Complaint Review: Ramada Resorts/imperial Majesty - Internet

Hi We just came back from our holiday from the Ramada resorts package. We too were a little worried after reading all the reports they can scare you. However, we had an AWESOME TIME and met great people and I will run down how things were done and the extras that you might get charged so that you are not scared off by a lot of these reports or at least know the truth. This is an account of our OWN holiday package experience. I am in no way connected to Ramada or a hotel or cruise or otherwise. I have heard that some packages may VARY so this may not apply exactly to everyone SO PLEASE, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IN ANY WAY for differences with you info with what I have here etc, and your OWN package experience. This was one we got in the mail offering a lot of free stuff if we took timeshare tours (fine print and taxes surcharges (fine print) I am trying to give everyone an honest feel to the best of my ability as to what our package offered us and. Please remember to look at your paperwork and voucher booklet carefully. We followed instructions to a "T" and also called them to confirm. Of course if you are smart you will see the asterix next to a lot of the advertising. Remember nothing is for free and don't be a selective listener on the telephone, read the fine print about cancellation.. Also if you are doing this package reserve up to 2-3 hours for a time share presentation and if wanting extra free tickets to theme parks after the cruise be prepared to do another. They are not bad and you get fed!. You CAN have a GREAT time as we did, particularly if this your first cruise. If you have are wealthy and you have done major cruises before then expect what you get for the money you pay for the package. This is not a huge super luxury cruise line, (ie the pool is small) but as it was our first cruise and our income is about $40,000 it was certainly luxury to us

First we are a married couple. We bought the package through the mail for a $398 booking fee each. After a month or so we thought we'd like to book the holiday. You need to book about 60 days in advance. You will be charged a $98 port fee each. We bought our own airfare down as it was cheaper then driving. We arrived at the Orlando Airport and picked up our COMPACT rental car from budget, that the Ramada package gives you free for 7 days. You do get charged tax - it came to $33 for the whole 7 days. We did not buy extra insurance and refused extras such as upgrades from the insurance company. We put down our own insurance company. We opted to buy the fuel on the road and return the tank full by doing it ourselves as gas runs 3.86-4.09 in florida right now (there are PLENTY of gas stations, don't let Car rental fool you into buying extras).

Next we drove to the hotel at fort lauderdale. (you can fly into ft lauderdale and pick up your car there but our flight was cheaper coming into orlando). We had an easy checkin at the hotel. The put a hold on your card for about $50. The hotel taxes came to $12 per night. If you see fees you did not use like the safe fee, we just asked for it to be removed. It was removed easily. The hotel, which was not on the beach as we didn't upgrade, was nice and clean and had a good atmosphere. It had a heated outdoor pool, lovely staff, nice dining area, spa, free buffet if you bought this particular cruise etc package (make sure you pick up your free meal vouchers from the welcome center at the front of the hotel). The rooms were immaculate and they had a coffee maker, iron, TV. There are coin laundries in the building if you need them ($1.25), and a free computer in the foyer. Vouchers provide free breakfast buffet, lunch (up to $17 per couple), and dinner buffet for your stay which includes soda, tea and coffee as well. After each meal you will receive a tab ranging from around $3.25 - $4.75 per couple which includes your tax and tip. You do not leave a tip to the waitress/waiter. You can pay it up front or charge it to the room.

On the second day we were there we had to attend a timeshare tour. The slide presentation lasts about an hour and the talk with it a little longer. They give you free food and coffee tea, juice. The tour guide shows you the properties which are awesome. Then you sit down and they will go over prices. If you are not interested be firm and tell them that. The tour will last as long as your interest. We ended up buying a 4 week timeshare at a great deal as we had done some research, even though we went in thinking we'll just listen and leave. We had no pressure we were just delighted with the idea, deal and the resorts. Its up to you remember, not one can hold your head over a bucket. However we were happy with the tour and result. They give you a certificate fter the tour and you go back to collect your cruise voucher. You don't have to buy.

One the day of the cruise you go to port everglades which is about 20 minutes from the hotel, right near the airport. You park there for the duration of the cruise for $30 ($15 per day) we tried to do it cheaper by going to the park and ride at the airport getting a shuttle and catching a bus to the port (about 10 mins), but really all your end up saving is $8 - not worth it

The cruise was great. It is an older and smaller ship. It was romantic and imtimate, however, you can leave or mix with the people you want. We met up with lots of nice couples we really had a great time. The ship houses about 900 I think. The cruise itself will cost you an additional $50 each which includes the taxes tips/gratuities and fuel fees. It is not expected that you tip on the ship at meals etc. ( i mean unless you really want to!!!) I believe alcohol and soda etc has a surcharge of %15 added, but tea, coffee, iced tea and water and some breakfast juices from the iced tea/ water machine are free and you can get them from the buffet area any time).We don't drink, which kept cost down.

The food was great, especially at dining. You choose soup salad, appetizer, entree dessert from a very upmarket menu. The food at dining is free and there is no tipping due as it has already been included in the $20 on your boarding card. There is also buffet style if you choose. You can also choose to dine for breakfast instead of the buffet.

They are great on the ship there is a disco, a cabaret, bingo, a casino, a room for kids play, buffet at breakfast (if you prefer that instead of breakfast dining, also after lunch and at 12.30 am. There is karaoke and a piano room for quiet sing along. We met a lot of nice people. The base package rooms rooms are very basic, unless you want to upgrade. They were cosy and quiet, quite small comfortable with a small bathroom and shower. we stayed below deck and we liked it because it was quiet..

During the cruise. There are photo opportunties and you can buy them if you want. No one asks you to see them or buy them.

we left on the cruise at 5pm and landed in the Bahamas at 9 am. There are expeditions and tour options. I did snorkeling for $49 and the fish ate out of my hand. (buy fish food for a $1 to get the best opportunity to see fish). Then we decided to just browse on our own after than as we wanted to go to the straw market (barter hard, prices are not really that cheap). We wasted our time going to Paradise Island (Atlantis) by ourselves trying to get a close up of the resort pools etc as the Atlantis resort staff, don't let you look over the resort just the shops and casino inside the atlantis building. It is more spectacular to catch the view of them from the ferry and spend quality time doing Bahaman things that you would do in the USA. Or, it would have been better to take the tour offered by the cruise and gone to breezes beach resort on the white sands and beautiful beach and used stuff like wind sailing and canoeing on the beach all inclusive. We still had great fun though. You need to be on board by 5pm. After cruising the night back we headed down to Orlando. That hotel is spectacular in Orlando right next to so many things to do. The indoor pool and spa was like a lagoon and it was a lot fancier you will get a $few dollars added as a resort fee and surcharge about $6.00 day. It had a great atmosphere and the same food setup. The check in was a little slow. We had an awesome stay. You can do another timeshare tour and get free tickets to a theme park.There was a free shuttle to some of the parks. Parking at some of the Theme parks will run you between $10-15.

We dropped the car back at the airport which is 10-15 minutes away. So all in all the holiday package cost us an extra $230 which included cruise fuel fees taxes, rental car fees taxes, meal taxes/gratuities). Thus for both of us it was $398+$398+$198(2xport fee)+$230 (cruise/hotel charges)= ~$1220 for two. If you are alone it would be about $398+$99+$130=~$630 Our own gas driving around was out our own pocket as it would be back home anyway, and the scuba diving, parking at port everglades and photos we bought were out our own pocket.

We had a great time, no complaints. Get a passport it's a must for the Bahamas. A GREAT TIME FOR FIRST TIME CRUISERS, for people rich or poor who are not fussy, for people who are not used to living/cruising in luxury all the time (although I did speak to people who have been on other cruises and liked the atmosphere of this one better), or those who don't mind doing surveys/tours for their extras.

Amanda

pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

U.S.A.

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