Caribbean Cruise Lines Peter.isonvacation.com Fraud Alert!! Ft Lauderdale, Florida Internet

I was contacted by Caribbean Cruise Line for a special package they were offering.  It included a free cruise for two with all meals and drinks included leaving from Ft. Lauderdale Floride to the Caribbean Islands.  The cruise started out at 5 days in duration but as I stated not interested it expanded. It worked out as 2 days on the ship to/from and 3 days at a 5-star hotel in the Bahamas. 

All that was required of me was to sit through a 4 hour seminar on their packages and to spread the word of their cruise on their website under their testimonals and verbally to friends, ect...

As stated it expanded to include a free room up-grade to a "State Room" with ocean balcony plus a 3-day 2-night stay in a five star hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, FL also with free meals and drinks plus a free unlimited mileage luxury rental car while in Florida.

I was told Drinks meant anything I wanted including alcohol at the hotel, on the cruise and on the islands.  All free entertainment for anything non-motorized while on the cruise or at the islands.  $50.00 free money for the on board casino.  Meals meant all 3 everyday in any non-theme restaurants.

All of this was only $925.00 with my only additional responsibility would be the port charges per person at approximately $40.00 per (total $80.00).  No other charges or fees were to be requested and believe me I asked a thousand questions.  Tips were my option.  No date restrictions or black-out dates and it was open for 18 monthes, but if not used within that time frame all I needed to do was to call them for an extension which I was told had no fees associated with it.  The also took a 50% down payment with the balnace spread out over 6 months.  So I took the deal.

What I got:

-Additional Gratuities fees of $12.00 per person per day calculated by calender day not 24hrs.  So cruise left at 6pm and arrived next day before 6pm counted as 2-days not 1-day.  So cruising days was totaled out at 4.  Total = $96.00

-Additional fuel charge of up to $12.00 per person per day, same as above calculations.  Of course it was below the $12 mark.  Total = $96.00

-Drinks meant tap water, tes or coffee only.  All bottled beverages and alcohol was additional costs

-Non-motorized entertainment was so limited it basically didn't exist

-Ship entertaiment was so-so

-Hotel taxes very high and the actual location plus grade level was horrible for a supposed 5-star

-Port charges were very high, not $40 as stated

-The 4-hour seminar wasn't on the cruise, it was on the 2nd day in Florida and lasted all day, so the Florida part of the trip was a waste

-Rental car was an issue too, plus an additional $18.00 per day parking while on not in Florida

-Taxi to and from the ship and hotel on the island was an additional $60.00 per trip

-When I complained they actually told me verbal information from the agent meant nothing, they go by the "Terms and Condition" section on the website.  The web site is colored and designed as a major Cruise Line but they are a travel agent and have nothing to do with the cruise line, they just put packages together and sell them.  The seminar was nothing but a sales pitch start to end, but I expected that.

-No recourse after you pay and there is a fee of $350 to extend past 18 months, although they did lower it $89.00  

-All totaled the $900 packaged cost me $2200 and it was so short with all the traveling with short stays at each location, we had no fun and were exhausted in need of a real one place vacation.

-Their name, logo and representation made it sound like they were the cruise line and their verbal statements meant nothing at all.  Plus they get rude and snotty with me on the phone. 

My advise: only book a cruise through a real travel agent who you know and trust plus record their conversations and get everything in writting witheir signed contract to all fees.  Run away from anyone claiming to be Caribbean Cruises or use the confirmation web address of your first name plus Dot isonvacation Dot Com.  Ex: peter.isonvaction.com or john.isonvacation.com which by the way you can only type in the address line of your browser not in any search engine address bar like google.  Good Luck!!