I just finished reading a "review" of the Queen Mary 2 Maiden Voyage and am curious. The guy sat at my dinner table for 14 nights, and did nothing but whine and grouse about everything, saw nothing positive about any part of the trip and his "review" shows it. I, however, had a grand time. Sure there were some negative parts, but it WAS a maiden voyage, and the positives FAR outweighed the negatives. But it does make one think about the value of reviews. If I hadn't seen the same conditions at the same time and eaten at the same venues, I would assume he had legitimate complaints, where I know he doesn't.
But does it go the other way, too? Is EVERYTHING rosy? Was Everyone on board perfect?
Do I dare post a review of the same trip next to his and rebutt his? <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" /> (Probably not - he's not worth the effort)
Sorry - just had to vent a little <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Vent away!

I think there is value in all reviews. Sure two viewpoints can be very different. I guess as long as one does not put too much stock in them and tries to "average" all the information you can come up with a fairly good snapshot. Plus there's bound to be a crackpot in every crowd. ;)

Phil, I've seen the same thing! If I were you I would post a review next to his from your prospective.

Phil, the more "re" views I read the better. They are all so personal to the writer. I tend to roll with the punches on vacation, as I understand the hospitality industry having been in it for many years in another life. On this board, I already have a sense about which posters have the same priorities as me. When you are reading an article in a travel magazine, it usually promotes the ship, although I have read adverse reactions to the maiden voyage. It is a shame the QM2 didn't have a longer opportunity to "shake down" the ship. I did the first such cruise on the Voyager on her first venture out to sea in March, 2002(? I get my years mixed up). Anyway, my cruise was flawless, except for the lack of help at reception getting local internet cafe assistance since the computers were still in the boxes. But others had a fair amount of problems (I think the worst was lack of hot water) And it was free, other than air fare to France! From what I have read, QM2 only had one of these....for corporate friends and families of Cunard employees. Radisson did this for FOUR short (5/6 nights)cruises, including two for past passengers and 2 for travel professionals. That's the way to get it right. Expensive, but dollars well spent when you get good word of mouth out there and lots of .

By the way, I am trying to build up my "nights" on Radisson to get to go on the next "shakedown" cruise if ever they build a new ship. At the rate Marc is booking, I will meet him and Arlne then if not before!

How many nights are required?

Phil:

I remember one of our dinner companions on a long cruise. She complained every night at dinner.

I finally asked her to refrain. I told her I though I was having a perfectly good time until she told me otherwise! <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" />

How many nights are required for a "shakedown" cruise can change - it will be a long time until the next one RSSC has to build a new ship first.

Reviews are all subjective. I often see people panic with one negative comment. What is a problem to one is absoutely fine with another. Good food to one person is not acceptable to another. I cannot handle spicy foods and I am allergic to onions. Food others love I cant even eat.

I always thinks of it like diving scores. Throw out the "perfection" review throw out the "worst review" and then take the average of the remaining reviews.

The best thing is when people share information that helps others get the most out of their upcoming trip, rather than subjective opinions.

I'll never forget one discussion I overheard on the Serenity. One woman loved it and was signing up for cruise after cruise. The other woman hated it and wanted to go home. To each is own.

JHP are you sure we were on the same ship? My husband and I were on the last shakedown cruise and the Inaugural Voyage on the Voyager. That was March 2003. I don't blame you about getting dates mixed up, I have to sometimes work backwards to get the correct date. Although the inaugural voyage was almost a repeat of the trip that we had done on the Mariner in October/November we felt that it wasn't worth the airfare for six days. Besides there is usually an excursion that you had to forgo. ;)
Marilyn

There was a problem with the computer, but it had to do with rolling up obscene charges for a few online minutes. Christy finally had to disconnect the charges because of complaints. I and my husband certainly used the computers. They couldn't have still been in boxes. Perhaps they were in boxes (to be fair to you) if you went on the first shakdown, as opposed to the last. Hope that helps.

Marinergal, indeed I was on the very first shakedown of the Voyager very early in March! I, too, had just done the Med on the Mariner the September before, but I was so excited for this opportunity to be onboard and report to everyone as well as enjoy it myself, it was worth spending the ff miles instead of dollars to get myself to Nice with only 3-5 days notice! So I had no real costs for this cruise. My personal experience on the ship was nearly flawless, for people, service, food, cabin,....everything. We definitely did not have computers, and they WERE stacked in boxes, so no obscene internet charges. My problem was having this obsession with reporting about my trip on cc and not having anyone from reception helping me to find interntet cafes locally. It worked out, I found them, and had a great time communicating with everyone at the time. Now I am doing a "shakedown" review of the Silver Shadow since our lct members from Silversea are not very active! I hope that will change!

Olivia:

We have not sailed often, and are limited by vacation time. It will be a long time before Arlene and I catch up to you (Lawrence will pass us both by in the meantime). I agree with your point though about the rewards for loyalty. I fly Delta regularly and always stay in Hilton properties. There are a number of unpublished benefits that I have been the recipient of. I hope Radisson is the same.

As for reviews, I am not a fan of subjective reviews. However, I read them for the tidbits of facts; e.g., dolebludger's report on free cocktails at dinner. I think reviewers should also be required to report on the weather during their cruise. The cruise lines have learned that there is a high correlation between bad weather and bad cruise review. We should be privy to the same info.