Currrently we have almost 2,000 reader reviews in the Reader Reviews section of this web site.

Most cruise lines and cruise ships are fairly well represened but for some reason, we get far more Airtours Reviews than any other cruise line.

Most of our readers are in North America so it's not like this is a UK-oriented web site.

Why do so many Airtours passengers submit reviews?

Most of them are first timers and they almost always give the experience high marks.

Any ideas why this is so? Is there a big sign when you get off the ship that tells them to make sure they submit a review to TravelPage.com?

2nd review down and you have this site, and this is because its one of the only cruise sites that has html reviews rather than just being a message board which google doesnt always spider effectively.

The Airtours cruise market is quite dominant because its a name they can 'trust', i mean most of these people will have booked a travel holiday with them before. There is ALWAYS an offer on the Thomson, Sun Cruise holidays and as My Travel also have quite a hold over the travel agent market in the UK they get 'sold' hard in the travel agents. So if someone went in wanting a holiday on a cruise ship they would suggest My Travel cruises 1st, along with the big discount.

Airtours do not exactly have a big fleet. Although, they are perceived to be a budget cruise line, some of their cruises are not so much cheaper than other lines operating from the UK.

However, ResidentX is right that there cruises are really pushed by their own travel agents and well advertised in magazines, newspapers and TV-Text.

They do appeal to first timers. I do not think I have every read a bad Airtours cruise review? In fact the only people that don’t like their cruises and ships are those who have never cruised with them! They seem to have a very high level of customer satisfaction and repeat customers?

But why do they all post reviews here – I’ve no idea?

Interestingly most Cruisetalkers are not big Airtours fans (apart from sread) so why do they post so many reviews here and disappear?

S Read virtually lives aboard this vessel and hands out flyers with the Cruise Talk website and requests that passengers submit positive reports.

He also provides free autographs for each promised report.

Needless to say Airtours look after Mr Read!!!!!

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Originally posted by ResidentX:
..... one of the only cruise sites that has html reviews rather than just being a message board which google doesnt always spider effectively.

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But what do your stats show re people reading the site, as against people who are registered?
Although that would be skewed too as only .co.uk would presumably show as the UK and not the myriad of other domains which get classed as the US when they're not!

Any ideas why this is so? Is there a big sign when you get off the ship that tells them to make sure they submit a review to TravelPage.com?

You may be surprised and find one Talking to others aboard [talking about UK citizens I meet] most have been round here reading the forums and come here for reviews over and above the other usuals, and I've even seen others reading whilst in the internet cafes. They just don't register or say anything.

I paid £720 for a weeks cruise which wasnt bad value for money considering they are 'proper' traditional crusing.

I am supportive of any cruise line that helps to open the cruise market to people who wouldnt of previously cruised. I personally couldnt imagine going on an old My Travel ship as they simply dont have the buget to provide the upkeep of them, and they are cramming the people onto them.

They are in the same boat as Thomson Cruises which operate a tradional cruise company but at a lower price. They run offers in the Sun and other newspapers which dont actually tell you the cruise line or ship just a cheap price along with collecting tokens.

They may not have many ships but they do cram them with people. These people are often younger families who have the internet so come find a place to write a review.

The quality of service is much better than on the Island Escape and they are around the same prices, the service level you would never find at a 3* spanish hotel.

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Originally posted by ResidentX:
Also why isnt Ocean Village Holidays in the same category as Island Cruises on the reviews area, as they are in the same market.

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Originally posted by M.S.Grumple:
We've cruised on 'Sunbird' three times and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Originally posted by ResidentX:
Altho they are trying to create a brand like NCL in the UK

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Most precisely they're trying to create a brand like AIDA in the UK.

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S Read virtually lives aboard this vessel and hands out flyers with the Cruise Talk website and requests that passengers submit positive reports.

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Nice theory, Topgun! My dream, should I ever win the Lottery, is to knock the two Grand Penthouses 9000 and 9001 into one giant suite, and have them booked permanently so I can come and go as I please!

I've said before, Airtours cruises are superb for first-time cruisers and they must be doing something right because something like 60 per cent of passengers are repeaters (and no, I don't mean they eat too many beans!).

You get three sorts of people leaving an Airtours ship at the end of a cruise. A minority will hate it and vow never to cruise again. Some will want to "upgrade" to Royal Caribbean or suchlike. And many will want to return to the same ship or if they've been on the Arousal, the Seaweed or the Wetdream (sorry - Carousel, Seawing or Sundream) perhaps upgrade to the Big Bird.

Remember, most of the passengers are (to quote the CIA's Felix Leiter to James Bond) "stiff-assed Brits". We rarely complain -- if we have a good time we're happy to recommend it to others. If we have a bad time we just quietly vow never to go return.