Ramada Plaza Resorts - Imperial Majesty Vacations Almost got me... but not quite! Fort Lauderdale Florida

My wife filled out two contest ballots at Toronto's recent National Home Show, and she was very careful about said ballots. One was a 'Yellow Pages' contest and the other... well, she doesn't quite remember, but she was sure it was NOT 'Ramada Plaza Resorts'.

But that's who called us a few days later, from a 212 phone number. The guy's name was Melvin Hipp and he was very good: not at all pushy, quite social and had just tons of great news for us. On and on it went - the main theme was a cruise ship to Barbados but it didn't stop there - and I kept waiting for the ask for the credit card info (all this was available for just a $299 fee per person, you see). Put it this way: if I didn't get the card ask, there was a slim chance this actually was legit. Of course, he asked for the card (expiration date first, oddly)... and the jig was up.

I said I would call back after discussing things with my wife, and I hung up. After all, if I'm the winner, then I'll still be the winner when I ring back, right?

I found this Ramada Plaza group online and their website, which seems to be rarely mentioned here at Rippoff Report and is not mentioned very much by Ramada Plaza themselves: myvacationmoments.com. Looked a little hokey but not too bad, really... and by comparison their cruise partner imperialmajesty.com looked quite good.

But then I found various Ripoff Reports talking about Imperial as a really hokey cruise line (with one beat-up ship), the Florida hotel being a disaster, and of course all those fees they slap you with as you move along on your vacation ('port' fees, meals, the rental car etc.).

I'm really glad I told friendly Melvin I would call him back, and that I took the time to research things. I haven't called Melvin back and I won't be doing so. Just remember: NOTHING is ever that good... and your ultimate fall back should be to BAIL OUT when they ask you for your credit card info!

Finally, a pox on the Home Show itself... how did these guys get my info from the ballot(s)? Do they sell/share their ballot info? Makes me want to never fill out any ballot for just about anything ever again!

Curling Guy
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada