RootsMagic Cruise Early-bird Discount Extended thru April 30

Genealogy Cruises continue to grow in popularity. Genealogists enjoy software presentations, "how to" courses, demonstrations of the latest genealogy techniques, good food, gorgeous scenery, and adventurous shore excursions. What could be better?

One of the best-known cruises is sponsored by RootsMagic. Here is an excerpt from the current RootsMagic newsletter:

We just received word from the cruise line that we can extend the $50 per person early-bird discount on this year's RootsMagic Cruise to the end of April.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear Elizabeth Shown Mills, George G. Morgan, Dick Eastman, Gary and Diana Smith, and attend even more RootsMagic classes than ever.  Plus we've heard rumors that there will be classes on using the new features coming in RootsMagic 4 later this summer.

For more information on this year's RootsMagic Cruise, visit: http://www.RootsMagicCruise.com or call Barbara at Carefree Tours at 1-800-658-8758, or email carefreetours@msn.com.  Telephone hours are 9:30am - 4:30pm (MST) Monday through Friday.

Comments

[Never Satisfied]

What could be better, Dick? I'll tell you what could be better!

How about if the people who run these software companies would stay home and write software. RootsMagic is closing in on THREE YEARS since a major upgrade - recently delayed from "first half of 2008" to "this summer", and we'll probably be lucky to see v4 by Christmas.

You can't tell me that this cruise is anything but a paid vacation for Bruze Buzbee and company, at the expense of RM users.

What happened to getting your reward AFTER a job well done, Bruce?

[Fred Filmore]

Think about it. The Cruise is paid for by attendees. It is not a free trip, but free advertising thanks to press release bloggers like Dick Eastman ;-)

And sure, RM4 may be long in coming, but RM3 still beats everything else out there by miles. Nothing else comes close.

[Michael Cregan]

I'm in again. Bruce did a wonderful job of teaching many classes on how to use RM3 on the last cruise I attended. There is no better teacher then the author of the product. I look forward to more wonderful and solid training. Bruce teaches all about the shortcuts and how all of his products tie into each other. See you there.

[Lee Wise]

It's pretty obvious that some people are just "never satisfied", esp. when they choose same for a handle.
Bruce did an outstanding job on presenting his products, and more importantly, in answering users' questions--to the point of scheduling special sessions. I'll take that any day over getting a new revision out. Thanks, Bruce!
It was great meeting all the professionals and hearing their presentations.

[Happy Dae]

Mr. Eastman,

You've been on the Wholly-Genes cruises as well as the Roots Magic ones. An interesting entry in the blog would be a comparison to help potential "cruisers" decide which cruise is for them. Not a comparison of the software -- that is available elsewhere -- but about the quality of the lectures, the ship, the ports of call, the food, the entertainment, the cabins, etc. This would add VALUE to the re-publication of the company's excerpts.

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Del Ritchhart]

Not being a Roots Magic user, I am anticipating the day that Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker sponsor a cruise. I attended many of the Southern California Genealogy Jamborees and Conferences and am constantly disappointed in the lack of presence of the Family Tree Maker people. Anyone have any insight as to why?

[Dick Eastman]

---> You've been on the Wholly-Genes cruises as well as the Roots Magic ones. An interesting entry in the blog would be a comparison to help potential "cruisers" decide which cruise is for them.

I already did that. And it covered the Legacy Family Tree cruise as well.

I wrote that exact article shortly after the end of the last cruise and posted it in the Plus Edition of this newsletter last November. I think it has since scrolled off the newsletter's site but is still available as a reprint from Lulu.com. However, you can still read the intro at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/11/genealogy-cruis.html

[Dick Eastman]

---> You've been on the Wholly-Genes cruises as well as the Roots Magic ones. An interesting entry in the blog would be a comparison to help potential "cruisers" decide which cruise is for them.

I already did that. And it covered the Legacy Family Tree cruise as well.

I wrote that exact article shortly after the end of the last cruise and posted it in the Plus Edition of this newsletter last November. I think it has since scrolled off the newsletter's site but is still available as a reprint from Lulu.com. However, you can still read the intro at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/11/genealogy-cruis.html

Notice that it says: Anyone, subscriber or non-subscriber, may purchase a copy of this article for only $2.00 from the archives at http://www.lulu.com/content/1517759

[Jayne]

I've been on the Wholly Genes cruise, but none of the others. It would a great service to us all if you would reprise the "comparison post"

Jayne
http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com

[Howie Doohan]

I agree with Jayne. Put it where we can all read it.

[Ken Caye]

To never satisfied. Cut Bruce some slack, please. One of the things that is causing some delay I'm sure is the need for RM4 to interface with the new FamilySearch being developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This particular program which will only be available to members of the LDS Church at first is presenting some very special challenges to the various companies that are going to be able to search on that site. When the programmers working on new FamilySearch make changes that reflect back to these commercial programs, it is necessary for folks like Bruce of RM & Geoff of Legacy to make changes. In the mean time, I suggest taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly & smiling at your computer screen - especially if you have the picture of the little dog that is licking your screen clean. :>)

Look at this way, once Bruce, Geoff & the folks at new FamilySearch get all of the bugs out after the systems have been put through "real" testing by the Church members, you will be getting a fairly "bug" free system in FamilySearch.org. I ensure you it will be much closer to "bug" free than Vista. Guess that isn't really saying that much, but stay tuned.

[George G. Morgan]

I agree with Ken on this. RM is a tremendous product, and I've used or tested them all over the years. I moved to RootsMagic version 2 more than 3 years ago and have never looked back. In addition, the user support is the best I've found anywhere.

Bruce and Mike at RM are perfectionists. They've never released a version or update to the RM software, to my knowledge, that was anything but bug-free -- more than I can say for ANY Microsoft product and many of the genealogy programs. You can be sure that RM is being readied to handle the FamilySearch.org facilities and other new and improved functions. I don't have any inside information but the RootsMagic team is always working on improving the products they produce.

As for being a "paid vacation" for Bruce and company, I know better. They work full-time on a cruise like this to make sure everything goes without an hitches, that the speakers and sessions are excellent, and they deliver sessions. In addition, they are answering individuals' questions around the clock. How do I know? I arranged the first genealogy cruise in 2001 and have organized research trips to England and to other U.S. destinations. It is hard, hard work for very little profit.

As for my opinion about the genealogy cruises, I'll never say that "bigger is better." The more people on a cruise, the less personal attention you'll receive. I chose to speak on two cruises this year: RootsMagic to the Mexican Riviera (at http://www.rootsmagiccruise.com/ ) and Fly Away Travel's cruise in the Caribbean (at http://www.genealogycruises.com/ ). Why? The people I'm speaking with are highly knowledgeable, excellent presenters, friendly, and always professional. Legacy's European cruise may be a chock full 12-day genealogy cruise, but the depressed US Dollar and the poor exchange rate mean that this will be a very expensive trip. (That's why I didn't organize a London trip this year.) It you're in the chips, though, the destinations are terrific.

Sorry to run on. :-)

Cheers!

[Chris Arnfield]

I have used Roots Magic in my business as a family tree compiler in the UK for the last 12 months. It is, in my humble opinion, the best available. The functions available make it a one-stop-shop program, and it has enabled me to make a full time income from home.