Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests "Won" a cruise

got a call this morning before i went to class, and this lady told me i had won a cruise. i remember filling out a little card at a restaurant for it about 2 months ago. it seems fishy, but at the same time, it doesn't. let me give the details and see what you guys think. first, it is a 4 day 3 night package, hotel included with the cruise being about 7 hours out of ft. lauderdale, fl. then there is a hotel included, i pick from two, for the 4 day 3 night stay. they include some meals on the ship, like 2 or 3 i think. i have 4 days to claim it in my name, and in order to do that, i have to pay $77.50 per person in administration fees. then after that, i will have to pay $99 per person for port fees/tax. i know the port tax isnt the gimmick, if i left the country, id have to pay that. thats pretty much all i know as of know, and i'd like to have some other stuff when i call them back to see how this thing is set up. so, if this has happened to you, or have any info, please chime in and offer any suggestions. thanks.

Do some research. Better safe than sorry.

Look for information on the Company name.

Be sure to check out a BBB report on the company as well.

Ive been in a similar situation.. Signed up for some all exclusive "trip to Florida".. I get a call back the next day saying I won, and that it was a limited offer and I was one of a few that won.. I call the chick I went to the bar w/ and she got that same phone call.. They make it sound like you're getting a lot for your money, but Im guessing you'll be on some raft that not even an illegal immigrant would ride on.. And don't expect them to stop calling you until you give them a definite NO.. I told the lady I was interested, just to get her hopes up of getting a sale.. Ended up playing around for an hour to tell her I'd have to call her back.. Well she decided to call me 12 times in the next 2 days.. Finally got the hint after not answering.. I'd say save up and go on a cruise of your choice.

Mark

They WILL try to sell you on a package of vacations at a "reduced cost", that will still run into the thousands of dollars. My wife and I got pulled into a sales pitch one time that was like this, except we didn't get the ultra-discount up-front offer. If you take that cruise, you'll be asked to sit in on a "short presentation" that turns into a high-pressure sales pitch, and if/when you say no, Mr. Friendly Sales Associate will have nasty things to say to you.

Y2KSVT called it right on the nose. If you want to go on a cruise, buy it yourself.

Ive gotten an actual look-a-like boarding pass stating that I won a cruise package, and all I had to do was call a number and comfirm it. I never did it. BTW, it came with a $7,500 fake check, whatever that was all for, Ill never know.

well this thing says it has nothing to do with timeshares or sales stuff. it is Diamond Holiday Travel. it looks like a total cheap-o trip, i know that, but im 20, poor, and if i can get by on a cruise to the bahamas for four days for a couple of hundred bucks, i might have to give it a shot. im just wondering about the taxes and stuff i would get nailed with. it seems like a legit offer.

My wife and I went to one of those presentations once, and about lost it when the "free" trip ended up costing about $150 per person. The kicker is that they tried to sell me a vacation package that cost "only" $29,500.00. That is more than I paid for my car, and all the stereos that have been in it since day one.

Dont do it.

Quick search on Google found lots of stuff:

Quote:

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Diamond Holidays is not a scam, but there are some hidden expenses and the
hotel location is important.
This is the routine.
1. You pay an administrative fee to process your "free trip.
2. The boat leaves Ft. Lauderdale at 7:00 AM. Unless you live close or the
free trip provides it, you will need a hotel the night before.
3. The boat arrives in Freeport about 1:30 PM.
4. You take a taxi to your hotel (about $20-$25).
5. You will pay a $12-$15/person/night room tax in the Bahamas.
6. You check out of your hotel on the last day and have to be at the port
about 2:00 PM for a 4:00 PM sailing. (another $20-$25 cab fee)
7. The boat arrives in Ft. Lauderdale about midnight, so unless you are close
or the trip provides it., another hotel room.

If the trip is a 3 day 2 night trip, you will have about 2 full days in the
Bahamas.
Add up all the costs, and the total can be about $400-$500.

---

Basically, as with any deal, there are hidden costs. Like the fact that your hotel is 5 miles away from the beach which means a $25 taxi ride back home in the evening (can take a bus in the morning).

These companies are basically just filling up empty cabins and hotel rooms at contract rates (hotels and cruises are virtually all fixed costs so anything is better than nothing) and probably get some pretty good kickbacks from the hotels around the departing port, taxi and bus companies, and lord knows who else.

Here's a comprehensive link on the 'deal':
http://www.bahamaslinks.ch/pfreetrip.html#diamond

i hate it when they call you and say "you've won a free trip" ... then go on to tell you how much it costs and what you have to pay... all and all its not free.... i usually just hang up on them.