Free Cruise????

[cruisinfamilytx]

Hi All, We live in Texas and just got a postcard--for listening to a 90-minute talk on property, we would "win" a 3 night Carnival cruise out of our choice of 4 ports for 2 persons. Has anyone ever done this? Is it legit??? What strings are attached??

 

I'm from the old school, you never get anything for nothing, so all my flags are raised!!!!

 

Thanks!

[tef43]

TANSTAAFL.

 

Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas

 

 

 

Eleven cruises so far. Up next:

Shhhh, it's a surprise!

[Boston6]

Is Carnival the only cruise line listed. I know that they ususally list 2 cruise lines. Carnival and another line like Regency that uses a 30 year old 20,000 ton wreck of a ship. Guess which one you get.

 

What you have is a time-share pitch. If you attend, they will try to "hard-sell" you a time-share property. If you go you will get a voucher for a cruise. You may have to pay fees and service charges and have limited dates that you can go.

 

Sovereign of the Seas (11/89)

Monarch of the Seas (8/99)

Norwegian Sea (7/02)

Carnival Glory (4/17/04)

 

[almitra]

My sister does this all the time. Go to e-bay and you'll see everyone trying to sell these online...they're there by the buttload. It is legit, but with lots of caveats and provisos in order to use them. But hey, it's free, right?

 

 

Militant Breastfeeding & Homebirth Proponent-Sandra Carmichael

 

Mardi Gras 6/79

Mardi Gras 6/79

(back to back cruises)

Celebration 8/02

Splendour of the Seas 3/03

Jubilee 7/03

Conquest 1/04

Celebration 1/04

Elation 2/04

Elation *coming again* 1/05

[tef43]

(There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch)

 

I just received a similar offer regarding Universal Orlando. I would have had to pay $299/pp for a "free" vacation. Not to mention the airfare getting there and back.

 

Huh? Say WHAT?

 

Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas

 

 

 

Eleven cruises so far. Up next:

Shhhh, it's a surprise!

 

[This message was edited by tef43 on 04-13-04 at 09:26 AM.]

[tutzig]

We recieved something similar, it was from Ramada resots or something.. I searched and found a ton of complaints for the company.... ditched it right away....

 

Carnival Imagination 11/01

Carnival Legend 3/19/05

 

3/19/05 Legend Cruise

[cruisinfamilytx]

How did you search the company?? Yes, carnival was the only cruise listed and 4 ports you could leave from. No other details were given!

 

Thanks everyone.

[Boston6]

tef43 -

 

I did take advantage of a time share pitch in orlando. I got 4 nights at the Homewood suites and $100 worth of tickets to attractions for $199. I was going to orlando anyway and I took a chance on this. Everything worked out fine. They tried the hard-sell and I said no...about 100 times. These outfits are pretty tightly regulated in FL and they have to come through with what they promise. Only problem is to read the fine print to make sure you know what you're getting and what is promised.

 

Sovereign of the Seas (11/89)

Monarch of the Seas (8/99)

Norwegian Sea (7/02)

Carnival Glory (4/17/04)

 

[tutzig]

cruisinfamilytx,

 

I checked and it was Ramada Resorts. So I went to google and typed "Ramada Resorts" with the quotes and the first couple of links were horror stories, I read some and ripped up the offer.

 

If you need me to do some research on the offer you recieved, send me an email... Ill look it up for you...

 

Tim

 

Carnival Imagination 11/01

Carnival Legend 3/19/05

 

3/19/05 Legend Cruise

[scottp]

I took advantage of one of these while in port in Key West. For a 60 minute tour and presentation, we were offered a $75 gift certificate to any shop in Key West. We bit. It was really worth it. Got a nice "free" tour of Key West on our way to visit their complex. They really had a nice condo to sell, but we said no (about 50 times!) and we took our $75 and left. Had a great lunch, (conch fritters and key lime pie included). Still had money left over. Went to Hard Rock and bought souveniers for the kids!!!

 

 Until the FUN begins!!!!

 

[cruisinfamilytx]

Thanks everyone! I'll try a google search it's resortstravelvacations.com

[luvbugwinkle]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tef43:

(_T_here _A_in't _N_o _S_uch _T_hing _A_s _A_ _F_ree _L_unch)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My DH and I have taken these kind of vacations. Some do a HARD sell and some don't. I guess it all depends on the company, the salesperson. You usually do have to furnish your own airfare. Some a processing fee usually $89-99. Some want you to make a reservation atleast 90 days out and give them 3 travelling dates. (1st choice,etc)

In 95 the CO (can't remember the name) gave us 3 nights free in Orlando as a bonus to be used anytime. So we booked took the 3 in Orlando along with our free vacation. Our accommodations? RED ROOF (listened to the Bull -no hard sell there).2 'Free' tickets to Universal. Then we drove to FL Lauderdale for 2 nights (Holiday Inn)(more bull--real hard sell--until I thought I was with GOOD COP BAD COP)GOt 2 'free' tickets to the Jungle Queen. Then we took a day tripper boat to Freeport Bahamas stayed 4 nights at the Princess hotel and casino.Someone in the lobby invited us on a tour of some property. We didn't go. We took the day tripper boat back to FT Lauderdale for 2 more night at the Holiday Inn. Then flew home...So for 11 nights we only paid the airfare (about $200roundtrip for 2 remember this is in 95) the processing fee $89-99. Money we spend for meals.Oh yeah they supplied the car. Unbelievable.

So far so good. In 97 we stayed at the Embassy Suite in Ft Lauderdale for 3 nights (listened to some bull...the bonus was 4 nights on the RCL Sovereign of the Seas. Again $89-99 processing fee our own airfare.

They supplied the car, we paid for an upgrade in size. We paid another $89 to upgrade the cabin on the ship to the Mariner deck. I "hated" that cabin. Maybe because we had just left the Embassy Suite beautiful hotel. It was like an one bedroom apt. Saw 3 weddings in the grand lobby absolutely gorgeous. ...Naw I hated that cabin on the ship...Sorry

In 99 the RAMADA in Orlando which by the looks of hotel it had promise. But whoever had this hotel just didn't have it or get it. We listened to some bull...got free tickets to Epcot.

So two out of three really wasn't bad but I've been ducking these "freebies" ever since. I personally don't want to hear anymore about something I know I don't want. My DH saw a Jaguar in the mall last year filled out the card and we got a 'free vacation' to Williamsburg. I told the person who called that the phone number now belonged to me and then they asked me if I wanted to come.... Oh no...

[sea_u_onboard]

I just noticed the original post is old - but decided to share anyhow.

 

We went to a timeshare talk a couple weekends back at Tanglewood Resorts (very low sales pressure) and yes they do give you a 4 night cruise out of Galveston, Port Canaveral, Los Angeles or New Orleans on Carnival. All you have to do is pay Port and government fees. The draw back is you have to send in the certificate within 45 days - then you will have a year to use it. You have to specify it at that time who is going. If there are any changes to passengers there is a $50.00 fee and of course you can add people for the BROCHURE RATE - which we all know is the top rate. It would be better to book a separate cabin yourself. There are all kinds of fees if you try and change anything once you get it setup.

 

It looks like they give you lots of time to use it BUT you have to remember that the 4 night cruise out of Galveston only leaves every other Thursday (as I'm sure is pretty much the case with all 4 night cruise - every other week). I figured out that if our certificate started in May we would have only 6 dates left this year (can't use it from May 25 - September 9th. There is only one week in Oct, one week in November and one week in December available. For 2005 we would have 7 more dates - starting Jan 20 - May 19th - hitting and missing during Feb and March. So total there would be 13 dates to choose from.

 

So if you are flexible it's a pretty good deal at approx. $150 per person.

 

-- Cheryl

 

****Proud member of O.A.T.C.****

Check out my Homepage in my profile for Conquest info

 

10/99 Fantasy

12/01 Inspiration

03/02 Inspiration

03/03 Conquest

 

Short one on the Celebration

JULY 31, 2004

[CrusinCouple]

I just went to a Timeshare presentation. I got a 7 night Carnival Cruise. You have to register within 90 days and then take the cruise within 1 year. I would be responsible for airfare/taxes and port charges. Oh...states inside minimum cabin. So probably a 1A.

 

MS Veendam 4/99

Sovereign Of The Seas 8/01

Sovereign Of The Seas 8/02

 

Still to come!

Carnival Legend 4/23/04

 

Carnival Inspiration 8/29/04

[reefexplorer]

We took one of these trips, got a free cruise with Carnival from Florida. They "upgraded" us to Royal Carribean. We paid $114.00 for port charges. Got an inside room on the fourth deck. Cruise was great (very similar to a carnival cruise) until I dropped 8 pounds of lead on my big toe (diving weights). Would we listen to a time share to get a free cruise again. Yup. But I like almost free trips. It was one trip I would otherwise not take.

 

 

REEF

 

CONQUEST 5/16/04

IMAGINATION 5/26/03

MAJESTY 1/8/03

SPIRIT 10/19/02

 

Until we cruise

 

[cruisinfamilytx]

Thanks all, maybe worth getting more details.