Complaint Review: Blackbeard Cruises - Miami Florida

Doesn't appear to me to be a 'bait and switch'. All information on these trips can be obtained on Blackbeard's website, down to a checklist of what to bring and what not to bring. Aside from the bad experience with the captain, on Blackbeard's you get what it says on their website. Blackbeard's charges a measly $789 per person for 6 days/5 nights accomodations, all food and beverages (including beer and rum), 3 to 4 dives per day, tanks, air, and a chance to dive some great spots in the Bahamas. I've dived for many, many years with Blackbeard's and would go back in a heartbeat. There is no excuse for rudeness by Capt or crew; the majority of their income is tips so it would behoove the crew to treat their passengers in a kindly, professional manner. I've always had a great time on their cruises. It's apparent by several of your comments that you are new to diving, sailing, and the liveaboard experience. Boats push off from the dock late when waiting for passengers to arrive (delayed flights, etc.) Blackbeard's website gives approx departure time of 5pm. Boats fuel at a proprietary fuel dock on the way out of Government Cut at departure OR on the return IF and WHEN the fuel dock is opened for business. Not like you can run to the gas station with your can of gas to fill 'er up. Making the 5 - 7 hour crossing to Bimini typically is at night, with docking in Bimini and clearing Bahamian customs once the Bahamian customs office opens in the morning. What difference to you if you left at 5pm or 5:30pm, you're not allowed off the boat until customs clearance the following morning. Returning to U.S. is same, crossing at night and clearing customs in the morning. Check the Blackbeard's website for itinerary and customs office norms. Not sure where you're used to diving but typically divemasters remain out of the water, on deck when divers are in the water. What would have happened if a diver in your group surfaced in distress?? What would have happened if you cracked your head on the steps getting out of the water?? Who's going to take the tank off your back if the divemaster is in the water?? If you wanted a guide for a dive, you should have asked for a crew member to accompany you. Fishing/spearfishing - you don't do it on dive sites PERIOD if you want to be able to return to that dive site to dive. Fishing/trolling - It's typical in daylight that any time the boat is moving, troll lines are thrown off the stern. Shallow water you're going to catch barracuda, only in deep water mackeral, tuna, dolphin (IF they're running, if it's THEIR time of year, etc) Spearfishing - why buy 'specially bought spears' when Blackbeard's provides hawaiian slings free of charge. The trips I've been on, spearfishing and lobstering was done often by both passengers and crew. Sailing - when you have a vessel in the range of 75 tons and a diesel powered speed of 7 knots or so, you're going to need a lot of wind to move her. The other sailboats you saw were probably not over 65' long or carrying anywhere from 17 - 23 passengers and crew of 6. Again, check the Blackbeard's website, it tells you not a lot of wind/not a lot of sailing during summer months and through October. Your prank - you invaded the personal space of crew members, no excuse - off-limits. That small space is home to crew members. It would be the same as someone going through YOUR luggage, YOUR rack, or invading YOUR home. Perhaps it sounded like a good idea over beverages during port night, but totally wrong. As a side note, I have been onboard when new moorings have been placed on divesites. The crew and/or company places the moorings, at their expense, to protect the underwater environment. Again, it's unfortunate that you had a bad experience with this Capt, but to bash a company that has been around for close to 20 years with many, many happy, repeat divers leads me to believe that you didn't do your homework and your expectations exceeded the reality of Blackbeard's pamphlets and website.

Greg and Donna, What you have described is a classic bait and switch. I suggest you request a partial refund based on that premise. The majority of travel and vacation scams are bait and switch schemes. The photographs, brochures and sales pitches paint a wonderful laundry list of events, meals, sites and extras when what the consumer really gets is a bum vacation--which sounds like what you got. Write down what you expected from the vacation due to brochures and promises and be detailed about what you received instead. Be professional when detailing your dissatisfaction with the package. Be polite and have a specific dollar figure that you would like refunded. You have a great chance at success. If you determine you written description of failure to provide services promised by the travel business is really weighty you may want to consider taking them to small claims court for a larger refund. Dont ask for all of your money backno one should be unjustly enriched and its just plain bad form. Good Luck,