Complaint Review: Caribbean Cruise Lines

This company called me to participate in a survey. Then they stated that as a reward they were offering me a completely free cruise for two if I wanted. All I needed to do was pay the taxes. They assured me that the tickets were good for 18 months and that there were no strings attached. I paid the taxes and purchased travel insurance. All totaled about $159. All I had to do was call and book the cruise on whatever day I needed to travel.

But Everytime I called to book my free cruise, the following pattern played out: I'd give them a travel date, they'd tell me it was available, then they'd ask me to purchase other services like car rentals and hotel rooms. I'd tell them I had no need for those and I just wanted the free tickets promised. Then all of a sudden they'd tell me the last free cabins had just been booked but they could give me a premium cabin for about $550. Of course I'd turn it down and wait for another opportunity when I had time to travel.

But for 18 months, each time I called to get my travel tickets, the conversation was exactly the same: they'd tell me the free cabins are available, but after I decline to purchase other services, the cabins would suddenly become unvailable unless I upgraded to one of their other premium cabins for several hundred dollars more.

To add insult to injury, just before my 18 months were up, I called the company to verify how long my tickets were valid for. They assured me that the tickets were valid for life. Then less than a month later, an agent from the company called me and offered to extend my 18 month ticket for several hundred dollars more.

I told them they were a scam and I asked for my money back, which they of course declined to refund.