Observation about the "Meet on Board" section

itsmrbudman2u · #1 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 12:01 PM

I'm new around here, so I'm not trying to stir up anything, I just wanted to point out something I've noticed. I found CM while searching for ways to meet people on board when I plan on cruising. Seeing the traffic on this board, I registerd and made a post in that section. I've since come to really enjoy the site, and the people that post here. Post normally get witty, helpfull, and interesting responces. With the way the board is formatted, I think that the "Meet on Board" section get often skipped over. Just look, not only at the number of replies, but the number of views. Maybe formating that section just like the others would make posts more viewable. Just my $.02.

Donna · #2 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 12:27 PM

WE do find that a lot of posters will put their roll calls on the regular cruiseline boards, and we, as monitors move them to the respective "meet on board" folder. It has alsways been an area that is overlooked, I wish cruisers would use it more and be able to meet their fellow cruisemates before their cruise....I'm not sure of any other way to have that set up? It really is a useful tool for pre-cruising, along with the regular message boards...

Do you have a cruise comming up soon, or just looking?

itsmrbudman2u · #3 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 12:32 PM

I'm sailing RC Navigator of the Seas Feb 17th. I can't wait!! :-D

itsmrbudman2u · #4 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 12:33 PM

I think just formatting it just like the other sections would increase visability and usage. It looks like some kind of footer instead on a new section the way it's set up now.

itsmrbudman2u · #5 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 12:40 PM

Looking at it again, I can see why it's set that way. It's like a section director and sends you to a kind of sub section with the lists of all the ships. It's a good thought process, but I think it makes that section often skipped over or missed entirely by visitors. I think maybe just setting it by cruise lines and not by ship is enough. Posters can put the name of the ship in the thread title.

ruthlessboss · #6 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 05:56 PM

I agree it's kind of a lost area. I just checked my posting for Carnival Sensation in Nov. for a Dec. cruise. I'm the only one on the ship. In the year 2010, only 3 posts total. This ship leaves twice a week.

Snoozeman · #7 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2011, 07:01 PM

A few threads are very active, but that seems to be the exception. It's actually an improvement to what we used to have. I too wish it was used more.

Donna · #8 (**permalink**) January 31st, 2011, 08:25 AM

Is it possible, because they are at the end of the regular message boards that posters miss them? I wonder if there could be a totally separate board? Just a thought to make them more visible?

Mike M · #9 (**permalink**) January 31st, 2011, 09:03 AM

Donna,

I don't understand what you mean by a "totally separate board". All of the boards must come off the main board.

Creating a "new Vb" board would require a separate URL and that would make it even more obscure.

With the boards "collapsed" on the main forum page makes it easier for users to find it without having to scroll down so far.

Personally I would love to see the board listings in horizontal format instead of vertical but that is not possible with our "style" program.

It is better than it used to be and actually very similar to "another board's" format.

Take care,
Mike

Donna · #10 (**permalink**) January 31st, 2011, 10:00 AM

Hi Mike,
I don't mean totally serarate, but not at the end of the boards, I bet some people don't even know they are there? I have no idea, but they are great to have, just not being used well.

Lakers Fan · #11 (**permalink**) January 31st, 2011, 02:53 PM

I met 51 people on my Meet and Greet on my last cruise who are registered with CM but only lurk .I did my best to try to get them to post but I doubt that any have .

itsmrbudman2u · #12 (**permalink**) January 31st, 2011, 05:42 PM

What do you guys and gals think about having that section apear just like the other sections, and eliminating the sub-section by ship? I think it's redundant, and it doesn't really make posting and finding posts any eaiser.

Paul Motter · #13 (**permalink**) February 1st, 2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsmrbudman2u

What do you guys and gals think about having that section apear just like the other sections, and eliminating the sub-section by ship? I think it's redundant, and it doesn't really make posting and finding posts any eaiser.

I think we used to have it that way.

The problem is that it makes it too hard for people to find cruises on THEIR ship. If we could get people to always format the subject line with the name of the ship and sail date it would work, but we have found we have no way to control the way people format their own posts.

So people just write "Carnival in February" while some others write "Oct 23rd - sailing solo" in their subject lines.

At least separating by ship narrows it down enough that people can browse through without encountering too many posts.

We used to have a GREAT format outside the message boards where people could select their exact ship and sail date - but it has gone by the wayside because no one used it. That is history now.

Thank you for your input. If there was an easy fix we would do it and we always welcome suggestions.

By the way - we do have a working search function where you can select your ship in Meet on Board and search by different terms.

itsmrbudman2u · #14 (**permalink**) February 1st, 2011, 05:58 PM

I can see the difficulties in formating it the other way. I just thought I'd point it out. Maybe someone else has some better ideas, because as it is now, it's a wasted section.