Ya know, over the years RCI have not exactly had a glowing history when it comes to PR. Remember it took just over 6 months for a statement to come out of their PR section about the Osborne case on Brilliance...like this, they waited til speculation and accusation went into overdrive, granted they were limited on what they could say by the authorities, but sometimes you do get the feeling that when the mud hits a fan, RCI PR is just not able to handle it. They are out there when the news is good, but when it's bad they get a really bad case of the stammers and that does absolutely nothing for their reputation.

Very interesting stuff here but I am a little confused as to your statement of not having ANY ties with cruiselines.......Isn't that a Celebrity cruise line advertizement at the bottom of my screen????

Advertising on the board is one thing....getting sent by your employer to go on a cruise, or being invited to a special presentation or a pre-inaugural, etc. is entirely another. All the positions on this board are voluntary. We don't get any perks from the cruise lines. I don't want to speak for Ally, but I do believe that is what she meant.

As Mary has stated, we as staff receive no 'kick-backs' from any of the lines that choose to advertise here. They pay the owner of the site to advertise, they get nothing for free and neither does the owner. We all pay the standard advertised rate for all of our cruises, no freebees here.

Unlike the site mentioned in the articles and conversations, we have absolutely no ties to any line and any lines who advertise here do so at their expense and not at the expense of the integrity of this board & it's staff/owner.

The integrity & honesty of this board, its staff & members is NOT for sale and never will be.

Are those people employees of RCCL??? Thats what it appears you are saying......

I don't know who gets what perks here but if someone is advertising on any medium that they ARE paying that medium and by that relationship the hosting medium is a supporter of the advertiser.....why do you think people/companies get fired when they do somthing to embarress the hosting medium......

just kind of reeks of a double standard to me, you can "say" you don't get this or you do get that but who REALLY knows.....when you allow advertising you ARE supporting the company doing the advertising...

I would say that with a visible advert you know what you are getting, but this campaign seems to have been based on sharing information on the sites so as to conceal that the person had a personal link to the company. The "positive reviews" were in essence concealed adverts.

I don't mind advertising as long as it is clear that is its purpose but I feel that to post a review that "may" be slanted because of a personal link or reward becomes fraud. It says it is unbiased but is tainted by the concealed link.

This forum is small and run by volunteers whereas others have full-time editorial staff who I assume are there to manage the content. I hoped this meant that it would be unbiased but now who knows?

Richard

If that were true, no medium would ever carry advertisements by competitors.

No, I'm not saying those people were employees of RCCL. I am saying they have a symbiotic relationship with RCCL, albeit a facultative one. CC does much more than accept advertising. THAT is the point.

Many mediums accept advertising. This does, in no way, mean you are supporting the company. Think of television .....there are many ads there which I'm sure a particular station, or even the network, does not actually support.

mrdawson - I am merely a member here on CruisingTalk; however, I feel that I should answer your juvenile, shrill and totally meaningless drivel.

If you don't like this web site get the hell out, and stay out, in my opinion. You certainly sound like you are very adept at very idle and meaningless chatter, much like, in my opinion, your contemporaries on Cruise Critic.

You, sir(and I use that salutation very loosely) are a shining example of what Cruise Critic is all about and CruisingTalk is not. You don't get much out of this website? Then why throw senseless and meaningless barbs and threats about? That's much more saved for your friends at CC, not here.

Further, I take personal offense at your threats and innuendos toward people I have had the pleasure of coming to know - and yes, learn from - over the past couple of years. Yes, despite your meaningless accusation that there isn't much to learn on here, that is true for you, for one who is ignorant and hostile cannot learn, or even share experiences.

Make the threats you must, mrdawson, but on this website we don't attack and accuse, as you have done. I do not believe you could learn anything from decent, friendly and knowledgeable people in any case.

I reiterate my earlier statement, mrdawson. You don't like this website? Then get the hell out and stay the hell out, and save your senseless anger and juvenile behavior for your contemporaries on another website. Your meaningless chatter has no place on CruisingTalk.

This thread has come to the end of its constructive life and keeping it open would only add further encouragement to certain individuals who register with the sole purpose of being argumentative and disrespectful to our members & staff (posts illustrating this behaviour have been removed this morning).

Therefore this thread is closed indefinitely and with immediate effect.