ComplaintsforCaribbean Vacations LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The date of the transaction was 04/04/2022 I received a text message stating I am A winner for a free bahamas vacation for 2 from easton vacations/caribbean vacations llc. When you call the line they have an option to select the cruise option which gives you all inclusive resort option and extends your stay from 4 days 3 nights to 5 days 4 nights and to additional days being on the cruise ship, so 7 days in total. Once your connected to an agent before you can discuss your winnings they state you have to pay 39.98 to set up an account for two people and also have to pay immediately or set up your first payment within a week of the call the $80.00 per person per ride fee for the cruise and then they will text you your log in info so that you can select your dates to travel. But before I can confirm my free hotel stay with the resort I had to pay 258.00 for port fees or it would not move forward. Once I paid the port fees my cruise and hotel options was confirmed for 07/29/2022-08/04/2022 and was provided a confirmation for my fully paid room at the resort. After that communication I received a message stating that my room rate for both guest have been paid and full and on my behalf they will also cover the resort fees that I am responsible for as well as finding my own transportation and paying taxes. When I declined for them to cover any fees on my behalf and to only cover the room rate as agreed they became upset cancelled my cruise that I advised not to cancel and hung up on me.

  Business response

  05/19/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/04/14) */ The consumer took advantage of the cruise option to go along with her stay in The Bahamas. The very entry card she filled out for the vacation, clearly states that resort fees/taces and transportation are not included in the giveaway. After multiple conversations with the reservations staff, she insisted on paying the resort directly, and not through us. Our contracts do not work that way. Due to this consumer not understanding how the giveaway works, we refunded all funds paid in to us from her in full. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/04/16) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I do not accept there response because it has nothing to do with them contacting me because I won their free Bahamas vacation. An agent responded to my complaint and stated 'The consumer took advantage of the cruise option to go along with her stay in The Bahamas." I did not contact them to purchase a vacation to be a consumer, I am a winner of a FREE BAHAMAS VACATION. Where is my prize that I won? What happened to that. Transportation, resort/service fees and taxes are covered by the winner, so whatever way I decide to get to the Bahamas has nothing to do with them as well as the other fees. SO AGAIN I ASK WHERE IS MY FREE BAHAMAS VACATION THAT EASTON VACATION CONTACTED ME AND SAID I WON??? I did not give them permission to cancel my cruise option, that was given to winners per there pre recorded message. The only fees stated was the cruise administration fees. This an Advance Payment Travel Scam. In this type of scam, unethical sellers typically contact you claiming that you have won a "free luxury vacation" or a "free cruise." The only requirement is that you pay the taxes, port charges or some other "fee." However, Florida law stipulates that you cannot be charged anything other than the cost associated with getting your prize to you. What this company is stating I have won is the exact same offer given to travel agency to sale and receive commission on. Website:https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/what-travel-advisors-should-know-about-margaritaville-at-sea.html states This is an offer all travel agents have received from Margaritaville at Sea. The Cruise & Stay program includes one night at sea on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, followed by two or four nights at one of two resorts on Grand Bahama Island and ending with one more night on the ship as it sails back to Palm Beach, Florida. Travel advisors can seamlessly book a cruise and land package together in the same time it would take them to book the cruise option, but with more commission. "For the travel industry, it's a great new product to sell, with a much higher average booking value than a two-night cruise, and therefore the opportunity from a commercial point of view, from the commission base that we're providing, is going to give them a higher earning potential..." said Riley. "That is the 'aha!' moment that travel advisors are hooking into." Travel advisors can register at BookParadise.com, its travel advisor-specific website which launched in late March, to begin learning about the brand through training modules, how to sell it and to receive marketing tools and other resources, including invitations to Margaritaville at Sea's next events. Currently, travel advisors who book groups for Margaritaville at Sea through May 15 for travel through the end of the year can receive up to $1,500 in extra commission bonus as an incentive. Additionally, travel advisors can request a travel advisor rate online for one of Margaritaville at Sea's sailings through the end of this year. This company as well as the agent that responded have been breaking the FLORIDA LAW for a long time. Florida statue 849.094Game promotion in connection with sale of consumer products or services states It is unlawful for any operator To design, engage in, promote, or conduct such a game promotion, in connection with the promotion or sale of consumer products or services, wherein the winner may be predetermined or the game may be manipulated or rigged so as to: To fail to award prizes offered, or arbitrarily to remove, disqualify, disallow, or reject any entry, To print, publish, or circulate literature or advertising material used in connection with such game promotions which is false, deceptive, or misleading. This company has been breaking the law and not following their own rules for this game. If I did not accept the cruise option and decided to find my own way to the Bahamas, their only job was to reserve my stay and pay in full for the room. This is an elaborate scheme of BAIT AND SWITCH. They bait you in stating you are a winner and without your knowledge they immediately switch to a travel agency booking you a trip and if you question the fees they cancel your trip and refund your money. The agents at Trip Assurance cancelled my supposedly free bahamas vacation after the resort became involved because there was only a reservation placed nothing paid. THe resort in bahamas requested to be on the call to hear them repeatedly state my room was paid in full and the hotel was charging them this fee which was passed on to me. The travel agent did not know I had the resort agent listening on the call and became upset when the resort agent stated they do not charge extra for resort fees because it is an all inclusive resort and the resort fees are already built into the room price the travel agent stated they paid in full. The resort agent advised that he was in the corporate office and can see all payments and no payment had been made. The resort advised me to get a breakdown of charges for what they paid and the fees I was being charged. Altogether for all charges Trip Assurance was trying to collect was almost 1600.00 The travel agents refused and then cancelled my cruise and stay stating I didn't understand how the giveaway works. Obviously they do not understand how a giveaway works when they contact someone stating the are a winner or Florida statues. In there response they do not state I am A winner and I do not have any contract with them to buy any vacation package nor did I contact them to purchase anything. THEY STATED I WON AND I WOULD LIKE MY PRIZE!!! The FTC and 21 federal and state law enforcement authorities charged that 25 companies misled consumers about the vacation packages they were selling, overstated the amenities included, told travelers they had won trips that they had not, hid extra charges in "all-inclusive" packages, or charged consumers for products and services they never received. Trip Assurance needs to be charged by the FTC, made to give back every winners fees THEY PAID and made to honor and pay for my room and full to the bahamas, and shut down forever!!

• Initial Complaint

  02/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Date of transaction: Beginning approximately November, 2020 Money paid: 1x fee of $19; 4x fee of $69.99, 1x fee of $258 What business committed to provide: A FREE 5-day vacation to the Bahamas Nature of dispute: I was informed that I had won a free Bahamas Vacation via a drawing from a shopping mall promotion. As time progressed, Bradford Vacations had just one small fee, then one other small fee, then another small fee (online account creation that was necessary to reserve my vacation for $19, required cruise from FL to the Bahamas $70x4, required administration fee before I would be able to select travel dates of $258 etc.) before I could book my free vacation. Once they finally said that any resort that I picked to stay at also had a resort fee that I would need to pay, I informed Bradford Vacations that I would not be able to contribute any more money towards a supposedly free vacation that I had "won." I asked to be refunded, various times, in various ways. Without my go ahead, Bradford Vacations abruptly cancelled the vacation and refunded the $258 administration fee. They refuse to refund my money for the cruise or account creation, indicating that I can always use a one day cruise from Florida to the Bahamas anytime I want??? I was never interested in a cruise and was told by a Bradford Vacations agent that I was REQUIRED to book the cruise before I could reserve the vacation. Bradford Vacations now says "oh, the cruise was optional, you chose to book the cruise." I would like a full refund for all monies paid towards a free Bradford Vacations trip that I won. Bradford Vacations has essentially charged me $300 for providing absolutely no goods or services. I'm not sure which of the 7 "Caribbean Vacations" companies with varying addresses to direct this complaint towards, but here's the website: https://bradfordvacations.com/ Account number: They do not use account numbers. Just your phone number and and a password for winning, account login, etc.

  Business response

  03/11/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 9, 2022/02/28) */ The consumer has currently canceled her travel dates for her Bahamas vacation. At the ime of registering, the 30 day right to cancel set by The State of Florida, statute 559.933 was read the her on an inbound recorded line. It was also agreed to when she logged into her online account and agreed to the terms and conditions. Her port and service fees of $258, has already been refunded to her. The 4 admin paymnents for the cruise option she chose, are not refundable per state statute, but they are in full credit towards when she rebooks her travel dates Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/03/03) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Dishonest business practices. The response does not reflect what actually happened. (I was told, by an agent, that a cruise purchase was a REQUIREMENT before I could select travel dates). I would NOT have purchased a cruise if I did not think it was a requirement. The whole thing was/is a sham. Business Response /* (4000, 14, 2022/03/03) */ With all due respect to this consumers response, she listened to a detailed recording prior to registering,as all consumers do. The recording is clear that the cruise is an option. The script the customer service agent reads to the consumer on an inbound recorded line is also very clear that the cruise is just an option.

• Initial Complaint

  01/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  When going through the process we were told we would be able to choose between three resorts but only the most expensive resort was available. When we originally agreed to the cruise option we were told (and our receipts show) that we would be cruising through Paradise Cruise Lines on the Grand Classica. The company and cruise line then changed to Margaritaville at Sea. We were not notified of this change as they are required to do and we are not comfortable with our receipts and reservations stating one company and only being "assured" that our travel is actually with a different company. In addition we have issues with the new company. When we reached out to them regarding our concerns we were met with rudeness and them simply stating it doesn't matter and that we cannot get a refund due to some statute. I asked for contact information which they refuse to give. They have failed to uphold their legal obligations in regards to reservation changes and I am in search of a refund.

  Business response

  02/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/01/19) */ "Hello, Unfortunately this vacation is no longer going to work for us. Can we get a refund for what we have spent? With the extreme increase in COVID cases we no longer feel it is safe to be traveling." This was the reason given by the consumer for cancelling the confirmed travel dates. Refunds were given for porttaxes and service fees paid in. The admin fees she is referring to, are refundable only within 30 days of date of purchase, if confirmed dates were not booked. The admin fees for both reasons are not refundable, but given as full credit for her future travel dates. With regards to the rebranding of the crusieline, the terms and conditions clearly state the cruise can be substituted. Her cruise is being substituted for a nicer and more expensive cruise at no extra charge to her We look forward to traveling her and a guest in the future

• Initial Complaint

  10/27/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Transaction dates: 7/20/20-7/27/20 Amt paid: $1629.23 Cruise to the Bahamas: booked and cancelled by company 2x's (first because of COVID, I was never offered a refund as an option when I requested one they said it was too late. Now they cancelled me due to a mandatory ship maintenance, I reached out to the company to make sure I was ok to book my flights and do all preparations about 1 week ago and they said I was all set. I reached out to get my refund, I work in a hospital it is hard right now to get time off. I now have 1 week off with no where to go and can't even afford to pay for a new place to travel to. I went ahead and purchased my flights for the trip also and now can't use that either. Acct# ********

  Business response

  12/08/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 16, 2021/11/23) */ We are still awaiting word back from the customer. We have made many attempts by phone and by message to no avail with no response. as to whether or not the consumer wants to reschedule the dates for the vacation. We did confirm via message at last correspondence that the travel funds would be refundable if she chose not to reschedule the dates. Please have the consumer contact us right away

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩