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What kind of BS is this Cruise Ad
03-09-2012, 10:12 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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What kind of BS is this Cruise Ad
Here's a postcard I received lately:
Cruise.jpgFinePrint.jpg
How can they get away with such blatant misrepresentation.
My guess is that either they say that "receive" doesn't mean "receive for free," or that the fees that the recipient is responsible for, is the cost of the trip.
IOW, "Here's a free trip, but you are responsible for paying for it."
Also, they misrepresent that they are Norwegian Lines.
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03-09-2012, 10:20 AM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 13,566
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I'm just imagining how long it would take to get from Seattle to Freeport, Bahamas. Talk about a long cruise! Whew!
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03-09-2012, 10:27 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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I got a similar offer recently too, Al. I assumed one would have to spend a lot of sea time listening to a financial planner (like those "free" dinners that are offered, only longer...groan). I threw it out.
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03-09-2012, 10:32 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R
I got a similar offer recently too, Al. I assumed one would have to spend a lot of sea time listening to a financial planner (like those "free" dinners that are offered, only longer...groan). I threw it out.
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For Pete's sake W2R, don't give them any ideas!!! I'm sure one of those scoundrels would love the idea of a captive audience for that many days.
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03-09-2012, 10:47 AM
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#5
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gone traveling
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski
I'm sure one of those scoundrels would love the idea of a captive audience for that many days.
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With many calls of "man overboard" ...
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03-09-2012, 08:09 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarah in SC
I'm just imagining how long it would take to get from Seattle to Freeport, Bahamas. Talk about a long cruise! Whew!
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I'm just hoping that they use the Panama Canal instead of an icebreaker.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
IOW, "Here's a free trip, but you are responsible for paying for it."
Also, they misrepresent that they are Norwegian Lines.
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I can't defend their ethics, but I think most of the cruise lines advertise like that. "Free cruise" except for all applicable fees, surcharges, tips, and taxes... they continue to advertise like that because nobody has indicted them.
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03-09-2012, 08:12 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarah in SC
I'm just imagining how long it would take to get from Seattle to Freeport, Bahamas. Talk about a long cruise! Whew!
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I was going to comment similarly; 7 nights and it gets you from Seattle to the Bahamas (and presumably back to Seattle)?
Also funny that they mention Norwegian Lines, when the actual cruise line is "Norwegian Cruise Line"
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Retired in 2013 at age 33. Keeping busy reading, blogging, relaxing, gaming, and enjoying the outdoors with my wife and 3 kids (8, 13, and 15).
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03-09-2012, 09:09 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boise
Posts: 7,882
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I like the line at the bottom..."This is not a timeshare or land sale offer" Oh, OK, well now I know you're legitimate. You're not like those other scams. Yep. LOL.
2Cor521
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03-10-2012, 03:58 AM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: midwestern city
Posts: 4,061
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Looks like a scam to me too.
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03-10-2012, 04:22 AM
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FUEGO
I was going to comment similarly; 7 nights and it gets you from Seattle to the Bahamas (and presumably back to Seattle)?
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Oh... You want to go back?
There is a small additional charge for that.
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When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
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03-10-2012, 05:47 AM
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#11
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gone traveling
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FUEGO
I was going to comment similarly; 7 nights and it gets you from Seattle to the Bahamas (and presumably back to Seattle)?
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But, but - it's 7 nights and 14 days ...
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03-10-2012, 10:00 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,298
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How about that. I got a similar postcard from Costa Cruises, though in the fine print it said Costa Concordia and Costa Allegra not included...
jk
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03-10-2012, 10:21 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8,368
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack
How about that. I got a similar postcard from Costa Cruises, though in the fine print it said Costa Concordia and Costa Allegra not included...
jk
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They apparently have your best interest as their first priority.
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The Winter's Tale, William Shakespeare
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03-10-2012, 10:50 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Quote:
Every single Norwegian that I have ever known has been honest. With that fact in mind I suggest that you fully trust the travel offer and enjoy the cruise.
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03-10-2012, 01:25 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rescueme
But, but - it's 7 nights and 14 days ...
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May have mentioned this before, but on my last (and I do mean last) cruise, a lady at the orientation asked "Does the crew sleep on board?" True story.
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Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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03-10-2012, 01:35 PM
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#16
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,723
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Even though I knew it was a scam, I went to that presentation (or one very similar). They try to sell you into a travel club. I forgot why the travel club was a rip off, but it was.
As to 'the incentive', they make you pay for the cruise before you even know what port the cruise will leave from, and before you even have a rough estimate of the date of the cruise. Oh, they say the payment you're making is for the taxes and fees, so the cruise is still free. The airfare thin is similar...they make it almost impossible to use. Forget trying to use the airfare to get to the departure port! Both the cruise and air have large swaths of blackout days, and very screwy rules about timing of you activities to qualify. There are four back and forth actions, and if you don't do it perfectly, they disqualify you. There are folks that, not having anything better to do, decided if they could get the cruise, and even though they hjumped through all the hoops, still got disqualified. And you can't call and talk to anyone...you just get ignored.
HERE IS WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT "WORLD TRAVEL":
The pitch was for "Royal Palms Vacations", supposedly started in 1994 and supposedly has 18,000 members. The base offer is $7700 one time fee and $250/yr, which enables you to stay at resorts for about half price. In order to get this "deal", you need to book far in advance. By the end of the pitch, they've got a reduced package for sale for $69/mo for 3 years (plus the $250 annual), but that allows you to get the half price only once per year. I have no background on whether this offer is any good or not, but I did learn a bit of about the "direct incentive marketing" fulfillment company: "Certs, Inc." ( http://www.certsinc.biz)
At the end of the presentation, you get a "Thank you for attending our travel presentation" form. It says:
"Please complete the form below and send it within 14 days with a self addressed 4"x9.5" envelope to: Gift Redemption Center, 8437 Tuttle Avenue #334, Sarasota, FL 34243-2868"
"Frequently asked Questions: Can I bring this paper in or call soemone to ask questions about the offers before I choose? No after filling out the front of this form it goes to a mail house, from there you will be mailed the chosen promotional gift. After receiving the gift you may contact the company providing the promotional gift to answer your questions. Please understand that gifts are provided by an outside company and the terms vary according to your choice. DO NOT SEND MONEY WITH THIS FORM."
HERE IS WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE INCENTIVE:
Based on some research on the internet (just googled "Royal Palms Vacations"), I figure that the incentive provider is "Certs, Inc." ( http://www.certsinc.biz). It seems that this company's business model is to use whatever means they can think of to keep you from getting your gift (you can read some experiences for yourself at Certs, Inc. Complaints, Reviews - Travel scam). I will summarize what I found, not by experience, but by reading the complaintsboard.com site:
They make you pay $100 "processing fee", which I presume is in addition to the "taxes and port fees" you agreed to on the original post card. Then, later, they make you pay another $50 later, for something else. You still don't have confirmed travel dates. They also have a trick about having at least 30 days between travel date choices, so if you pick 2/1 and 3/1, they void your gift, no recourse, end of discussion. The $40 is gas is only payable $10 at a time, each one requiring a separate submission, at least one month apart. On respondent said the gas must be purchased in exact $10 amounts.
MY ADVICE TO YOU, IF YOU GOOGLED THIS WHEN YOU GOT THE POSTCARD IN THE MAIL:
My wife and I had a nice night out. We had dinner at a favorite spot near the venue of the sales pitch, and we stopped at another cozy spot for a beverage on the way home. Except for the high-pressure sales pitch at the end, the presentation wasn't bad. But we won't be trying to get the free travel.
So unless you just want to sit through a sales pitch for no incentive, or you think you can be the few, the proud, that actually GET the incentive travel (after paying who-knows how many extra undisclosed fees), just throw the post card in the trash.
--Dale--
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03-10-2012, 01:46 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
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DW and I went to a presentation which had the typical "This is not a time-share presentation, blah, blah, blah..." It was.
We did receive some good discounts on some activities, so I suppose we paid for our time. The only reason we went was because we had extra time and found the discounts to be interesting.
The old "If it's too good to be true..." seems always to be true. YMMV
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Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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03-10-2012, 01:52 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8,368
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And the answer was...."Naah, we pump 'em full of amphetamines just before departure and they don't sleep until we re-dock".
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"Exit, pursued by a bear."
The Winter's Tale, William Shakespeare
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03-10-2012, 05:20 PM
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#19
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolau
DW and I went to a presentation which had the typical "This is not a time-share presentation, blah, blah, blah..." It was.
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We got that flyer shoved under our hotel room door in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, no doubt just before security caught up with them.
It offered tickets to dinner and a show ("$200 value") or $100 cash.
The other LVH offer was to defer housekeeping that day (no clean towels) and receive a $10 coupon for any other services that the hotel offered. Of course $10 only gets you a few steps into the LVH casino and the coupon is not good on the Metro...
__________________
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Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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