Cruise Reviews.

[JoeyandDavid]

Most of us read Cruise Reviews when we visit cruise forums.. How important are they to you when deciding to book a particular itinerary or cruise ship? would a bad review keep you from booking?

[sailingrose]

It would depend on what you mean as bad........if it was cleanliness then I would skip the ship, if it is based on opinion no a bad review wouldn't stop me. Everyone has differents tastes.

[Suzila]

I read quite a few 'bad' reviews about NCL Pride of America...mostly about the lousy service, before we went.

Our family was intent on taking a Hawaii cruise and there wasn't any other way for us to do it...didn't want to do the longer cruise, to travel cross the ocean, didn't have the time, etc.

We decided to form our own opinions, however, we knew going in that we should use the ship as a floating hotel. We had heard that service was poor, food was bad, nothing really good about it.

I will continue to read reviews, but what one person likes, another doesn't. Same as when I read the reviews on here about how wonderful beaches are in the Caribbean, how there's so much to do there, etc...I don't enjoy going to beaches, can't step foot on one, and find very little to do the times we've gone on a Caribbean cruise. So, you like one thing, and I like another.

Anyway, the NCL Pride of America turned out to be one of my favorite all-time cruises.

Like I said, read the reviews if you like, but form your own opinion.

[rogue]

The problem with reviews is that you read one that gives ait 1 star then you read another that gives the same cruise 5 stars, and what does that really mean. We all have different tastes and needs. I take them all with a grain of salt.

[Suzila]

Not only that, but what about when you have two different people review the exact same cruise? One has a great time, and the other complains about everything?

[cruisingcats]

I totally agree with Howard and Sue. Take it with a grain of salt. I also say why sweat the small stuff.

[cruisetarp]

I enjoy reading them but don't put too much stock in them. I prefer to form my own opinion. The only exception, which Rose pointe out, would be a cleanliness issue on board.

[coloradocruisers]

Before our last cruise on the Carnival Conquest, we read a few reviews on Carnival's website. Some of the warnings were spot on, especially regarding the service and food. Being forewarned, we adjusted our expectations accordingly. Other warnings, such as flooding shower stalls and rooms that smelled like cigarettes didn't pan out for us (fortunately). Since we had already booked, I'm not sure if it would have affected our decision; but it did help us to prepare. I think it's good to read the reviews, especially if it's the same ship and time period which you are planning on cruising.

[JoeyandDavid]

It depends on the poster.. if it was someone that historically, i have learned to trust their judgment (and this happens through the overall quality of their posts and over time) I may... but for then most part no..most good or bad reviews that i have read take one incident and blow it up larger than it really is..

[DebbieandJerry]

I have never really considered reading "reviews" until I joined this site. But you guys make each of your vacations sound so wonderful that one could easily overlook the "bad".

I agree, what one person sees as being bad, another might not be bothered by it.

Cleanliness is top and foremost for me. If review after review talked about maintenance problems not getting addressed, ships not getting cleaned, dirty dishes left unattended, then I would strongly consider why the ship isn't making changes.