OK, ever since Carla asked why we didn't post links to the new cruise reviews as they were published, I have been on a quest to come up with a good way to do it.

I started posting them to their respective cruise forums, but it just trashed up the conversations....ditto for the cruise line's press releases and such. Cruise-Chat.com seems to be doing pretty well just as a discussion community. I spoke to a ton of Internet gurus who all had great solutions, but they also cost a ton of money and the last thing I want to do is trash CruiseReviews.com with a bunch of advertising in order to pay for it. Google AdSense is enough.

So with the help of Nancy Norris, we have developed something so cool it is almost unbelievable. We can deliver links to new cruise reviews, cruise news and information, links to key conversations in Cruise-Chat.com and much, much more. It is in an easy to read format and is absolutely non-invasive in any way. It is really, really cool!

The catch is, that it is an emerging technology that some Cruise-Chat.com readers may already use, but it might be new for many of you. I guarantee you that if you try it, you will love it.

We have established a Cruise News Blog that is located at:

http://cruisereviews.typepad.com

You can check it out now as it is live and Nancy and I are still playing around with it.

But there is more! There is a news feed from the blog that you can access that is really cool. So here is what to do. visit the blog and then click on the "Subscribe to Cruise News Blog RSS Feed". Then follow the instructions that you find there to subscribe. It only takes a couple of minutes and it does not cost a cent to subscribe or maintain access to the feed.

I would love feeback on the subscription process, blog format and content and RSS feed. We are still finalizing this effort and any/all ideas will halp us make it more effective for future subscribers.

BTW, once you get involved with RSS, you won't believe how you ever lived without it.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

Tom,

what a great new feature. Many thanks to you and Nancy for introducing it!

By the way, for those members using the Mozilla Firefox web browser subscribing to the RSS feed is a matter of two mouse clicks only, thanks to the browser's Live Bookmarks feature. No additional subscription will be necessary for Firefox users.

WOW

Thanks so very much for this awesome addition.
Tom your directions were excellent. I had no problem. Did print them out & just read/followed.

Happy Cruising

Cathy

Raoul, Firefox is the best! I chose the path of least resistance to get folks involved with RSS, hence http://www.Bloglines.com. There are so many options it makes my head spin.

I can't tell you how much your support of this effort means to me personally.

SunPrincess, thanks for your support!

Tom

VERY kewel! Raoul, thanks for the hint about Firefox. That's the browser I use and it was as easy as you described. It's my first RSS feed but I think I may be creating a monster here!

Sandy

Sandy,

I'm glad it works for you. I'm also kind of new to this, but it's a very cool feature, indeed.

By the way, if you also use Mozilla Thunderbird as your e-mail client you can also subscribe to the feed there and will receive all updates by e-mail.

Sandy, I woke up in the middle of the night last night and searched for feeds for about an hour.....I thought that I had better get a life. RSS is addicting!

Tom

WHOA! Am I famous now, Tom?

quote:

Originally posted by Carlalena1:
WHOA! Am I famous now, Tom?

Well, Carla,

if people get totally addicted to RSS feeds now and ask who is to blame, we will make sure to let them know about you!

Carla, no, actually you deserve the fame and were probably famous long before you found us, VBG.

Tom

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Ogg:
Sandy, I woke up in the middle of the night last night and searched for feeds for about an hour.....I thought that I had better get a life. RSS is addicting!

Tom

Tom, I haven't had a life since 1984 when I discovered BBSs on my trusty ol' Commodore 64 (with the external tape drive). Why do you think I started "The Biz" way back when?!? Another excuse to stare at my machine at every spare -- and some not-so-spare -- moment!!

After installing the RSS today for this board, I see biiig trouble on the horizon...

Sandy

Raoul, I don't use Thunderbird, and just as well. Having to check the RSS icon myself leaves me with some modicom of control, rather than seeing that irresistable flag that I have new email.

I'm in biiiig trouble as it is. Tell me that cruise-chat.com is the ONLY site on the WHOLE internet that has RSS available. Lie if you have to! hehehe

Sandy

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
Tom, I haven't had a life since 1984 when I discovered BBSs on my trusty ol' Commodore 64 (with the external tape drive).

Oh dear,

I fondly remember my old C64, even though you were able to make a nice cup of tea (or two, or three...) while the computer was loading any kind of software. I even have a C64 emulator on my PC today - call me crazy!

By the way, this is indeed the one and only site on the web which offers RSS.

quote:

By the way, this is indeed the one and only site on the web which offers RSS. Lol

I knew it! Now, about that bridge in Brooklyn you want to sell me....

And speaking of the C64, once I was hooked on the BBS idea, I just had to have a Radio Shack TRS-80 for travel. It was SO easy keeping track of the messages on my luxurious 8-line screen. I still have that thing around here, somewhere.

Ah, but we digress on our walks down memory lane.

sandy

Sandy,

The Biz...who knew at the time what was coming? Those were the days, yes?

Actually, I have checked and there are no other sites with feed. Raoul was right.

Tom

quote:

The Biz...who knew at the time what was coming? Those were the days, yes?

Indeed! The thing is, I can picture a few years from now, when we say, "RSS feeds...who knew at the time what was coming?"

<<Actually, I have checked and there are no other sites with feed. Raoul was right.>>

You're a good man, Tom, merciful and kind.

Sandy

Tom,
Great idea! Thanks -
Apologies in advance if I should know, but what is "The Biz"?

Suzi

Suzi (and everyone) Sandy is somewhat famous in the travel industry. Back when we were using 300 baud modems and Tandy computers that ran on CPM (before DOS) Sandy (to my knowledge) started the first travel industry on-line discussion group that was a hidden professional forum on CompuServe called "The Biz". It changed the way many agents operated by enabling them to communicate with one another.

Today agents participate in networks, such as the Cruise Agent Digest where thousands of travel agents communicate daily to access information, cruise space and much more. The benefit to the consumer is that no one agent can know everything, but a group of thousands of cruise professionals sharing information generally do. It enables travel agents to better serve thier clients who do not have such networks to access.

Sandy started the whole thing.

Tom

Tom, I wasn't famous the way you and Joanie are famous today, but we sure had a great time! As a SysOp of the Travel Forum on CompuServe and the only travel agent on that SIG (hehe -- "Special Interest Group" for you newbies), I had a great time running the weekly live conferences, private message section and library. I remember needing to "qualify" agents before admitting them. But it was a wonderful exchange of information among agents, travel press folks, the occasional supplier and some real visionaries like Eastman. I loved that it was a global medium even back then. And that everyone was so generous with help and information.

Time marches on, but I still miss my QMODEM!

Thanks for your nice words, and the great way you run this generation of information sharing!

Sandy

Sandy, I think Richard Eastman is one of the brightest men alive. I got to meet him one day and spent a couple of hours brainstorming with him. I still treasure that moment in time. I am not sure about the "famous" part for Joanie and I. I suspect it is probably more like infamous....VBG.

Tom (sorry to go off topic)