What types of trip reports do people like

[fletch1027]

I have done a few trip reports and I'm planning to another for our cruise on Allure next month. I was curious what types of reviews people enjoy reading: ship intensive, port intensive, more photos than words, more descriptive words, tips & hints, a mix of everything, etc...

 

 

[bucksfan]

All of the above! :)

[BecciBoo]

Ones with lots and lots of pictures and pertinent information.:D

[UCF_Knight]

I like to see lots of pictures plus information on things which are subject to change over time or are ship specific (Diamond cocktail hour times and selections, bar menus and specials, etc.)

[Summerknight]

I appreciate ALL trip reports. I enjoy the wordy ones as I am an early riser. Especially enjoy port photos.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Experiences, information, pictures IN the report (I'm not clicking through to your photobucket, drop box, or whatever - put them in the report if you want me to see them), etc.

 

I also like to know a little of the background of the person doing the report - where you're from, party make up, previous cruise and vacation experience. Having context helps me know how to really read the review/report. (Example: On Trip Advisor, when I'm reading a hotel review I take "tiny room" a lot more seriously if it is coming from a European than an American just because I know Americans are typically accustomed to much larger rooms.)

[Ocean Boy]

Reading about the ships and ports is great as are pictures. However, any report that begins something like.... I awoke at 5 AM on the day we were leaving but I let the kids sleep a little longer while I cooked them bacon and eggs along with some pancakes and I let the dog out to do his business..... pretty much ends right there for me.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Ocean Boy

[Susie51]

Reviews with pics. Highlights; not details.

[dpostman]

YES YES YES!!! Pictures

 

 

And then, all the tid bits are nice. We get alot of the big things, but I really enjoy reading about the little things that made a difference, and from your perspective. I really enjoy reading about someones opinion. I can make up my own and am not bothered by someones opinion, but I like reading about them.

 

dp

[Clarea]

If the report starts with photos of luggage packed in the car and the breakfast at a hotel, then that's about it for me.

[UCF_Knight]

Reading about the ships and ports is great as are pictures. However, any report that begins something like.... I awoke at 5 AM on the day we were leaving but I let the kids sleep a little longer while I cooked them bacon and eggs along with some pancakes and I let the dog out to do his business..... pretty much ends right there for me.

 

Agree. I'm sure those precruise details are really fond memories for the poster, but I have no desire to read about it.

[jagsfan]

Read Sailor Jack's reviews. They have fabulous port pictures, great shipboard details and some of his stuff will crack you up.

Wish I could find more like his.

I enjoy anyone's reviews that give detail on the actual cruise, not just went to breakfast, lay by the pool, ate lunch and dressed for dinner. Draw me a picture!

[BillOh]

I have done a few trip reports and I'm planning to another for our cruise on Allure next month. I was curious what types of reviews people enjoy reading: ship intensive, port intensive, more photos than words, more descriptive words, tips & hints, a mix of everything, etc...

 

 

 

I like them all. I frequently say that I can get something of value from any review/report and I truly believe that. Do it your way. No matter what you do, someone will not like it and the majority of will like it and someone will accuse you of being self important.

 

Oh, I do have to add, PUT THINGS IN PARAGRAPH form! You may talk about something I have no interest in, but recognize other people are interested so it makes skipping to the next important (to me) subject easier.

Edited January 19, 2016 by BillOh

[BillOh]

I like to see lots of pictures plus information on things which are subject to change over time or are ship specific (Diamond cocktail hour times and selections, bar menus and specials, etc.)

 

I agree. I know my review of Oasis in 2013 mentioned terrible performance by the Coke Freestyle machines and that contradicted almost all reviews that mentioned it, but weird stuff does happen on occasion.

[goneclear]

I take my hat off to you folks who take the time to share your trip experience and more so with pictures. I appreciate all. I like the ones that start from the beginning where you live to hotel pre cruise to ship, ports all the way to home.

Throw in a little extra dose of food porn :p to top it off.

Enjoy your cruise.

[north29]

I like hotel and flight info, not too much detail but some. Good or bad tours before the cruise, especially if the trip international. Some pics to describe what cannot be put in words.

[Desert Cruizers]

Enjoy seeing the pictures, ports, description of what was seen on Tours, this will help others thinking of doing a particular tour. not interested in pictures of foods as much as well as the mention of the beginning of ones trip, I find interesting.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Desert Cruizers

[jerrib]

I like it when the itinerary appears in the first post. I may not be interested in the ship but looking for port info. Sometimes in long reviews I've had to go thru 50+ posts just to find out which ports will be covered.

[BillOh]

I like it when the itinerary appears in the first post. I may not be interested in the ship but looking for port info. Sometimes in long reviews I've had to go thru 50+ posts just to find out which ports will be covered.

 

That probably is an especially valid points for the Southern Caribbean itineraries. I'll keep that in mind for 2017.

[hazeleyez3]

Pictures of the actual ship, information about the activities onboard, and experiences onboard.

 

I am not looking for port information, your experiences before you boarded the trip, or pictures of the family.

[Langley Cruisers]

If the report starts with photos of luggage packed in the car and the breakfast at a hotel, then that's about it for me.

 

Absolutely agreed. While that is important to the OP, I really don't need to see it. :p

 

...PUT THINGS IN PARAGRAPH form!

 

Thank you!!!!!! Was also going to say this but I read the replies and you said it first. Paragraphs are so important! It is incredibly difficult to read one huge block of text. Our brains are wired to "see" the paragraphs and read text as such. Thanks in advance. ;):D

.

[John&LaLa]

Reading about the ships and ports is great as are pictures. However, any report that begins something like.... I awoke at 5 AM on the day we were leaving but I let the kids sleep a little longer while I cooked them bacon and eggs along with some pancakes and I let the dog out to do his business..... pretty much ends right there for me.

 

Spot on. I like one paragraph with simple background information, then what happened once they arrive at pier.

[BillOh]

Spot on. I like one paragraph with simple background information, then what happened once they arrive at pier.

 

I respectively disagree with you on this one, especially being someone who travels to the port. I read a lot of reviews of people sailing out of PC prior to my first cruise from there and I found a lot of the local hotel/restaurant info useful. The same could be said of the other ports I've sailed over. If the report is presented properly, its easy to skip over.

[KiwiGal117]

I have a few suggestions:

 

1) If you are posting the report post-cruise, try to write it ahead of time, and post it all at once (or as close to that as you can, bearing in mind picture limitations). I've read some great reviews, but get lost in the "following!" responses, etc. As well, commit to finish if you are going to start one... I've read several that I've been waiting on final posts FOREVER!!!

 

2) I do like to read about excursions, pre- and post-cruise hotels. For some reason I LOVE to know what time you arrived at the pier and how long it took until you were onboard.

 

3) While I am no grammar teacher, in addition to paragraphs please use punctuation. I've read some that just carry on without all of that, and as a poster above mentioned, it makes it really hard to read! Paragraph titles are a nice touch too, for those of us scanning through looking for specific info.

 

And finally, thanks for asking!!!

[CanadaRob]

I have a few suggestions:

 

1) If you are posting the report post-cruise, try to write it ahead of time, and post it all at once (or as close to that as you can, bearing in mind picture limitations). I've read some great reviews, but get lost in the "following!" responses, etc. As well, commit to finish if you are going to start one... I've read several that I've been waiting on final posts FOREVER!!!

 

2) I do like to read about excursions, pre- and post-cruise hotels. For some reason I LOVE to know what time you arrived at the pier and how long it took until you were onboard.

 

3) While I am no grammar teacher, in addition to paragraphs please use punctuation. I've read some that just carry on without all of that, and as a poster above mentioned, it makes it really hard to read! Paragraph titles are a nice touch too, for those of us scanning through looking for specific info.

 

And finally, thanks for asking!!!

 

uMM Fletch has done this to us with a previous Freedom review-left us hanging for 2 years....but it did finish.

 

Fletch your general style previously fit my tastes quite well. Pictures around the ship, info about what you like in ports and what you did in each stop. Also liked the pouty pic when you stepped on your prescription sunglasses..that was you wasn't it? :)

Edited January 19, 2016 by CanadaRob