In the not-so-distant past, researching travel might have meant a trip to the local library to check out some guide books or backgrouund information on where you wanted to go, what you wanted to do and how you wanted to get there. The Internet changed all that with online resources no library can hold. But who do you trust and where do you go onlne to get the best, most accurate information?
There are thousands of web sites dedicated to cruise vacations. Some offer original content backed by the reliability of either time (they've simply survived a long time) or expertise (they have people on board who know what they're doing) but all have the advantage of being convenient (you can see it all from where you sit right now). One of the big mistakes made is trusting the wrong source or not using enough sources.
Sites with original content presented in an easy to ready manner are important. Equally important in the world of travel are trusted sources that give personal accounts of their travels. Travel writers, bloggers and their websites are a great place to start. Like finding a travel agent though, you need sources you can identify with. If partying until the early morning hours and a high-energy cruise experience is not your thing, connecting with those sources is a waste of time. Let's break down that daunting list of travel websites then to something more manageable.
News and Opinions are two great categories that most online travel content fits into. Within those categories though, some are good, some are better and some are the best. Then there's another group that simply recycles what others have written. Those, too, may be a valuable source for you if they do the sorting and end up with information of interest to you. But where to begin? Out of all those thousands of possible places to invest your time, which will reap you the greatest rewards? Here's my short list of all-time favorite sources of cruise information.
These were chosen not only because they are tops in what they do but because they are accessible. Today, that is more important than ever and today's technology empowers us more than ever to make not just smart buying decisions but to go beyond the buy and gain what we need to know to get the most out of our vacations. These sources can dramatically increase the value receive.
CruiseCritic.com is still the undeniably best source of cruise information in the world. Long before the social media craze of MySpace, Facebook and Twitter were even a thought, CruiseCritic.com was providing accurate, timely information through a well-organized and controlled bulletin board message system on all cruise lines. I remember becoming a charter member of CruiseCritic going on ten years ago now. One of the best pieces of information I picked up and have virally spread to thousands of people was a tip to study the deck plans of a ship prior to embarkation. I got that tip shortly after my first cruise so the thought that knowing your way around the ship will keep you from "bumping into walls and getting lost, effectively adding a half-day of quality vacation time to your cruise" still rings true today. I am still quite confident that I can go to CruiseCritic, ask a question, and get an answer within minutes on most topics. With a gazillion active members who have sailed, recently, on most ships, someone always has the answer. There are other "boards" like CruiseMates and CruiseAddicts with a lot of members too, but none comes close to matching the live information and superb editorial content of CruiseCritic.
USA Today's CruiseLog is a superb source of breaking cruise news and in-depth reporting. I was in the newspaper business for many years, way before the Internet posed competition for print news. USA Today was always a favorite paper to read because of their concise, accurate information on a global scale. CruiseLog provides that same flavor of information today and hosts discussions on the various topics it covers. Again, the interactivity factor is huge; providing the pros and cons of a current story by readers and pros in the field alike.
Your Travel Agent should be another source but one that has a personal interest in you. I don' t have specific recommendations for you because you need to find a travel agent that will work for you. Not some order taker, Internet Cruise Broker, or click to buy website. Those are not Travel Agents. What you want is someone, some person, who is your "friend in the business". Someone totally accessible via email, phone or in person who knows you and can provide the information you need, when you need it. Nothing less will do. You need to hold that agent to the highest of standards for reliable information, competitive pricing, and more. The "more" is probably the most important part too. That person that is Your Travel Agent will have insights that will add value to your vacation experience. Maybe they know a guy in St Thomas that runs a great tour, maybe they know which shore excursion to avoid and which one to take, maybe they follow up after the sale to be sure you are continually getting the most for your vacation dollars. These are just a few qualities that Your Travel Agent should have. If you are not using a travel agent you are not getting the best vacation value possible.
Travel Writers have been around forever. Some have come and gone and some have stayed and become popular because they get it. They have overcome one of the biggest challenges facing them: providing relevant content. One of the inherant difficulties in writing about travel is that not a lot changes on many topics. A travelguide written for Jamaica ten years ago may be just as relevant today as it was then. Dunns River Falls was a big attraction then and is now. The Falls have not changed much in the past decade. Good travel writers know this and can spin a different angle on the topic, perhaps suggesting alternative places to go but surely giving the best information about those must-see attractions whereever you travel. When I think about which travel writers I actually read, I like Linda Garrison from About.com for complete, accurate information as well as insight not found in other sources.
Travel Bloggers are a popular way to get that information you need from a personal perspective in a manner that is sort of like reading someone's diary. Picking the right ones to read is as simple as just giving them a try. It should not take long to find some you enjoy reading and that provide information you are interested in.
One I like a lot is Chris Elliot. His easy-to-read style focuses not on the destinations or ways to get there but the tools you need for a successful trip. This guy does not even specialize in cruise vacations but the flavor of his writing is what you want to look for. There are a bunch of "cruise experts" out there that have thier own spin on whatever topic is floating around on any given day. Elliot takes a different view and has a unique style that elicits valuable information, like what you might get from a close friend recounting their travels. That is exactly what you want.
In the world of travel bloggers, social media like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are popular avenues to get their message out. Thinking about it, I bet I spend more time reading bloggers than anything else. What you do not want in a blogger is someone who fills space with news stories. You can get that from a lot of other places. Thier spin on a news story can be valuable but simply reporting the news is not blogging. Here are a few great ones to check out:
- John Heald's blog- from the unflappable executive cruise director for Carnival Cruise Lines
- ShipCritic blog- Journalist and author Anne Campbell shares a rich history of experience
- ExpertCruiser.com- Anita Dunham-Potter works hard to empower travelers
One of my biggest goals in the whole travel twirl is to empower readers to get the very most out of their cruise vacation by providing them the knowledge to do so. These sources are a great start for the world of cruising.
In a perfect world, travel writers would be completely unbiased, pay for their travel experiences so as to review and write incognito and not do it as a sideline. They have to eat too though so don't be too put off by writers who also sell something cruise-related or go on cruise line-sponsored sailings. Those writers often have some of the best contacts and most current information of all. The trick is to spend some time with this, find a handful of writers and sources you click with and enjoy the whole process.
Coming up in this series on Cruise Vacations, your best travel
- Finding your travel agent- Some great sources- If you don't have a travel agent or have one that is not delivering the best value, here are some tips on how to find one
- Cruise Lines- Which one is best for you- They are not all created equal, the line should be a good fit for you or that great price may all of the sudden be a waste of money
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Cruise Pricing- Cheapest is not always best- Learn why the smartest travelers know price is just one element of the buying equation
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