Is Roatan safe for private Tours? (MERGED THREADS)

[Monkeylala]

if anyone makes a negative post about a place, company or experience and it is their first post, um, are you going to believe it? From the sounds of it, it sounds like you do. If that is the case keep believing everything on the internet.

 

The facts are I know this happened, I live on Roatan, I have friends that work at Mahogany Bay, I know the resort owner of the place on the Eastern End, I know the car rental people and who ultimately paid for the repairs, it was not the visitors, I know some were apprehended in this situation. Do I believe all that is on the internet? Of course not but I KNOW this terrible incident happened.

[Host Kat]

In case you missed it, here is

Our 19th Wave Season with All of You - Please Read! posted in the Announcements and Notices:

 

This is the 19th wave season Cruise Critic is proud to share with you! What is “wave season” you may ask? Wave season is the busiest time of year for cruise lines, travel agencies that sell cruises and, as a byproduct of this phenomenon – Cruise Critic! We experience tremendous activity and an influx of new and veteran cruisers to our site.

 

As our long-time members know, and as info to new visitors to our site, Cruise Critic is a community of people who love to cruise; in other words our forums are what is known as a "fan" site. Our mission has always been to provide a haven on the web for people who just want to talk ship and enjoy themselves, and this year we are going to focus on ensuring those who are looking for this type of environment find it here on Cruise Critic. If you are here for any other reason than to contribute positively to our community (and that doesn't necessary mean only positive opinions), I would remind you there are other communities where *anything goes* and we invite you to find one (said in my most pleasant voice, really). We will be reviewing memberships, and contacting those who we feel should review their participation. So, please take a moment and review your own postings before we do. Use these tips to help:

 

 

 

1. Don’t be a XXXXXXX. Seriously, don’t be that guy/gal.

 

2. Kindly take off-topic conversations/sillies/innuendo to the Floataway Lounge forum. Don't hijack discussions.

 

3. Veterans, play nice with the new kids. (No hazing the noobs!)

 

4. Newbies, respect that folks LOVE their fave cruise line. Browse before posting. Get a feel for life at Cruise Critic and a specific forum before you post.

 

5. Call out inaccuracies on the info all you want, but attacking other members = not cool.

 

6. Ignoring bullies is the best way to make them go away. If a particular person is an ongoing nuisance, we reserve the right to ban them from the site. (For clarification, see #1.) Use the "Report a Post" feature. Send us an email at community@cruisecritic.com.

 

7. If you are here to bash a cruise line, don't. We will ask you to leave.

 

8. Try reviewing your post before you press the SUBMIT button. If you intended to be snarky, just change it. Maybe you'll notice something you can change. If you aren't being helpful with your post, just don't post it. Remember that old saying 'If you don't have anything nice to say....."

 

9. No bashing of reviews posted by new members. Give them a break, they don't know everything that you do. Invite them to learn; share what you know. Don't call them TROLLS. Anyone who calls someone a TROLL will hear from us!

 

10. Review our guidelines; there's probably a thing or two you've forgotten. We take them seriously. You've made a choice to join our community so we assume you'll take them seriously as well.

 

11.We're talking CRUISING and vacations here folks! It should be fun and exciting. Post that way.

 

12. NEW! Continually posting links to sites where the intention is to disrupt our cruise conversation may result in suspension of your posting privileges.

 

Here's the longer version of the above for those of you who would like some additional refresher information:

 

Are you New Here? Read this:

 

Our community has always been haven for people who LOVE cruising to share their personal experiences with one another; and we welcome you. Therefore, it should make sense to you that many people have found a home here on Cruise Critic because they are fans of one (or more) specific cruise lines, and they in turn have made long-lasting friendships with other cruisers.

 

It would be helpful if before posting you take some time to familiarize yourself with our site. If you need some help navigating; please do not hesitate to post a question on the Help Forum, or send an email to us at help@cruisecritic.com. Also, you will learn so much by browsing the forums -- the amount of information on our message boards is nothing less than staggering, and spending time reading can answer many questions for you, and also provide insight into how the community works. And of course, our veteran members are more than happy to help you with any of your questions; they are our most valuable asset.

 

We’d also like to point out an interesting conundrum; although our site name is Cruise *Critic*, newbies who post a highly inflammatory “first post” about a cruise line experience may notice that your critique is not necessarily welcomed with open arms by our community members. Remember, we are a community of people who LOVE cruising. Our members understand you are unhappy and even angry – heck, they’ve probably experienced exactly what you have at some point in their long cruising careers! But if you take this into consideration before posting, and perhaps offer up a more balanced review (it could not possibly have been all bad!), your experience will probably be met with a less “outraged” response.

 

Understand that an online community is made up of all different types of people from all walks of life with many different personalities – just like real life! We’re sure you’ve all experienced less than courteous interactions in your “real life”; you shouldn’t be surprised to find them online. Ignore those who aren’t helpful; focus on those who are and soon you will find yourself truly enjoying your experience and learning all there is to know about cruising.

 

Reminders For To Our Veteran Members

 

First, we’d like to thank all of you for your dedication to Cruise Critic and your fellow community members – we just celebrated our 18th anniversary! Our forums are the largest in the cruising world, with almost 42 million posts and over 1,000,000 community members. Your “voice” is heard all throughout the cruise industry.

 

It is common knowledge that the growth of the cruise industry lies with attracting first timers to their fold. Cruise lines are reaching out to these cruisers in record numbers and we’d like you to do the same. We’ve noticed a lack of patience in this regard and we ask you to take a moment to remember back to when you were either new to cruising OR new to an online posting environment.

 

Most of you are wonderful about helping out the newbies, but those of you who respond with “do a search” know who you are. If repetitive questions bother you, simply don’t respond at all. Also, we’d definitely appreciate seeing a “kinder, gentler” manner towards anyone who has less than stellar comments about a cruise line. Oftentimes new posters find us after a cruise and post negatively. We appreciate those of you who offer helpful responses to these new members; welcome them ask them to stay and share your insight and knowledge about the issues. Remember, the OP (original poster) isn’t the only one reading your response – your comments could help a lurker. (Enough of the popcorn and “dead horse” smileys, please).

 

You are the frequent cruisers of the world; you are setting an online example – if you will – of what new cruisers can expect from the cruising experience. Yes, we realize that an online community is made up of all types of people from all walks of life with all different personalities; that’s just life. We get that you may lose your patience, or are tired of the same old questions. What we’re hoping for is that the upcoming year brings with it patience, tolerance and understanding, and that we all make an effort to exhibit the true spirit of cruising in our day-to-day participation in the community.

 

To Everyone

 

Thanks for listening, and for visiting us today, tomorrow and the future. Here's wishing everyone a great 2014!

 

Questions? Comments or Concerns? Write me at community@cruisecritic.com

 

Laura

 

I would like to add the following:

 

Before you assume, learn the facts.

Before you judge, understand why.

Before you hurt someone, feel.

Before you speak, think.

 

And now, this thread is closed.

 

Kat