About Us
Home > About Us
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Press
Cruise Critic is frequently cited by the media as a leading source of travel information. We've been featured on the BBC and ABC News, noted as a top travel site by Travel + Leisure and The Washington Post, and recommended in outlets ranging from Budget Travel to The New York Times.
Where might you have seen us lately? Check us out....
|
Follow Me to Travel Know-How:
10 Twitter feeds that’ll get you up to speed
New York Post travel editor, David Landsel, recommends his favorite travel feeds.
"@CruiseCritic:Ask questions of the folks behind the popular website of the same name; keep up to date on the latest with new ships, weather patterns and everything else cruisers love to talk about."
Published November 2009
|
|
T+L's Top Travel Websites of 2009
Travel+Leisure put hundreds of travel websites to the test to uncover the top 45 you need to bookmark before planning your next trip.
"Click Factor: This comprehensive site picks apart virtually every sailing on the seas, with pictures, authoritative editor reviews, good last-minute deals, and news updates. Travelers can search by port of call, departure city, date, and cruise line."
Published November 2009
|
|
Practical Traveler: The Caribbean Issue
The NY Times highlights Cruise Critic's Caribbean deals.
"Interestingly, some of the most attractive deals this winter are being offered on newer ships. CruiseCritic.com/bargains lists seven-night western Caribbean cruises on the three-year-old Crown Princess for $479 and the popular Norwegian Jewel for $329. Both depart in January.
“If I’m going to spend the same kind of money on a cruise,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of CruiseCritic, “I’ll take the newer ship, with better restaurants, more amenities, bigger spa, pool, sun deck, and broader entertainment — any day.”
Published November 2009
|
|
Cruising in Style
The Miami Herald gives the site a nice compliment when introducing our editor in chief.
"Carolyn Spence Brown, editor of the bible of cruise sites, CruiseCritic.com."
Published June 2009
|
|
New Tools on the Web's Best Travel Sites
The Washington Post takes a fresh look at some of the Web’s most popular sites, scouting for cool new bells and whistles.
"There's nothing like a site patronized and run by fanatics, and this compendium of traveler reviews, ship specifications, message boards and the like is justly celebrated within the cruise community. It should absolutely be the first stop of any first-time cruiser, although seasoned veterans who revel in cruise-line minutiae and gossip about the industry will no doubt love it, too ... We particularly like the Roll Call section of the message boards, in which future cruisers can make contact with others who will be on the same sailing."
Published February 2009
|
|
The Ultimate Guide to Cruising:
These Web Sites Help You Choose the Right Cruise Ship
The LA Times highlights its pick of the best cruise sites.
"CruiseCritic.com: This site is one of the old-timers of the Web world, well respected and popular, and no wonder. It's one of the best consumer sites, dense with ship reviews, member message boards and cruise news. It has a soup-to-dessert approach to cruising and should be a first stop for anyone thinking of setting sail.
Worth visiting for: Message boards with comments, complaints and reviews from passengers. These are experienced cruisers who proudly list their cruises like medals on a uniform. Be careful or you'll be sucked in for hours."
Published January 2009
|
|
The Ultimate Guide to Travel Web Sites
Conde Nast Traveler selects Cruise Critic as
"Best Travel Web Site for Cruise Reviews."
Conde Nast Traveler magazine tested hundreds of travel Web sites to "reveal the best online sources." Conde Nast Traveler said about Cruise Critic: "WHY WE LIKE IT: Everything you need to know before setting sail. Cruise Critic provides lengthy, detailed comments sorted by destinations, homeports, themes and interests, cruise lines, and even by ship."
Published March 2008
|
|
Survey Identifies Concerns of Cruise "Virgins"
Online travel community TravelMole highlights the results of a Cruise Critic poll.
"Nearly a third of cruise 'virgins' would be prompted by a special deal to take a cruise, according to a survey by Cruise Critic. A poll by the online interactive consumer cruise site, which launched a UK dedicated portal this week, found 29 percent of people who had never taken a cruise would be tempted by a bargain."
Published January 8, 2008
|
|
CruiseCritic Launches U.K. Site
Travolution, the U.K.'s leading business magazine, Web site, blog and events provider for the online travel market, covers the launch of cruisecritic.co.uk.
"CruiseCritic.co.uk will be the first country site created to run alongside the original dot-com, which launched in 1995 as one of the Web's first cruise review portals ... CruiseCritic editor-in-chief, Carolyn Spencer Brown, said: 'The British have a long tradition of cruising, as many great ships and shipping lines have British origins. Recently, the British cruise market has experienced an unprecedented boom, as younger, less traditional and more active travellers are discovering the advantages of cruising as a holiday choice.'"
Published January 8, 2008
|
|
Cruise Critic Opens in U.K.
The Travel Trade Gazette (online edition) announces the launch of Cruise Critic's U.K. site.
"The site is similar to the US version, including ship reviews, port profiles, cruise news and features. There is also a forum for users to chat about cruising. Companies currently advertising on the site include Island Cruises and Oceania Cruises, and there is a page dedicated to deals."
Published January 2, 2008
|
|
|
Newsletters We Love
The Miami Herald's Jane Wooldridge sifts through the Web's travel e-letters and offers a few of her favorites.
"Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com): Cruising news plus deals from knowledgeable editors. Whether you're an avid cruiser or a first-timer, this site and its newsletter are musts. The website includes editorial reviews, forums, advice and articles."
Published November 18, 2007
|
|
|
Cruise Critic Web Site to Launch in U.K. in January
Charlotte Walsh from Travel Trade Gazette (online edition) writes about Cruise Critic's U.K. site launch, and its potential impact on the cruise market.
"Cruise Critic, the TripAdvisor-owned cruise community website that has a strong following in the US, will sail into the UK market in January. Agents and cruise lines have welcomed the move, saying it will help to widen the sector’s popularity."
Published November 8, 2007
|
|
|
Growing Rebellion on the High Seas
The New York Times talks to Cruise Critic editor in chief Carolyn Spencer Brown about how passengers nearly mutinied while onboard Sapphire Princess in Asia.
"'First there was a group of what I’d call rabble-rousers, led by a lawyer,' she said. 'We were missing all of these ports, and they felt they weren't getting the truth' from the ship’s officers. At one point, with passengers assembled in the ship's theater, she said, 'the attorney jumped up and grabbed the microphone away from the assistant cruise director and said: We're taking over the stage! We have a petition!'"
Published December 16, 2007
|
|
Winter Months Offer Best Sailing Around Cape Horn
San Jose's Mercury News tackles one reader's question about the smoothest month for sailing in South America.
"Remember that rough seas are common, especially around Cape Horn -- although you'll be dazzled by scenery. We found this warning on cruisecritic.com: 'Even in the height of summer, sea conditions can be dicey, so captains may have to cancel a call at a particular port at the last minute.'"
Published November 25, 2007
|
|
Cruise Business Watertight Despite Mishap
USA Today explores why the sinking of an expedition ship in Antarctica hasn't dampened travelers' desires to cruise there.
"Despite worldwide coverage of the accident that often stressed the dangers of travel to the poles, Cruisecritic.com editor Carolyn Spencer Brown says it's unlikely the sinking will have any sort of impact on bookings ... 'safety procedures worked and everyone, including crew, was successfully rescued.'"
Published November 30, 2007
|
|
New Port in Jamaica
The Houston Chronicle shares news briefs, citing Cruise Critic as a source.
"A new cruise port under construction at Falmouth, Jamaica, between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, would be able to accommodate two of Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Project Genesis vessels, according to CruiseCritic, an industry Web site."
Published November 18, 2007
|
|
A Wild Rescue in Antarctica
The Travel Channel's travel blog, World Hum, chronicles the sinking of G.A.P. Adventures' Explorer and the rescue of its passengers and crew.
"So what went wrong? That will no doubt be the subject of a lengthy investivation. CruiseCritic.com notes conflicting accounts of the damage done to the ship. An official with the Argentine navy apparently claimed the damage was 'significant.' Tia Serena posted on the Cruise Critic forum that she once worked on the Explorer and there were 'some concerns over hull integrity at the time, but I am still surprised to hear that a bit of ice broke her hull, after all it was steel plate inches thick (at least on the bow...).'"
Published November 24, 2007
|
|
|
Paying a Premium Not to Mingle at Sea
Cruise lines are stratifying their ships with exclusive tiers. The New York Times' Michelle Higgins looks at the V.I.P. movement at sea.
"The new V.I.P. zones and tiered levels are a big departure from the largely democratic nature of cruising ... 'It's like a return to the class system,' said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, where consumers post detailed critiques of ships. It's about 'getting away from the masses,' she added."
Published November 11, 2007
|
|
|
New Owner for Regent Seven Seas Cruises?
USA Today writer Gene Sloan praises Cruise Critic in a recent The Cruise Log blog entry for spotting interesting cruise news.
"One of the world's top cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas, is getting new owners -- or, at least, that's the word from CFO.com, a small web site that caters to chief financial officers. Kudos to Melissa Baldwin, the eagle-eyed managing editor of cruisecritic.com, for spotting the news, which was buried in a corner of the CFO.com site."
Published November 5, 2007
|
|
|
Cruise Lines Have the Trip, If You Have the Time
The New York Times' Amy Gunderson examines a hot trend in cruising: longer voyages.
"No category of cruises is getting as much attention as world cruises, with more lines launching multiple-month itineraries … 'Princess is doing it for the first time in five years, and that is a big deal,' said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of the online magazine Cruise Critic. 'There are plenty of opportunities for world cruises on the high end of the market, but this is opening it up to the midmarket.'"
Published October 28, 2007
|
|
Five Things to Know Before Taking Your First Cruise
The Associated Press offers a primer to first-time cruisers.
"Every cruise line has a Web site. You can easily book your own trip. But which cruise is right for you? ... For shore excursions, are you up for kayaking, or do you want the trolley tour? Do your kids need a babysitter, organized arts and sports activities, or a teen lounge? You can research and compare what each ship offers, or get advice from Web sites like CruiseCritic.com...."
Published October 24, 2007
|
|
|
Pillow Talk
Bedding onboard is getting better: The New York Post takes a look at what's happening at mainstream and luxury lines.
"Gone are scratchy sheets and creaky twin frames, hello 'custom sleep systems' and Frette linens. It's almost hotel worthy. That's no accident, says Carolyn Spencer Brown of CruiseCritic.com. 'Cruise lines compete with hotels for the all-important vacation dollar. They figured out the trends that are driving hotels also drive cruises,' Spencer says. 'People want to sleep well wherever they are.'"
Published October 23, 2007
|
|
Cruise Ship Hits NY Pier
The Hartford Courant's Jeanne Leblanc blogs about a mishap at the cruise terminal in New York City.
"The Carnival Victory had a minor bump on its way into port in New York on Thursday. I totally sympathize. I hate to drive in New York, and my Subaru is a lot more maneuverable. And I can't parallel park to save my life. The ever-vigilant folks on the Cruise Critic message boards report that the ship sailed out of New York on schedule Thursday evening for its next cruise."
Published August 3, 2007
|
|
|
Cruise Ships Rerouted to Avoid Fires in Greece
USA Today writer Gene Sloan sources Cruise Critic in a recent The Cruise Log blog entry on the fires in Greece.
"Cruisecritic.com reports that the Costa Serena, in the midst of a seven-night cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean, will head to Mykonos today instead of Katakolon -- a port town that's near one of the fires. Another Costa ship, the Mediterranea, will head to Corfu Wednesday instead of Katakolon ... On Saturday the flames crept to within two miles of the ancient site, but Cruisecritic.com says the birthplace of the Olympics and its new museum appears to have been saved from destruction."
Published August 28, 2007
|
|
Is Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Going Under?
SmarterTravel.com addresses Windjammer's uncertain future.
"It looks like Windjammer is in trouble. As reported on CruiseCritic.com, the family-owned cruise line has been having financial troubles, resulting in poor ship maintenance, canceled cruises, and disgruntled guests and employees.... Members of Cruise Critic's forums are reporting difficulties in obtaining refunds for canceled cruises. If you're in a similar situation, you may want to initiate a conversation with your credit card company to cancel the charges."
Published August 3, 2007. Editor's Note: Cruise Critic is published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, which also owns SmarterTravel.com.
|
|
Drift Away Your Way
The Orlando Sentinel talks theme cruising with Cruise Critic Editor Carolyn Spencer Brown.
"'Theme cruises have exploded in the past year to year-and-a-half,' says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of Cruisecritic.com, a major Web site for consumer-oriented cruise travel information. She estimates that ships now feature several hundred theme or special-interest cruises annually...."
Published September 9, 2007
|
|
|
Two Cruise Ship Monarchs Sail Into the Sunset
The Miami Herald bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth 2 and Delta Queen.
"... Ben Lyons, who has made 10 voyages on the QE2, wrote a tribute to the ship for CruiseCritic.com, an online cruise magazine. 'Dubai,' he wrote, 'will be able to spend the millions needed to convert her into a hotel and keep her for years to come. She will be docked in the middle of a major tourist center, and a steady stream of visitors seems assured ... This is indeed a time to be sad, but not a time to dwell on the sadness. Ultimately, she leaves us with dignity.'"
Published September 9, 2007
|
|
Time for a Change?
The Tampa Tribune offers a primer on repositioning cruises.
"To search online for a repositioning cruise, go to: cruisecritic.com (click on 'find a cruise' and select trans-Atlantic)"
Published September 9, 2007
|
|
|
User's Guide: Travel Online
Travel + Leisure magazine has assembled the ultimate online guide to the top travel Web sites.
"The Web is an essential tool for travelers, but as booking engines and trip forums evolve and multiply, you have to know where to look -- and whom to trust." For planning a cruise, T+L recommends Cruise Critic to "research almost anything about 60 different cruise lines and gather advice on everything ship-related -- from buying travel insurance to using onboard slot machines."
Published September 2007 issue
|
|
|
Three Die As Hurricane Dean Strengthens
The Associated Press, syndicated nationwide, reports on Hurricane Dean's initial path.
"Hurricane Dean roared into the eastern Caribbean on Friday ... about a dozen cruise ships were altering their itineraries to avoid the hurricane and its aftermath, according to the website cruisecritic.com."
Published August 18, 2007
|
|
|
Windjammer: In a Jam
The Washington Post offers advice to potential cruisers after Windjammer Barefoot Cruise passengers were stranded in the Caribbean.
"Passengers stranded in the Caribbean last week when their Windjammer Barefoot Cruise ships did not sail as scheduled still don't know whether they're getting reimbursed for cruises that never happened ... Scour cruise message boards such as those on the independent Web site CruiseCritic.com. Just be sure to weed through rumors."
Published August 26, 2007
|
|
|
Cancun Spared Major Damage as Dean Strikes
USA Today provides the latest information on Hurricane Dean.
"Dean made landfall near Costa Maya, a cruise port near the Belize border that, according to the website CruiseCritic.com, was opened as a 'faux village' in 2001 and handles more than 6,000 passengers a day. To the north, a string of new high-end resorts serve visitors to nearby ancient Mayan ruins. To the south in Belize, the government had evacuated Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye -- islands famous for diving and popular with U.S. tourists -- and ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew from Belize City to the Mexican border."
Published August 21, 2007
|
|
Hurricane Dean Affects Air, Sea Travel Plans
The Detroit Free Press provides an update on Hurricane Dean's impact on travel.
"Cruisecritic.com reported that 16 cruise ships changed itineraries, including Carnival Triumph, whose Saturday departure from Miami would have taken it to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Instead, it will visit San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Travelers should check with their cruise lines for updates. No cruises were canceled."
Published July 18, 2007
|
|
|
What a Site: 36 Web Addresses You Should Know
The Washington Post picks its favorite travel sites.
"Good, objective articles, such as 'Best Cruises for Weddings,' and reviews of more than 210 individual ships with demographics, dress codes, etc ... has last-minute bargains offered by various discounters. Prices are good, and a lead time of several weeks is common."
Published September 24, 2004
|
|
|
Ill Winds Sweeping Through Caribbean Tourism
USA Today provides analysis of a the weakening Caribbean cruise market.
"As Hurricane Dean takes aim at the Caribbean, the region is coping with another kind of tropical depression: a decline in U.S. arrivals to several islands so far this year ... the bargains on several ships, including $699 for a seven-night holiday cruise on Princess' Coral Princess, 'are really surprising,' CruiseCritic.com's Carolyn Spencer Brown says."
Published August 16, 2007
|
|
|
Attitude Will Alter Future Cruising
What will your future cruise be like? The Miami Herald highlights changes that are coming aboard.
"You'll be sailing on bigger and more luxurious ships. Visiting more exotic ports ... but perhaps the biggest change will be in attitude. 'Cruise travelers will expect choice,' says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of Cruise Critic, an independent online cruise magazine. Baby boomers and the generation following will 'not be interested in cruises in which their dining times and tablemates are predetermined. They'll look for outings that offer unique looks at a tour or place.'"
Published August 12, 2007
|
|
|
Bad News for Mississippi Queen Lovers, Too
USA Today writer Gene Sloan's cruise blog -- The Cruise Log -- covers cruising news and trends. A hot topic now is the fate of Majestic America Line's Mississippi Queen.
"Last week was a tough one for riverboat fans, who had to absorb the news that the grande dame of the genre, the historic Delta Queen steamboat, would soon be retired. Now comes more bad news: The ship's younger sister, the Mississippi Queen, may sit out all of 2008.
Kudos to cruisecritic.com for discovering the disclosure, buried in Wednesday's quarterly earnings conference call between Wall Street analysts and publicly-traded Ambassadors International.'"
Published August 9, 2007
|
|
The Great Hotel Cover-Up
Hotels and cruise ships want you to wear those plush robes -- just not to dinner. The Wall Street Journal looks at the effort to get cover-ups back to bathrooms.
"Even cruise lines are stocking more cabins with robes, as well as upgrading fabrics and hosting 'robe parties.' Others, though, dream of a return to more discreet times. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of cruise-review site CruiseCritic.com, was put off by robe wearers at the lido buffet on a 10-night Royal Caribbean cruise through the Caribbean this year. 'It's extremely tacky,' says Ms. Brown. 'I don't know you; I don't want to see you in your bathrobe.'"
Published July 27, 2007
|
![]()
|
|
|
|
