I would be surprised if anyone reading this DOESN’T remember a world without the internet (meaning you’re probably as old as, or older, than me).
As the internet developed, wiki sites appeared to be the antidote to the sales and marketing campaigns of big companies. The definition of “wiki” is a website that allows users to contribute to or edit the content on that website.
Trip Advisor, Cruise Critic, and Facebook Groups are all examples of wiki sites. To be clear, what follows is not a commentary on any of those specific channels, but rather a caution and suggestion of how they should be used.
Wiki sites have undoubtedly added a layer of democracy to the information out there, but like anything else they need to be read with a critical filter – just like the marketing campaigns of travel vendors should be viewed critically.
Here’s a demonstration that will reinforce my point: Think of the most fantastic vacation or travel experience that you’ve ever had. Maybe it’s a cruise, maybe it’s a destination, or maybe even a restaurant or attraction. Go to a wiki site and be amazed by how many reviews there with exactly the opposite opinion than you. Marvel in how many people say that your perfect experience sucked for them!
Part of this is the reality that everyone assesses an experience with different criteria. However, the other consideration is that wiki sites tend to attract participation by those who either have a real axe to grind OR who want to share their perfect experience with everyone. This leads to what the statisticians call a bi-modal distribution – a whole bunch of 1-star ratings, and another large group of 5-star ratings, and very little in the middle. It is binary – it is either the “worst-ever” or the “best-ever”.
Such reviews are not particularly insightful, and you should probably eliminate them from your consideration.
What IS useful are the few comments and reviews that fall between the 1’s and the 5’s – particularly those with specific comments or feedback for how and why they came up with such an assessment.
Here’s suggestion as to how to use wiki sites to your advantage:
- ELIMINATE all the top and bottom scored reviews.
- ELIMINATE those without comments or feedback describing how they came up with that rating.
- IGNORE overall scores – these are easy to manipulate for better or for worse, and not very instructional.
- IGNORE comments that make sweeping declarations (“This is the BEST cruise line ever”). First of all, anyone who makes such a declaration has almost certainly not been on ALL the others. For the record, I have been on all the others, and I would never declare one to be the best, simply because I know people have different criteria to determine what is best for them.
- PAY ATTENTION to the very few people out there who are thoughtful enough to objectively state what they like and don’t like and why, and invite others to disagree with them. People with this type of intelligence are a small minority – both on wiki sites, and in our society in general.
This means there is very small percentage of the total reviews and comments on any of those wiki sites that you should actually pay attention to. Consider it like panning for gold – you need to be patient and pay close attention or order to mine out the valuable nuggets.
Sorting through the information on wiki sites with a critical eye is hard work. As our attention spans have shrunk (a measurable phenomenon in the past few decades), we are less practiced at seeing nuance and subtlety, and insist more on seeing things in binary terms: It’s black or white (blue or red), right or wrong, unbelievably fantastic or disgustingly bad.
None of these extremes serve us well when making rational decisions with our vacation dollars (or anything else, for that matter).
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Viking is throwing their FREE AIRFARE promotion at some of its cruises to fill up the last few rooms:
- Hawaii – round-trip from LA for 17-days departing in December 2023, and February 2024. Fares from $5499 per person.
- Panama Canal between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City for 11-days departing in Oct/Nov/Dec 2023. Fares from $3399 per person.
- Panama Canal Full Transit between Fort Lauderdale and LA for 18-days departing Oct – Dec 2023 and Jan – Mar 2024. Fares from $5999 per person.
Remember that Viking Ocean fares include all taxes and fees, ROUND-TRIP FLIGHTS, airport transfers, a 270 square foot veranda suite, a shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
If you’d prefer to travel on the river:
- Elbe River (Berlin to Prague) for 10 days, departing March – July 2023. Fares from $3499 pp in March and $3999 pp in July.
- Holland & Belgium for 10 days, departing March – August 2023. Fares from $4599 pp in March and $3399 pp in July/August.
- Paris to Zurich for 12 days, departing March – August 2023. Fares from $3599 pp in March, and $3999 pp in August.
- Amsterdam to Budapest for 15 days, departing May through August. Fares from $5299 pp in May, and $4499 pp in July/August.
Remember, these prices INCLUDE round-trip international airfare.
Just as an aside, please don’t book direct with Viking. We can get you exactly the same price you’d get by booking direct (including any special promotions). PLUS we can always add at least $100 per person onboard credit in addition to anything you receive from Viking. This applies even if you already paid your deposit, or even if you’re already paid in full. If you’re already booked, please get in touch so we can add these extra perks to your existing reservation. By now, hopefully you know there is no fee to work with us (we get paid commission from the cruise lines). So please support a hard-working small business owners by bringing your booking to us. Thank you – we love working with you all!
If you’d rather stay state-side this spring, here’s an interesting one that came across my desk:
American Queen Voyages Kentucky Derby Cruise:
- Departing Louisville May 1, 2023, bound for Cincinnati (9 days).
- Inside rooms $3499 per person. Veranda suites $5699 pp.
- Includes pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, unlimited shore excursions in each port of call, and wifi on the ship.
- Optional Premium Excursion to the Kentucky Derby including covered seats in the final stretch, VIP access to Churchill Downs, Access to Affirmed Lounge with complimentary food and beverage
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
