Would you take this risk?

[SS Cruise Lady]

Hi fllady :)

 

Your post makes sense but unfortunately, logic does not always prevail. Cruise Critic rates some NCL and Carnival Ships as high as 4 1/2 stars out of 5, while they only give 3 1/2 stars to Celebrity's Millennium, Century, Mercury, and Galaxy. These ratings are not just confined to Cruise Critic because some travel sites use Cruise Critic as a source for their ratings. At the same time, there are other travel critics/guides who consider the Celebrity Experience to be superior to Carnival/NCL and that is reflected in their ratings. With this in mind, I think Priceline would not work well for Cruising unless a person is willing to take a big chance, or feels that if a cruise is cheap enough they don't care what they get.

 

The current prices for the Norwegian and Carnival Ships with these questionably high ratings are considerably lower than comparable itineraries on Celebrity Ships with lower ratings, so a Priceline system would probably utilize them more often than Celebrity.

 

Although I am in the minority, I think professional ratings are more meaningful than ones extracted from user reviews because anyone's rating is affected by their expectations for a particular cruise, which is influenced by their frame of reference from other cruises. Since a professional reviewer is more likely to have reviewed ships from a greater variety of cruise lines, their overall expectations are probably more realistic.

[Schplinky]

Although I am in the minority, I think professional ratings are more meaningful than ones extracted from user reviews because anyone's rating is affected by their expectations for a particular cruise, which is influenced by their frame of reference from other cruises. Since a professional reviewer is more likely to have reviewed ships from a greater variety of cruise lines, their overall expectations are probably more realistic.

 

I agree, in part. Sometimes, pro's rate things that are meaningless to me, like spas and childredn's programs. That said, some folks refuse to acknowledge the weaknesses in their favourite lines in their revues or they fail to separate from the review that which was beyond control of the line (the weather, a bad experience in port) from that part of the experience to which the line contributed.

[tbelian]

as long as you don't complain about what you got for your money (many will)...

 

My thoughts exactly. Particularly after reading some of the 'complaints' right here.

 

I vote no.

[Andy]

If there was a priceline for cruises where you could enter what you wanted to pay, when you wanted to go, rating for cruiseline/ship, etc, would you be willing to take the risk of not knowing what you might get in exchange for a great price?

 

Hi Cruise Lady !

 

I would say about 99% not. I would have to know a great deal about the cruise (especially where it embarks/disembarks from). There are just SO many variables, that most every passenger would likely be disappointed in some way.

 

If I could know the specific ship, and if where it embarked/disembarked from, then MAYBE I would be willing to go along with taking a chance, but if they did all of that, they probably wouldnt have to put it on Priceline :)

[SS Cruise Lady]

I agree, in part. Sometimes, pro's rate things that are meaningless to me, like spas and childredn's programs. That said, some folks refuse to acknowledge the weaknesses in their favourite lines in their revues or they fail to separate from the review that which was beyond control of the line (the weather, a bad experience in port) from that part of the experience to which the line contributed.

 

Hi Schplinky :)

 

I agree that any rating of a particular ship might be unduly influenced by an item that is not important to an individual passenger. That is why I consider the descriptive pros and cons within a review to be more meaningful than the overall rating itself.

[Schplinky]

I agree. I also think that the problem with user reviews is that they're written by users. Celebrity cruisers tend only to cruise Celebrity and Carnival people tend to be carnival people. I want a review written by comeone who has been on both, so they can make valid comparisons. There is still the problem of bias, though. I read a guidebook on the weekend (it was british but I don't recall the author) where he slammed RCL for noise in the dining room and the crowds by the pool. For Celebrity, he mentioned both as well (for Constellation, at least) but said that those inconveniences are to be expected on any large ship. He was not nearly so understanding in his review of RCL, where he made these things seem like design flaws.

 

As far as user reviews go, I tend to read between the lines. If someone is describing a room, ship or whatever as "classy" it says to me that they don't have a lot of experience. Also, if someone says the food is good or bad, that says little. Maybe they're not used to the type of cuisine being served? Maybe they love tater tots and that's what they got so they thought it was good.

 

It's hard to get all the research done but what a great hobby travel reading is!

[jsmeeker]

no way. I won't even use Priceline for airline tickets. (but I would consider them for hotel stays in certain circumstances)

[Judge Jenny]

I agree with SS Cruise Lady. If I thought I was going to get Celebrity and ended up with Carnival because of someone else's 'rating', I'd be disappointed.

 

Also, airfare and lead time are considerations. And, as others have mentioned, the planning/anticipation phases are part of the fun!

[SANDY BEACH]

Never!!!