The Fodor Cruise Forum challenge
 

I have seen more plugs for the other board "CC" during the past few months than ever before. There is nothing wrong with them, other than the occassional "professional reviews" that sang the praise of a certain cruise line on a relatievly consistent basis; and yes, the snobbery of how many cruises the poster have taken.

There are a few features that I use over there: roll call for one, and reviews being the other. However, I am getting a bit tire of seeing post here that read something like: "if you want more info (or better info) go check out the other place."

So here is my challenge. Post soemthing here that is positive about this forum and why you post here and not there, and why you like it here better than the "other place".

I log-in on the other place too, but I am here more often, and I post most of my TR here.

So, I'll start the ball rolling with my number one reason:

The people here are more friendly and knowledgable.

I like Fodors a lot--think it is great for getting all sorts of travel questions answered.

I do think that CC is MUCH better for cruise information--because it is populated with people who have tons of cruise experience, more (IMHO) than Fodorites.

I second Abram. I also like the easy access as I scroll to Fodors travel reports.

Cruise critic allows one to hone in on specific cruise lines. I also like the fact that we can mention our experiences with specific cruise agents.

Well I agree with abram and E. you can get more info on CC and in a hurry but over there it can get testy in a hurry too. Also the mods here do a better job. Over there the mods sort of let the inmates run the asylum.

I just would like to see more activity here but overall the tone is better IMHO.

I only go to Fodors.

Absolutely have to agree...CC is great for roll calls and setting up tours, I have found many (and other friends find the same thing) of the cruisers for a certain cruise line are absolutely obnoxious and brook no honest criticism of "their" line. On the other hand I find the moderator here pretty lenient and the wonderful information I've gotten over the years from people like Percy and Eschew h as been invaluable. Jacketwatch just love your comment on the moderators over there letting their favorite inmates run the asylum. In turn I try to "play it forward"

I am more "familiar" with the posters here. Too many posters on CC to remember the names.

Before we took our first cruise, I come on here with a lot of concerns and questions. You were all helpful and kind (I'm remembering Doug S, jacketwatch and Dayenu, but know there were others), and gave me many good opinions and suggestions.

Eschew, you also said, "You will find us a friendly bunch." That was such a nice, encouraging, welcoming thing to say, it really stuck with me, and I've found it to be true. I like the other forums very much, but somehow posters on the cruise forum seem a bit more laid back and more accepting that different people like different things. So, this is always my first place to come for advice about cruises.

With all the other forums, there is probably only a small percentage of fodorites who are cruisers. A lot of cruisers may not even realize there is a cruise forum on Fodors.

It is like comparing apples and oranges...Fodors and Cruise Critic are two different "animals"...I use both.

I love the Fodors forums for Asia and Africa but I find CC very comprehensive for cruises.

I too prefer Fodors, for ease of use, but find that there are a lot more posts and a lot more information (sometimes biased) on CC.

I love Fodors to figure out our own way in Europe but CC when we cruise. Like everything, using many sources when researching helps you make better decisions. I use TA too. That said, sometimes I get it wrong! Like twice when we had to carry up luggage 4 to 5 flights because there was no elevator or anyone to help. :-)

The problem I found with CC is the amount of biased info. There seems to be a whole less of that "biase" here.

One thing about Fodor, you will find more general information as people who frequent here are "travllers", and not only cruise travellers.

I agree wholeheartedly that there are more cruise info on CC than Fodor, but this is a classic case of more doesn't equate better. It is the quality of information I seek and NOT quantity.

Fodors is great for other types of vacations, but if you notice there have only been 5 threads started here on the cruise forum in the past 5 days. Surely not enough traffic to impart much information.

So Frank, how are we going to have more threads here if everyone is telling everyone else to go to CC and post there?

You have to accept the fact that CC is the bible and use Fodors for what it does best, unfortunately it's not cruises.

Frank, "bible" is such a strong word ... CC may carries more information, but a fair amount is quite biased. Wait, I take it back, religious text are biased in nature. Frank, you are 100% correct on your choice of word. :)

Seriously, if everyone abdicated to the "leader of the pack", why would any other cruise board/forum exist?

I started this thread to get conversation going and highlight the fact that why some of us think Fodor is better; and how we (the frequent users) can make it even better.