Utrip - One of the Enhancements

[Fouremco]

I've just spent some time playing with Utrip, soon to be added to the HAL website, although it's not clear to me the extent of the integration.

 

The first thing I noticed is that there is a paucity of destinations covered by the existing Utrip website. For example, not a single Caribbean destination, only one Canadian city (Victoria) and only New York City in the entire eastern half of the USA. Europe as a whole is a little bit better, although there's extremely sparse Med coverage. So, there's a LOT of work to be done before this ever become a useful tool for most cruises.

 

My second observation is that, as currently designed, it's a far more useful tool for DIY shore excursions. Whether this means that they will make significant changes when it's integrated with the HAL website is pure speculation, but I suspect that, rather than providing the interesting itineraries that it now suggests, it will simply link you to an existing HAL shore excursion that features some of the same sights.

 

As DIY planners, our hope is that the partnership will result in Utrip increasing the destinations covered on its own website so that we can enjoy the broader possibilities in tailoring personal itineraries.

[IRL_Joanie]

I am going to give the 3 major enhancements mentioned a chance before I make my judgement on them. It is my belief that AFAR and UTrip will be hard for some to use, just as many other new things are.

 

I ain't gonna knock it until after 1 January 2016 when they roll it out officially:)

 

Joanie

[TrolleyGirl]

Following your lead I popped over to the UTRIP website. It does seem to be a powerful planning tool. Especially if/when they add more cities. I imagine as part of the partnership with HAL they will address all cities that the HAL ships stop at and also home port from.

 

 

It really seems to do a fantastic job at customizing the travel plan to the users needs. Well done HAL. I think this will be a great partnership.

Edited October 29, 2015 by TrolleyGirl
typo

[momatibm]

I went to UTRIP also. I put in all my 'choices' -- somehow I ended up with Seattle -- I picked a beach picture for crying out loud -- apparently the picture didn't match the meaning behind the question. THis should be interesting. That's all I can say.

[taxmantoo]

We have had many wonderful cruises without the use of UTrip and unlike the creator of this mobile app:

1) We have never booked a hotel room 20 or 30 km from the center of Paris :rolleyes:

2) We have never gone to Barcelona to see a soccer match when there was none that day :rolleyes:

3) If we need restaurant recommendations in Rome, we ask our concierge :rolleyes:

Seems like a pretty useless app to me unless you like looking at your cellphone's or tablet's screen instead of looking at what you actually came to see.

[kazu]

We have had many wonderful cruises without the use of UTrip and unlike the creator of this mobile app:

1) We have never booked a hotel room 20 or 30 km from the center of Paris :rolleyes:

2) We have never gone to Barcelona to see a soccer match when there was none that day :rolleyes:

3) If we need restaurant recommendations in Rome, we ask our concierge :rolleyes:

Seems like a pretty useless app to me unless you like looking at your cellphone's or tablet's screen instead of looking at what you actually came to see.

 

now WHERE is that LIKE button. I already know there is no soccer game in Madrid nor Barcelona when we are there. I didn't need UTrip to find that for me. It was a quick search.

 

Like you, I will NEVER book a hotel that far away. We like to be relatively close - we don't need to be in the midst of things but that is pushing it.

[Fouremco]

We have had many wonderful cruises without the use of UTrip and unlike the creator of this mobile app:

1) We have never booked a hotel room 20 or 30 km from the center of Paris :rolleyes:

2) We have never gone to Barcelona to see a soccer match when there was none that day :rolleyes:

3) If we need restaurant recommendations in Rome, we ask our concierge :rolleyes:

Seems like a pretty useless app to me unless you like looking at your cellphone's or tablet's screen instead of looking at what you actually came to see.

Unfortunately, there are countless tourists who are completely clueless about their destinations. A tool like this might make it easier for them to understand the difference between St. John's and Saint John and that there are no Reversing Falls to visit in Newfoundland. Let's not forgot the pair of tourists who arrived in Sydney, NS, and thought that they had booked a flight to Australia! http://goo.gl/10Az5F :rolleyes:

[taxmantoo]

Unfortunately, there are countless tourists who are completely clueless about their destinations. A tool like this might make it easier for them to understand the difference between St. John's and Saint John and that there are no Reversing Falls to visit in Newfoundland. Let's not forgot the pair of tourists who arrived in Sydney, NS, and thought that they had booked a flight to Australia! http://goo.gl/10Az5F :rolleyes:

 

I think they need more than UTrip ;)

[POA1]

Google utrip funding rounds.

[DaveOKC]

Unfortunately, there are countless tourists who are completely clueless about their destinations. A tool like this might make it easier for them to understand the difference between St. John's and Saint John and that there are no Reversing Falls to visit in Newfoundland. Let's not forgot the pair of tourists who arrived in Sydney, NS, and thought that they had booked a flight to Australia! http://goo.gl/10Az5F :rolleyes:

 

Not only tourists that are clueless about such things. One time I caught a fellow worker as he was boarding a plan to Richmond, Indiana - he was supposed to be going to Richmond, Virginia!

[Fouremco]

Not only tourists that are clueless about such things. One time I caught a fellow worker as he was boarding a plan to Richmond, Indiana - he was supposed to be going to Richmond, Virginia!

Oh dear. :eek:

[taxmantoo]

Not only tourists that are clueless about such things. One time I caught a fellow worker as he was boarding a plan to Richmond, Indiana - he was supposed to be going to Richmond, Virginia!

 

Oh dear. :eek:

 

A very common mistake in Canada. I once asked a former secretary to book me to St John's, Newfoundland. The night before I was to go, I looked at my ticket and was booked to St John, New Brunswick.

[Vict0riann]

I wonder if it means they will be able to do away with the port specialists? If you go to the Front Desk to ask about a destination, they can just say - check UTrip on your TV or computer?

[rothbury]

So, I guess the way I understand these "enhancements" is they require smartphone mobile apps? I guess since I don't have a smartphone or tablet and don't bury my nose in my social/mobile smartphone these "enhancements" won't mean or do a thing for my planning.

 

Just got back from a trip where so many people were so engrossed in their phones they didn't have a clue as to who or what was going on around them. The saddest part was watching families sit down to dinner where mom & dad couldn't even look up from their phones long enough to interact with their own children.

 

It's about time somebody started calling these people what they are....narcissists. We've had boomers, millennials and now maybe it's time to have the narcissist generation!

[dakrewser]

We have had many wonderful cruises without the use of UTrip and unlike the creator of this mobile app:

1) We have never booked a hotel room 20 or 30 km from the center of Paris :rolleyes:

2) We have never gone to Barcelona to see a soccer match when there was none that day :rolleyes:

3) If we need restaurant recommendations in Rome, we ask our concierge :rolleyes:

Seems like a pretty useless app to me unless you like looking at your cellphone's or tablet's screen instead of looking at what you actually came to see.

 

Unfortunately, millennials never had to "find things on their own", but have always relied on the (digital) suggestions of others...

[Fouremco]

So, I guess the way I understand these "enhancements" is they require smartphone mobile apps? I guess since I don't have a smartphone or tablet and don't bury my nose in my social/mobile smartphone these "enhancements" won't mean or do a thing for my planning.

 

Just got back from a trip where so many people were so engrossed in their phones they didn't have a clue as to who or what was going on around them. The saddest part was watching families sit down to dinner where mom & dad couldn't even look up from their phones long enough to interact with their own children.

 

It's about time somebody started calling these people what they are....narcissists. We've had boomers, millennials and now maybe it's time to have the narcissist generation!

No, this is going to be integrated with the HAL website and will be available on your desktop or laptop as well.

[FloridaTourist]

So, I guess the way I understand these "enhancements" is they require smartphone mobile apps? I guess since I don't have a smartphone or tablet and don't bury my nose in my social/mobile smartphone these "enhancements" won't mean or do a thing for my planning.

 

 

 

Just got back from a trip where so many people were so engrossed in their phones they didn't have a clue as to who or what was going on around them. The saddest part was watching families sit down to dinner where mom & dad couldn't even look up from their phones long enough to interact with their own children.

 

 

 

It's about time somebody started calling these people what they are....narcissists. We've had boomers, millennials and now maybe it's time to have the narcissist generation!

 

 

With all the bad you are finding on Smartphones and social media there is also a lot of good and it has helped a lot of people. The ones who criticize it are usually the ones who haven't taken the time to understand it. My son is employed in the social media industry, one that didn't even exist 5 yrs ago, and you would me amazed at the things it can help you do. Even his 75 yr old grandfather is learning and embracing. But his 75 year old grandmother refuses to even try and learn and is quick to criticize others but loves the results her husband gets from it. It's time to get with the program. It's not going away.

[dakrewser]

With all the bad you are finding on Smartphones and social media there is also a lot of good and it has helped a lot of people. The ones who criticize it are usually the ones who haven't taken the time to understand it. My son is employed in the social media industry, one that didn't even exist 5 yrs ago, and you would me amazed at the things it can help you do. Even his 75 yr old grandfather is learning and embracing. But his 75 year old grandmother refuses to even try and learn and is quick to criticize others but loves the results her husband gets from it. It's time to get with the program. It's not going away.

 

Yes, connectivity enhances our lives. But not 24x7. There's a time to look at your phone, and a time to put it away.

[FloridaTourist]

Yes, connectivity enhances our lives. But not 24x7. There's a time to look at your phone, and a time to put it away.

 

 

That's an individual's decision and people need to stop trying to control others use of a phone. You have no idea what hey are doing or the reason why. The only time it bothers me is when I am talking. Personal conversation demands attention. Any more than that and you are sounding like the "condo commando" that used to complain at my grand mothers condo when I swam in the pool with out a bathing cap in 1965. And FYI - I didn't even have long hair!

[3rdGenCunarder]

So, I guess the way I understand these "enhancements" is they require smartphone mobile apps? I guess since I don't have a smartphone or tablet and don't bury my nose in my social/mobile smartphone these "enhancements" won't mean or do a thing for my planning.

 

Just got back from a trip where so many people were so engrossed in their phones they didn't have a clue as to who or what was going on around them. The saddest part was watching families sit down to dinner where mom & dad couldn't even look up from their phones long enough to interact with their own children.

 

It's about time somebody started calling these people what they are....narcissists. We've had boomers, millennials and now maybe it's time to have the narcissist generation!

 

(bold is mine) We already do. The narcissist generation is a recognized phenomenon (for want of a better term), who believe "It's all about ME!"

 

Stupid tourist stories:

 

We were in Old North Church in Boston and there was a painting of Paul Revere riding to deliver his message. He had a cloak that flowed out behind him, and although he did have a head, I heard a woman say "Oh, look, the headless horseman."

 

Visitors to Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC have been known to ask where the witch house is.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We have had many wonderful cruises without the use of UTrip and unlike the creator of this mobile app:

1) We have never booked a hotel room 20 or 30 km from the center of Paris :rolleyes:

2) We have never gone to Barcelona to see a soccer match when there was none that day :rolleyes:

3) If we need restaurant recommendations in Rome, we ask our concierge :rolleyes:

Seems like a pretty useless app to me unless you like looking at your cellphone's or tablet's screen instead of looking at what you actually came to see.

 

 

I was doing a lot of eye rolling while he was telling those stories. It's like he was saying "I was really stupid and so I've come up with a website to fix that."

 

It really hinges on how well they keep their information up to date. I'd rather take a little more time and do my own search for the Arsenal website if I want to go to a football (soccer) match in London. I figure they'll know when and where their team is playing. Using a third party for this info is less reliable.

 

Another point is the ownership of information. I don't think what they do for HAL will enhance the regular utrip site. I thought Ashford said this would be unique to HAL, which makes me wonder if content developed for HAL is reachable only through HAL's site.

 

Also, since it's designed to connect you with a HAL tour, it depends on how accurate and detailed the tour description is, and that comes from the tour vendor.

 

 

I wonder if it means they will be able to do away with the port specialists? If you go to the Front Desk to ask about a destination, they can just say - check UTrip on your TV or computer?

 

I thought they had done away with the specialists. There wasn't one on my last 2 cruises, but maybe that's because they were just 7 days. Last time I remember one was Maasdam's southbound repositioning cruise. I asked him a question about the HoHo bus in one of the ports, and he knew less about it than I did. I had looked it up online as part of my pre-trip research, but wasn't sure if would run the day we were in port. I thought it was the kind of info someone in his job would know. But he didn't.

Edited October 30, 2015 by 3rdGenCunarder

[dakrewser]

That's an individual's decision and people need to stop trying to control others use of a phone. You have no idea what hey are doing or the reason why. The only time it bothers me is when I am talking. Personal conversation demands attention. Any more than that and you are sounding like the "condo commando" that used to complain at my grand mothers condo when I swam in the pool with out a bathing cap in 1965. And FYI - I didn't even have long hair!

 

Whether it's a phone, a video game - or a book - no one needs to be on it 24x7. That's what I said. Can you think of a reason to refute that?

[PatsyAnne]

Whether it's a phone, a video game - or a book - no one needs to be on it 24x7. That's what I said. Can you think of a reason to refute that?

 

 

And yet, here I am and I just missed a Ducks touchdown. :)

[dakrewser]

And yet, here I am and I just missed a Ducks touchdown. :)

 

And in the grand scheme of things, how did that affect your life?

[Caribbean Chris]

Google utrip funding rounds.

 

Interesting. So this is a very recent start-up venture that was still raising seed money less than two years ago.

 

Their site offers a limited list of destinations "curated by local experts," mostly North American west coast cities and 28 of the best known European cities. I think most people can already easily find tons of information on all these places.

 

And unless Utrip "curates" ports in the Caribbean really fast, this partnership will be useless to thousands of HAL passengers. Then there's the Pacific, Australia, and so on. Lotsa curating needed.

 

I'm surprised HAL would roll out a not-ready-for-prime-time partnership.