Hey, thanks for your interest in how we calculate an experience's ranking score. It's at the core of Rankers so I'm pleased you're curious.
The ranking score percentage is used to compare and sort experiences in ranking tables. It is not necessarily a direct measurement of the quality of a particular experience as rated by its customers. I've found it a useful tool to allow me to find the best experiences with confidence. But I've also found it important to read the customer reviews before making any final judgements!
We calculate an experience's ranking score using a multi-factor data model instead of a raw data average (mean). This model takes into account several important questions. For instance - is there a trusted body of reviews? What is the age of a review and is the review from a credible source?
Below you'll find details around some of the important factors that went into calculating the ranking score for Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise.
If you have any questions or comments about our ranking score calculation please get in touch at info@rankers.co.nz. We don't believe this is perfect or complete so we're always interested in ways we might make improvements.
Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
Valid Reviews
89 Valid Reviews
The Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise experience has a total of 89 valid reviews. There are no invalid reviews that are excluded from the calculation. Reviews can be excluded only when a reviewer is not verified or after an investigation by our team determines the reviewer is not genuine.
Below is the distribution of ratings for the 89 valid reviews:
| Rating | Count | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/10 | 55 |
|
62% |
| 9/10 | 25 |
|
28% |
| 8/10 | 8 |
|
9% |
| 7/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 6/10 | 1 |
|
1% |
| 5/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 4/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 3/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 2/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 1/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
94.94% Average
The raw data average (mean) for all the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise valid reviews is 94.94% and is based on 89 valid reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here as a comparison to the weighted average.
Face-to-Face Reviews
74 Face-to-Face Reviews
The Rankers team meets with travellers while they’re in New Zealand and conducts face-to-face surveys. These reviews, in our opinion, are the most trusted in the industry and represent a critical control sample. To our knowledge, we are the only travel review website in the world that has gone to this extent.
More about face-to-face reviews
Within the 89 valid reviews, the experience has 74 face-to-face reviews collected during interviews by our team.
Below is the distribution of ratings for the 74 face-to-face reviews:
| Rating | Count | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/10 | 44 |
|
59% |
| 9/10 | 22 |
|
30% |
| 8/10 | 8 |
|
11% |
| 7/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 6/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 5/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 4/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 3/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 2/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
| 1/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
94.86% Average
The raw data average (mean) for all the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise face-to-face reviews is 94.86% and is based on 74 face-to-face reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here for comparison purposes.
Weighted Average
95.11%
Rankers calculates a weighted mean as a base average on which we can improve. Individual review's ratings are given a weight based on several factors. The weight of a review determines the overall impact it'll have on the final weighted average.
Recent reviews have more weight as they are more relevant and reflect the experience as it currently operates. Over time reviews become less relevant and loose their impact on the ranking score.
Low rating reviews carry slightly less weight. This dampens the effect of very low ratings for every experience across the board. This is especially important when the experience has few reviews overall and a single negative rating can grossly mischaracterise an experience. Consistent poor reviews will still result in the experience receiving a comparitively low ranking score.
Credible sources provide reviews that can be trusted. If we have verified a reviewer is genuine via a face-to-face meeting then the review carries additional weight.
| Reviewer | Rating | Age | Relative Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Horn | 9/10 | 3433 days | 100% |
| Hazel Norman | 10/10 | 3448 days | 99% |
| James Jackson | 10/10 | 3449 days | 99% |
| Bartlomiej Berger | 9/10 | 4144 days | 0% |
| Ann Wilson | 8/10 | 4400 days | 38% |
| Anne and Steve Bartlett | 9/10 | 4465 days | 39% |
| Abby Rescr | 9/10 | 4779 days | 39% |
| Frederick Dean | 8/10 | 4779 days | 38% |
| Joey Mertzig | 10/10 | 4796 days | 39% |
| Rien | 9/10 | 5136 days | 39% |
| Clausen | 9/10 | 5137 days | 39% |
| kiwifrenchy | 10/10 | 5144 days | 39% |
| Sam | 10/10 | 5148 days | 39% |
| Pete & Pat Etheridge | 10/10 | 5153 days | 39% |
| Mike & Jennie | 9/10 | 5155 days | 39% |
| Stefes Wencke | 10/10 | 5157 days | 39% |
| Uwe Henze | 10/10 | 5158 days | 39% |
| Manuela Weber | 10/10 | 5158 days | 39% |
| Thyg Lingdal | 10/10 | 5172 days | 39% |
| caro | 10/10 | 5204 days | 39% |
| Dean | 9/10 | 5219 days | 39% |
| Anna Bret | 8/10 | 5244 days | 38% |
| Jaime Castells | 9/10 | 5244 days | 39% |
| Gary Koehler | 10/10 | 5501 days | 39% |
| jlgavin | 6/10 | 5510 days | 29% |
| Verheyen | 10/10 | 5514 days | 39% |
| Chris Darlington | 10/10 | 5518 days | 39% |
| Dieter Uhlmann | 9/10 | 5521 days | 39% |
| Angi Otti | 10/10 | 5529 days | 39% |
| Jackie Morris | 10/10 | 5529 days | 39% |
| Samuel Prechel | 10/10 | 5530 days | 39% |
| David Glover | 10/10 | 5532 days | 39% |
| Claus Olsen | 10/10 | 5533 days | 39% |
| H Schepers | 9/10 | 5534 days | 39% |
| georgiarose89 | 10/10 | 5569 days | 39% |
| chrissie2011 | 10/10 | 5569 days | 39% |
| Chris | 10/10 | 5788 days | 39% |
| Sabine | 10/10 | 5788 days | 39% |
| Kevin & Chris | 9/10 | 5808 days | 39% |
| davidm239 | 9/10 | 5814 days | 39% |
| Margie | 10/10 | 5853 days | 39% |
| Agnes | 8/10 | 5854 days | 38% |
| Graeme + Jane Ryan | 10/10 | 5865 days | 39% |
| Westermann | 10/10 | 5866 days | 39% |
| Peter Brown | 10/10 | 5871 days | 39% |
| johnandgin | 10/10 | 5875 days | 39% |
| Angela | 10/10 | 5876 days | 39% |
| T. Timmers | 9/10 | 5889 days | 39% |
| Loleit | 10/10 | 5896 days | 39% |
| David Valentine | 10/10 | 5897 days | 39% |
| Annette Schmitt | 9/10 | 5897 days | 39% |
| Jeremy & Sarah Rind | 10/10 | 5902 days | 39% |
| Jessica | 9/10 | 5908 days | 39% |
| ChristinaO | 10/10 | 5934 days | 39% |
| Simon Jones | 9/10 | 5934 days | 39% |
| Jerry | 10/10 | 5965 days | 39% |
| HairyHaggis | 9/10 | 5995 days | 39% |
| Suzanne | 10/10 | 6026 days | 39% |
| Traveller Girl | 10/10 | 6179 days | 39% |
| Switz | 10/10 | 6193 days | 39% |
| DanielGermany | 10/10 | 6201 days | 39% |
| CornelissenS | 9/10 | 6226 days | 39% |
| Inger | 10/10 | 6226 days | 39% |
| Robert | 9/10 | 6239 days | 39% |
| Theresa | 9/10 | 6245 days | 39% |
| Sue | 9/10 | 6248 days | 39% |
| Inger Skov | 10/10 | 6252 days | 39% |
| Ruben | 8/10 | 6282 days | 38% |
| Claire | 10/10 | 6295 days | 39% |
| C Digby | 9/10 | 6299 days | 39% |
| Adam | 10/10 | 6339 days | 39% |
| Stephanie Schikora | 10/10 | 6352 days | 39% |
| Sue Stewart | 10/10 | 6459 days | 39% |
| James Gibbs | 8/10 | 6551 days | 38% |
| Helen | 9/10 | 6559 days | 39% |
| Menashe | 10/10 | 6579 days | 39% |
| George Jeffs | 10/10 | 6588 days | 39% |
| Paul Weston | 9/10 | 6602 days | 39% |
| Marian Mckinney | 10/10 | 6602 days | 39% |
| Charles Price | 8/10 | 6613 days | 38% |
| Vicky Elliott | 10/10 | 6620 days | 39% |
| Anne Mainwaring | 10/10 | 6628 days | 39% |
| Kilsby | 10/10 | 6637 days | 39% |
| Dupre | 8/10 | 6678 days | 38% |
| dieter | 10/10 | 6696 days | 39% |
| Rene Schotvanger | 10/10 | 6811 days | 39% |
| Pat Brewster | 10/10 | 6811 days | 39% |
| Paul Yacoumis | 10/10 | 6937 days | 39% |
| Sandra | 10/10 | 6946 days | 39% |
Adjustments
Several adjustments to the weighted average are added to improve relevancy and credibility. These adjustments apply equally to all experiences that meet the criteria.
Sample Size Adjustment
No Adjustment
A reasonable number of reviews are necessary in order for the average to be credible and for an experience to take a prime position within the ranking tables. As such, experiences with only a few reviews have a moderated score. This does not mean that the experience or the reviews can't be trusted. The Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise experience has plenty of reviews and does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.
Recent Reviews Adjustment
-3.74% Adjustment
There may be an adjustment if this experience hasn't received any reviews within the last 60 days. However the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise experience does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.
In addition, an experience's ranking score may be adjusted for each day there is no new ranking. After 1 day the adjustment comes into effect. The maximum number of days that can be adjusted for is 200 days. Due to the seasonal nature of many businesses, this adjustment is applied dynamically throughout the year.
The Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise experience has been adjusted for 200 days. Adjustments are according to the following table.
| Days | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| … | … |
| 197 | -3.68% |
| 198 | -3.70% |
| 199 | -3.72% |
| 200 | -3.74% |
| 201 | -3.76% |
| 202 | -3.77% |
| 203 | -3.79% |
| … | … |
Balancing Adjustment
0.82% Adjustment
Every experience's review score is adjusted to balance out the disproportional number of negative reviews that are contributed.
You won't be surprised to learn that disgruntled customers are more likely to leave a review than happy ones. They are motivated to share their experience and warn others. We consider this a good thing and it's why reading the reviews is important. However we've learned it can misrepresent the experience in a more overall sense.
We apply a balancing adjustment to counteract this effect and ensure the ranking score is a more fair representation of the experience. This adjustment is applied equally to all experiences.
Final Ranking Score
92%
The final ranking score once any adjustments, ratings, and rounding has been applied. This value is recalculated each day and a short rolling average is applied. Therefore it may not be precisely accurate based on the other values presented.