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Among other allegations made by Mr. Deilmann was that Mr. Ward "reviews" ships without sailing on them, and that he in effect extorts the cruises by conditioning good reviews on his being supplied special perks including airfare and complimentary accomadations.
I'd like to hear some feedback from the more knowledgable posters to this site. I've found Mr. Ward's guides useful in the past, but had determined that his tastes were so different from mine that I could not rely on his conclusions. Obviously, this new information, if true puts a whole new spin on things.
James
In 1998 when I cruised on Celebrity - everyone onboard rated the food as fantastic, except me. I though that it was pretty good, but hardly fantastic - but I appreciate that my opinion was not shared by the vast majority. Now I did think the food onboard the 4 star 'Black Watch' was fantastic. However no guide book or web review would agree with me!
I don't always see eye to eye with Ward's comments either, but the star ratings look reasonably accurate. After all it is pretty obvious that Seaborne are worth a top end score (five stars according to Betlitz) and Airtours (Sun) are worth somewhat less (3 stars according to Berlitz). I suppose the danger is in the middle ground. I personally would not be put off by a ship with a 3 or 4 star score, but I would probably avoid a 2 star ship.
It's a bit like being a food critic. I'd expect great food, great service and I would not expect to pay for it either! I suspect Ward always gets better treatment onboard than the rest of us would! He claims to spend nine months at sea each year. The court ruling is interesting - you would think that he would be entitled to give a ship a low score, if that was his opinion.
[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 09-30-2000).]
One thing to remember is that Douglas Ward has a "team of trained 'professional passengers'", as he states in his book, who participate in making ship inspections, so if Ward doesn't inspect a ship himself, that is no reflection on his rating system. I think that this team of professional passengers makes for a more accurate rating, rather than just one man's opinion.
I also think that it is rediculous that Germany has banned this book...It's like hitler all over again....I guess it makes me glad that I live in a country that has the freedom we do.
Is this the case?
As for Mr. Ward, he is a nice guy, perhaps he takes himself and his arithmetic rating formula a tad too seriously...and as far as "professional" passengers...well that is impossible. There is no such thing as a "professional passenger"..constant passenger, yes but a professional is a graduate with a degree...a physician, attorney or teacher, perhaps... There was a time he was rumored to have pressured a certain Greek cruise line for "emoluments" but I won't say he did that... When you get too close to this business as I have, you get very strong feelings about ships, pro and con...As I say in my lectures about ships, particularly cruise ships, feel free to like what you like, love the ships you do but allow me to dislike what I dislike.
I'm most intrigued by the difference between Malcom and Vulcania concerning who should pay when critics use a product. I've always had the impression that it was better if reviewers paid their own way. Indeed, in an ideal world, the reviewers would be unknown to those being reviewed. There is always a certain unsttled feeling that reviewers are being treated better than mere mortals.
Regarding Barryboat's comment, it was my understanding that the book was NOT banned because of any opinions expressed but because it contained at least twelve factual misstatements that Mr. Ward refused to correct and being informed of the errors.
[This message has been edited by oe (edited 09-30-2000).]
Mr. Ward is definitely a details guys.
I thought someone said that Germany had banned the book...which I thought was odd...how can a country ban a book, and why a book about cruising? I can understand a country banning a book like the Bible which is a life-changing book that may go against the grain of a whole countries beliefs, (which I think it is wrong, by the way, to ban the Bible), but a book on cruise ships??
If said professional passenger would put his/her CV in this area up front, I would welcome the input.
I would like to have more than one point of view, but after they all have been encapsulated by one "Point Reviewer" (presumaby salaried or on perks) we could well end up with the old classic example of:..."An Unbiased History of the Civil War from the Southern Side!"
[This message has been edited by Cambodge (edited 10-01-2000).]
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