The Cruise Bruise Cruise Ship Bruising Report
Letters To The Editor
Visitors Talk Back
Tuesday April 7, 2009
T. Kegin writes:
"I often have thought that it would an interesting job, after I retire from the police department, to be a part of the security operation for one of the cruise lines. However, after reading some of the things I have seen on your site, I think my moral standards may be much too high for cruise ship security with many companies. It sounds as if passenger safety and security is not a real issue to many cruise lines."
Monday March 16, 2009
In reading the letter below, keep in mind this person was chosen to promote Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, in online forums, whether compensated or not, in the role of a Royal Champion, (Royal Caribbean Caught Infiltrating Forums March 9 2009) even though that role of distinction seems to have changed in recent days, according to her.
Could it be, that some RCs were chosen for the program because they could be counted on to hysterically attack those who might post less than stellar critiques and opinions of RCCL products and policies, not to post positive, articulate reviews? You read the letter and decide for yourself.
The letter is unedited.
Ms Geis writes:
"You need to know some facts about the Royal Champions you are not stating in your article. There are TWO groups of Royal Champions. The first group selected in 2007 is who you talk about in your article that received perks and the cruise so you say. The second group that I AM IN was selected in Sept. 2008. None of us in the second group received ONE DIME or ANY compensation or incentive of any kind! We received an email in Sept. telling us we were selected, NO DETAILS, we sent our name and address to RCCL, we heard NOTHING for months until about 3 weeks ago RCCL emailed us once again for full legal name and address but did not state why they needed it, we had been give no details about the program at all, then all hell broke lose with this media storm about royal champions. On Wed. I received an email from RCCL stating details of program FINALLY. It states we will be invited to RCCL events to get our opinions BUT we will have to pay ALL our own expenses! PLEASE do NOT lump us altogether as you are slandering the second group of innocent people selected that was added to Royal Champions and you MAY be doing the same to the first group I do not know. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING. WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT TO POST, WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED NO INCENTIVES AT ALL, AND WE ARE CAUGHT IN THIS MESS THANKS TO ARTICLES LIKE YOURS THAT DO NOT....... I REPEAT DO NOT STATE THE FACTS! PLEASE WRITE A NEW ARTICLE STATING THE FACTS!
The last group of RC's selected in Sept. 2008 have received NOTHING FROM RCCL!!!!!!! You are destroying our integrity and misleading the public into thinking the only reason we post on Cruise Critic is because we were "bought" and "bribed" by perks by RCCL. Half the Royal Champion members are people from the SECOND GROUP and we received NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Please correct this injustice! I was diamond plus BEFORE I was selected for royal champions in SEPTEMBER 2008!!!!!!!! I enjoy sailing RCCL or I would NOT be a diamomd plus earned by taking so many cruises on RCCL. No one bought me, influenced me, paid me, you are causing DAMAGE to my reputation and others! Your website strives to inform the public of the truth so you say so start with correcting THIS injustice that YOU are doing to people that enjoy cruising! "
Sunday March 15, 2009
Today, I received a letter from a Cruise Bruise visitor that addresses the issue of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's practice of compensating Cruise Critic forum members who create promotions for RCCL in essentially paid ads.
The story published on March 9, 2009 is referenced here
After publishing the story, and quoting the FTC law word for word that applies to the "testimonials", I privately wondered how long it would take before a Cruise Bruise visitor filed a complaint with the FTC. I got my answer today.
Mr. Capin writes:
"First I would like to thank you for the information you provide on this site. It is important to all of us who view the cruise industry as less than honorable. The information you provide is not available at any other web site that I know of and seeks to expose the most egregious violations of the law, as well as give voice to those that have been mistreated.
I have followed the Cruise Critic /Royal Caribbean debate on disclosure of Royal Caribbean's viral marketing campaign with great interest. No poster has even given a thought to file a complaint with the FTC to find out if they are actually in violation of the law.
I filed a complaint and have informed Cruise Critic so that we may begin to get some clarity on this issue.
The Royal Champions don't seem to understand the issues that are involved and they won't until full disclosure is required by a legal source. Cruise Critic and Royal Caribbean are not being truthful and trying to spin the actual facts.
My thanks for the explanation of the amount of compensation that was received .
I remain a faithful follower of your blog, when I want the truth about the cruise industry."
