I "won" a cruise!...Is this a scam??

[RellingTwin]

I got a card in the mail saying we won a 4 night cruise to Key West and Cozumel aboard Carival Cuise Line. This is a promotion for touring a time share resort. I did some checking and one of Carnivals ships sails from Miami for a four night cruise to KW and Coz.
Has anyone ever really "won" a cruise like this or is this one of those bait and switch deals?

 

[rosemary123]

Hi there,

I have won other prizes, not a cruise tho, usually to obtain the prize you have to attend one of the time share presentations and subject yourself to high pressure sales.

I have attended these presentations in the past and some times they can put you under alot of pressure to buy a time share.

My advice would be, if you feel strong enough to stand the high pressure sales to go and get your prize. Don't forget you can always walk out if it gets to much!

Rosemary

 

[TnRobin]

I would also look for the fine print. Does it say...

wouldn't you like to be the next person to hear
You Won A Cruise

I have seen these promotions worded so carefully that your real prize is some cheap thing bought in a 5 and dime store. Or the prize offered is not what you think. I remember Mom and Dad going to one where they had won a diamond necklace. It turn out to be an uncut diamond the size of a dried pea. Probably worth $5.

I hope I am wrong though. A free cruise would be awesome even if you had to sit through a timeshare. (As long as it was on Carnival and not the SS Minnow)

 

[CheapMom]

Hi- I toured an RCI timeshare and one of the bonus gifts at the end was a voucher for a carnival cruise for 2. It was out of Ft. Lauderdale and there were conditions- one that I remember was I had to stay at some hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for 3 nights. It was at a discounted rate. I didn't go on the cruise but I think it was legitimate andalthough there was some expense I would have incurred it would have been very cheap.
You have to go in the off-season.
I do those timeshare things once in a while for the freebies. The high pressure sales is no big deal. They can't make you do anything.

 

[gottaluvdisney]

I get these promotions all the time - the ones I get are on fancy certificate like paper. My feelings are- If you have to give your credit card number, then you didn't 'win'.

 

[wide awake]

I got one of those in the mail and transferred it to my mom...she did have to listen to a sales pitch but then received the voucher for the cruise plus some extras...dinner at Red Lobster was one of them. She is booked for a 4 night cruise out of L.A. on RCCL. Turned out to be a good deal.

 

[kaykels]

I love those things. I don't mind spending the 1 1/2 hours to tour the timeshare. I've done it many times and got to stay in some really GREAT places, REALLY cheap. It's a great way to do Disney too. Last time I stayed at a timeshare resort I got a luxury 3 BR villa with all of the bells and whistles, minutes from the parks for $84.00 p/n. The timeshare tour was 90 minutes. After NO NO NO NO I DON'T WANT IT, I enjoyed the rest of my vacation. Go on the cruise, and spend the 90 minutes touring WHATEVER. Get it overwith early so you can enjoy the rest of the trip. Have a good time.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

My DH won a cruise like this once. Back when the Big Red Boat was sailing. We had to pay taxes and port charges, and of course our own transportation to and from the airport. We received a 3 night cruise, and 2 nights in a hotel.

We were required to attend a very high pressure sales tour, which would take up most of the day, but thanks to a Congressman in NY State, who wrote a law against this, we did not have to go on the tour. It turned out to be a very nice vacation. The only drawback was the constant solicitation we received for over a year after that. It was for a time share which we were not the least bit interested in, the place looked like a dive from the outside, when we passed by.

 

[my3kids]

We got one of those, also for a Carnival cruise, I think. It had to booked out of a certain agency, and maybe it was was something like a buy one get one free, but the one was so inflated, two could have have been booked more cheaply through an agency.

 

[cruiseshiplover]

Usually if you win a large prize, it is delivered by certified mail or Fed Ex. There is usually a form in the package that needs to be signed and notorized and then returned to the sender in a specified time period.

 

[Amberle3]

Is it for the Ramada timeshare? If so, there are a couple of things to know about.

First of all, it's not technically a scam, but it's sure not what it appears to be either.

The cruise (for the Ramada one) says something like CARNIVAL CRUISE (or Imperial Majesty). The choice is theirs, at their discretion, and I've yet to hear of one person actually getting Carnival. All reports I've read have been from people who have been put on the Imperial Majesty, which is an extemely old ship. We're talking old, worn out, dirty.

The reports have also said that the time share presentation, which is supposed to be something like 90 minutes, actually ran more like 3 hours and was very high pressure.

I've yet to read a report from one person who thought the Ramada "deal" was worth it.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by Amberle3
All reports I've read have been from people who have been put on the Imperial Majesty, which is an extemely old ship. We're talking old, worn out, dirty.

That ship was docked next to us when we were in Nassau. It did look very, very old. There were no balcony rooms that I could see. I actually took pictures of it because it looked like it was too old to still be sailing. I know someone recently posted a link to a site that showed the history of this ship. It was interesting to read, and if I remember correctly, it even included pictures of the interior of the ship.

 

[RellingTwin]

Thanks for all the replies!

This is a "gift" for touring a timeshare in a beach area about 50 miles away (Murrells Inlet, S.C.)

The large print says:
We are anxious to confirm your status as a major gift recipient. The (our last name ) family has been selected to receive a Carnival Cruise for a full four (4) days and four(4) nights to Key West, Fl. and Cozumel Mexico. All meals, on board activities and entertainment are included. Retail value $1,698.00. Ports of departure include Tampa, Fl., Miami, Fl.All that is required is that you attend a vacation ownership presentation, which lasts approximately 90-120 minutes. Call immediately. This offer expires 21 days from receipt.
Call within 48 hours and you will also receive a certificate good for $500.00 in Air Checks (airline discount vouchers) Retail Value $500.00

Additional Bonus: Instantly receive a $200.00 gift check just for calling within 24 hours.

The fine print says:

No purchase necessary.Appointments are required.Must have a min household income of $45,000. per year. This offer is specifically designed for persons 21 years of age or older. If married, cohabiting or engaged, both individuals must attend together. No pets will be allowed on tour.Some restrictions apply on travel for cruise. Two hundred dollar Gift Check is good towards selected merchandise and will be mailed to your home with confirmation letter.. This promotion is in lieu of any other promotion offer. Anyone who has toured at a Festiva Resort in the last 12 months is ineligible. Liability for typographical errors is limited to the replacement of the promotional peice. Developer reserves the right to subsitute gifts of equal or greater value. You must present confirmation letter upon arrival at the resort. This offer is not valid in states where prohibited. This advertisment is for the purpose of soliciting the sale of a vacation time share plan .

I understand I did not "WIN" anything, rather have been promised a gift if I meet requirements and tour the property.
However, if the chances of me being able to "collect" this gift are slim, then I will not bother.Spending the last 15 years in Florida, I am very careful about timeshare offers. I have been to a few and the "gift" is never what you think it will be!

 

[Donnainnj]

Rellingtwin,
Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I don't see where it spells out it is for 4 or even 2 people. Only 4 days and 4 nights. I would ask when you call.
Good luck.
Donna

 

[skyhawk]

Originally posted by TnRobin
I would also look for the fine print. Does it say...

wouldn't you like to be the next person to hear
You Won A Cruise

Similar to this...there was a radio contest where you could win " a brand new Toyota". Turns out, the prize was actually a brand new "toy Yoda". Just read the fine print.

 

[dis4me]

The BBB doesn' have anything bad onthem however it doesn't really have much. This is the website that I cecked out when my mom received this. http://www.festivaresorts.com/travel_cruises.html
Hope this helps.

 

[RellingTwin]

Donna, you are right. It is NOT for our "family", I double checked the website and it is a cruise for 2.
I have passed the offer to a co-worker who has been looking into taking a cruise with her husband. They have a much more flexable schedule. I have heard from several others (from the Cruise Critic Board/Carnival Board where I posted the same question) who have had the same promotion and were able to collect the "prize". The restrictions are the catch! You have a very small window of time to take advantage of the cruise.
I have shared all this info with my co-worker and she is going to give it a try.
I'll let you all know how it all works out!