Complaint Review: Caribbean Cruise Line - Ft. Lauderdale Florida

 There should be a law against companies like this. I did not get everything I paid for. To begin, I received an offer for a Vacation discount for 2 days in a resort hotel in a city of my choice plus a 2 day cruise to the Bahamas for up to 4 people for $469. When I called the 800 number I spoke to an agent that told me they were a new travel agency. This promotion was to spread the agency name. NOT once did they say it was a TIMESHARE promotion. I was instructed to go to the Welcome Center at the Ramada Inn in Ft. Lauderdale to get my cruise tickets on the Grand Celebration. Luckly I live in Florida so it was just a 3 hour drive.

When we arrived, we were not impressed with the condition of the outside of the hotel. The windows looked like the would fall out with a strong wind and the parking lot was ill kept. The Welcome Center was set up in the conference room of the hotel. After standing in line for about an hour, we were finally checked in and told we had an 8:30 appointment to tour a Vacation Resort (which I was suppose to be staying 2 days). We were given a room in the 3rd rate hotel. To give it a 2 star rating was being generous. Compelled to check for bed bugs we found black hair between the sheets. There was mildew around the corners of the window over the air conditioner and rusty stains in the bathroom sink. I was so disgusted, it only took 5 minuets looking around the room to decide to move to a different hotel.We moved to a better hotel at additional cost to us.

The next morning we went to the Vacation Village to collect my cruise tickets only to be told we had to take the "TOUR" We were told the tour was only about 2 hours. I told the salesman up front "I only wanted my tickets which were paid for"  We were ushered into a room with about twenty other suckers, shown pictures of the idea of a Vacation Package from the RCI ambassador. Then taken to another room for  more sales pitch repeating the same information we had just heard from the ambassador. That was general info. Now we were getting a personalized offer which was $28000. I said NOT INTERESTED. The salesman then showed us two of the accomodations offered and also of the neighborhood shopping area, then back to the room again. I said "Just give me my tickets and let me go." He said the manager has to sign the voucher, so I said to take it to the manager and have him sign it.  The manager finally came over and gave us a lower offer of $13000. Then $9000 I said NOT Interested! He kept looking at me with a puzzled look and kept asking me why I was not interested. I said they were holding my cruise tickets hostage and that I had already paid the ransom price with my time wasted and my money. Finally, after 5 hours of high pressure sales we were given the signed voucher, but before we could get out the door, the offer was lowered to $4000 and that the Welcome Center back at the Ramada Inn had my tickets. So another 30 min back accross town to get tickets which we didn't need. Our names were already preregistered.

So my 2 days in a resort hotel was shot to H--L. The Grand Celebration was not too bad if you don't mind the old ship. Previously the Carnival Celebration (1987-2008) Then sold. To get to the dining room you have to go up to go down. The ship was ok until they fired up the engines at 2:30 AM. It can be very frightening racket and vibrations pretty bad. Sounded like they ran aground and was scaping on the bottom. The service was fair but you are automatically charged $12 dollars per person per day plus fuel surcharge and other insedentals. The Stellar Prime dining servers were not bad. Menu could be improved. Left side is complimentary but if you want better, you have to order from the Right side but you pay additional. Steak and Lobster was like $27. Anything other than water, you pay extra. The Main loung was rather small and the entertainment was less than desired. When you get into Freeport, Port Lacaya, DON'T GO ON SUNDAYS. Unless you are just wanting off the ship to walk around, all the shopping is closed, and a round trip taxi to Port Lacaya will cost $10 per person. They don't tell you everything is closed until after they have your money.  If you want to zip through customs with the Simple Disemparkation, make sure all parties in your group has passports. Otherwise you have to wait in line with the ones that has only birthcertificates. Which takes like about 1-2 hours to get through customs.