Thumbs Down to Vacation Club Cruise Certificates | Travel Research Online

Les-Lee’s got one thing on her mind this week, and she’s warning you about the vacation certificates that might soon start showing up in your clients’ mailboxes. If you want to report something well done by a supplier, a res agent, or rep, we are happy to give them some coverage in TRO’s Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. If you have a problem with airlines, tour companies, etc. or getting commissions, maybe we can assist. Contact Les-Lee at packagedeals@comcast.net.

I’m devoting an entire column to this peeve.

I just received a mailer addressed to me and where the return address is, is printed:

“Carnival Ticket vouchers enclosed.” On the opposite side of the mailer, is a picture of the Carnival  Conquest, and line, “Important Information Enclosed.”

I open it and read-“Congratulations, Pack your bags,  In celebration of our 28th Anniversary you have been personally chosen to receive at your request a COMPLIMENTARY 5 DAY/4 NIGHT CRUISE for 2 adults leaving from Major Ports across the US, including Florida.”  Bonus: If I responded within 72 hours, I would also get a Free Blu-Ray DVD player.

 I have investigated similar vacation club offers before, but never so blatantly, and falsely,  looking as though it had come directly from Carnival or another cruise line.

So the phone started ringing.  My clients, who also received these, called and asked if I was going to match the offer. One said she was canceling her booking, unless I gave her a DVD player.

For agents who get inquiries about the mailer, I will give you insight on what it is all about.  In order for them to redeem the offer, the consumer has to attend a seminar on the vacation club. They have to attend with their spouse or significant other and bring a credit card. The location is usually at a hotel.  I have also attended one in an office building, but there was absolutely no signage on the building, and surprisingly, not one travel brochure on display.

They will be shown a slide presentation of ways to travel at ridiculously low rates, with rates that compare favorably to what  travel agents pay for fams. When it comes to air tickets, attendees are told they can get upgrades the same way that travel agents get them.  (When was the last time you did get free upgrades from the airlines?)  I even witnessed one salesperson offering to show the sports car he rented from Hertz, an upgrade from a tiny subcompact.  He also said he was staying a luxury hotel in the area, for the cost of a Motel 6 – all perks that they could receive as well, saying these are the same perks travel agents get.  Cruise ships, river cruises, Hawaii and Caribbean land packages, everything was offered.

Attendees are told all they have to do, is sign up for this “travel club” and these discounts will be theirs forever.  In fact, they are encouraged to pass this membership on to their family when they pass on.  What’s the cost for this too good to be true, once in a lifetime offer?  It can range from $4,000 TO $12,000.  Whatever is negotiated.

After the drooling subsides, “closers” appear, usually one for each couple, to try to get them to sign on the dotted line.  And of course, either way, they get their voucher for the FREE cruise.  Oh, how  does that work?

They get a voucher and when they decide to use it, they have to request the space, plus pay a fee for taxes and handling and shipping.  The taxes/port fees are higher than what Carnival charges.  The handling and shipping…for what…e-tickets???  And of course, this is only if the space is available and bait and switch may be offered.

This type of marketing is not unusual.  It has been offered for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line.  In this example, though, it is totally misleading, appearing to have been sent from Carnival, directly, as I already stated.

Over the years, I have asked key people at these cruise lines about “these” certificates, and was given “no comment” answers.  When I mentioned it to an executive with one of the river cruise companies, I was told that they do not ever sell their cruises to the public at the fam rates I saw on their slide presentation.

So why is this in a Thumbs Up Thumbs Down column?  Because it qualifies for both.  Carnival has a lot of berths to fill every week.  Travel agents do not sell all that space.  It is a THUMBS UP for them to sell these certificates.  However, it is a THUMBS DOWN for them to allow someone to use them and collect money for taxes that exceed what Carnival charges. But how would they know?

It is a THUMBS UP for agents who take the time to learn about how these work.  And if they get one, they should spend a couple of hours to attend a session and hear it firsthand.  You can also write about it in your newsletter. 

These offers are predominately sent out in Florida.  When I contacted the State Consumers Division, I was told that there are many records of complaints about these companies.  And surprisingly, they said one out of eight Florida seniors has been scammed by many types of offers, including vacation clubs such as these.  Remember, the cost involved is in the thousands of dollars.  Who falls for it? People who usually travel and have higher credit card limits.

So for agents anywhere near a port, your area may be saturated with these offers, and soon.  If it is a money maker in Florida, it can be a money maker anywhere.