do than malign and create problems. Personally, I feel there is simply no comfort level any more on CC.

I do look over CC every now and then; however, this is the forum I choose to devote my time to. It is clear that readership and participation is down. The powers that be should consider this drop in participation a wake-up call.

I have a lot of respect for Ngaire, who has never overstepped the rules of CC. She has always given information and advice freely. Here, on LCT, what you see is what you get. This is an open forum for all to participate, whether Ngaire is your TA or not. It is very clear that Ngaire respects everyone's right to choose who their TA will be and gives of herself, her expertise and the use of this board with the best of intentions. We all benefit from sharing information. Unless someone is being cruel or intentionally hurtful, you are free to voice your opinions, without worry of censorship.

LTC vs. CC - Like comparing apples to oranges. I love them apples!

Denise...you are so right...we were there until they let the "other" element drive us off.

Unfortunately, I don't think they really care about the volumn of the small lines' posts. As long as the major carriers generate readers they are happy with the results.

I have personally met Laura who runs CC on a cruise this summer and she is a real sweetheart.. it is that CC doesn't want to advertise other peoples stuff.
You really can't blame them I suppose, I don't know what goes into running one of these sites, but someone is paying as is the BIG " N" here.. and you probably would get pissed off if others used your site to advertise their biz..simple.. it's just that they were / are getting a bit weird there.. they threatened to BANISH ( hardly a word I use alot , but it did come up).. me from their site, because I mentioned someone.. HOW RUDE.
So to the BIG "N" thanks for this.. we are all having so much more fun!

Speaking of advertising someone's biz, I have noticed a person advertising his guide services for Turkey on CC. If they wish to discourage advertising, why have those posts not been pulled?
I ask this as a rhetorical question. Only CC knows why. I really feel that there are double standards when it comes to CC posts. It goes as the wind blows, as to what is "acceptable" and what is not, so it appears.

Host Richard is on a 24 day crossing right now so maybe that is why the offensive posts are still alive.

Host Richard is on a 24 day crossing right now so maybe that is why the offensive posts are still alive.

Like others, CC was my first home. I learned so much and met (or felt a closeness) to so many of you because of CC! I've always considered myself as a "friendly" poster, ALTHOUGH, a couple of times on CC Radisson board I got my hand smacked for reasons I'm still not sure of. Maybe the trolls?? I am thrilled that Ngaire started this site. Ngaire opened this site up to cruisers whether you're a client of hers or not....she is truly a CLASS ACT.

I appreciate the fact that we're all unique, from diversified backgrounds and we can disagree in a "nice" way, yet continue learning from one another. Prior to LTC, I was just getting a very uneasy, unwelcoming feeling on CC's Radisson board. I often wondered why some posters there made a point of sticking their nose in where it just didn't belong. If you're not interested in reading a post...don't!! NO ONE IS MAKING YOU READ IT....move on!

What I do miss is the "newbie" questions that we see on CC. There is no such thing (within reason) as a stupid question and I always feel it's important to answer these. WE WERE ALL THERE ONCE!! (I'm still there). Like others, I enjoy learning info on various ports. When it comes to this topic, it doesn't matter whether you learn new info from someone who sailed Radisson, Celebrity, HAL etc.

Though I'm warm and cozy here and consider this "home", I will continue to browse CC as well. As always, I just want to thank Ngaire and Ken for making this site possible! (you too John and Karen for making it run smoothly!)

I have two homes on the net - one here on LCT and the other on the Hawaii ports of call board on CC. I find it very interesting as to how different the "feel" is to each section at CC. I have spend time in the past on the Celebrity/Carnival boards as well as lurking on the Radisson board and they all have a different atmosphere.

While the Celebrity board and other boards have had occasional "troublemakers", "trolls", "difficult people" in the past, they've managed to recover from them and move on. The Radisson board has drastically changed in the last 1/2 year and I firmly believe that it's because of the uneasy feeling over there. There almost seems to be a sense of malice on that board now with people monitoring the threads for ANY mention of LCT or Ngaire's site and attacking those that dare to post such information. This has certainly led to a decrease in posts on that board as most of the regulars have moved the majority of their posts to here on LCT. This also decreases the utility of the CC Radisson board and makes it more difficult to disseminate information to newcomers.

It really is a shame.

However, not all of CC is like this ... most of the other boards retain their identity so I don't want to lambast the entire message board for the problems in one section.

Masaki

I think that this board's overall appeal is that it captured the essence of CC and improved upon it. Ngaire's single rule of no bad karma is great and makes this board different from the CC board.

Many of the CC boards had bad karma. Only the RSSC board seemed to stay away from it. Then, the bad karma folks found us and drove us away....to a new and even better place. Hooray!!

:lct: :lct: :lct: :lct: :lct: Bonnie

You are all painfully aware of how I felt while (for me) CC was in its' death throws.

Near as I can figure it, it's like milk. The bottle was shaken, left to settle a bit, the cream rose to the top, was skimmed off and taken to another part of the dairy.

So here we are, the cream of the crop, in our own little bottle.

That about sums it up.

R (boy would I get flamed elswhere for that elitest comment) :cool:

I don't know what it is, but that marcie is one articulate lady! She expressed better than I ever could what I feel about LCT and the debt we owe CC. Just look at it folks - a lady of beauty with brains! This by itself is no rarity, but accompanied with Marcie's humongous spirit makes for one magnificent animal. Thank you Marcie, Ngaire, LCT (John-stealer of identities, Karen -most huggable lady in the world, and Ken-most patient man in the world, and especially CC who started all of us.

Robert - not to worry! You won't get flamed here, and we've learned to take your wit with a bit of a squint! You know, it's coming but if you squint a bit you can see he's really nice...
the Sheik

They won't let me post over there. Because I took my e-mail address off. Because I was getting junk mail from cruise related spammers and I think there was some sort of virus scare at the time.

I was so upset I couldn't sleep last night because I couldn't post on CC (NOT)

From the viewpoint of a previous lurker....

I used to post on cc (under KatWag). Yup, you guessed it, short for Kathleen Wagner. Then we took a Princess cruise which was highly disappointing in several ways. I wrote what I thought was a pretty balanced review of the trip. Learned a very valuable lesson - on certain cc boards, posting an opinion which is unpopular with the line diehards results in some very unpleasant and nasty emails to one's home account.

After that experience, I removed my email address from my profile and never posted again. Just lurked. Then I found this site when I was checking Ngaire's price info. Paradise - a site you can post without fear! Imagine! I just hope the trolls don't find it!

If they do, Karen will zap them away so fast they won't know what hit them!

I have to say I was a little amused at the two troll responses on that thread. I mean, why would anyone waste their energy that way?

When I put the link up, I thought I was within the guidelines. After things went incendiary, I went to the Community Guidelines section, intending to copy and paste the rule to a final response on the thread. Turns out I probably did violate the policy. It's okay to say that I liked the TA, but not to include contact information. I may end up among the banished.

I wish people over there could play nice.

MarnaLou

Marna Lou, I did something similar awhile back(innocently trying to be helpful) and got smacked around too. Not to worry! I just read that thread and Marc, Mr. Kimmi, Todd, Vickie, Claudia, me, and others have all jumped to your defense!! YOU GO GIRL!!! I have no use for those trolls....it is a shame as CC was once a "friendly" board!

Marcie and others...

I reread this thread tonight and I totally agree, I miss the newbie questions.

When I log on here, I know I'm home. "Hanging" with the friends I've cruised with, and friends yet to be made. It's so comfy here that we can ask anything without the fear of being slammed.

But, I was weaned on the CC board. We owe those newbies the same thing that was awarded us; prior knowledge and any help we can throw out. I'm very happy to do that...and then come home.

Marnalou,
Noli carborundum illegitimae = Latin for don't let the bastards get you down! Trolls are self-perpetuating flus. You get rid of one, and another appears shortly. Either ignore them, or sick aunt Ruth on 'em! I bet she'd cut 'em down like blades of grass!

As that Marcie said" You go girl!" The Sheik demands this

Love the Sheiks picture!
How very Lawrence of Arabia of you...
Marna Lou
as to the "trolling twins".. I think your good buddies here did a heck of a job at banishing them..

I think the whole tread over there is pretty entertaining. The boys from LTC come back to clean up the town. I found myself whistling the theme to "Fistful Of Dollars" when I had finished reading it.

Just went over to see the latest. The whole thread now appears to be missing.

Guess the censor police were unhappy with it?

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Kathy

It's still there under "Find Ngaire" with our Sheik the most recent to post...

Hey! You're right! I reread it not 10 minutes ago, and now it won't open. HMMMMM....

Yup! Gone!

Wow! Who was this guy??
Why was he so hard on everything and everybody that likes or have anything to do with RSSC?
Sure would not want to cruise with them. I don't think they would be "FUN LOVING" like the rest of us

I didn't check the CC board today...what did the Sheik say??? (I bet it was good!)

Sorry Marcie but as Todd said
"It is gone"

So far I haven't been tossed off CC. Unless they are huddling to determine my punishment, the thread was pulled without fanfare.

MarnaLou

I started it again.. so let's really piss them off and do it all over .. are ya with me?????????
Second verse same as the first..
oh ya we are bad..... :banana:

I posted my feelings this morning on this thread.

POOF...WIPEOUT!! GONE!! THE TRUTH HURTS!!