Complaint Review: MVI Vacations

My local credit union gave me a certificate for a "free" cruise in July of 2005. I booked a cruise through MVI and paid for the cruise taxes and room upgrades in the amount of $597.00. I also paid for airfare. I got nervous when I received no itinerary from the cruise company and called minivacations several times and was assured all was fine and I would receive my booking items a month before the ship sailed. My cruise was to be Jan. 23 of 2006. In December of 2005, I called them and could not reach anyone. I called Carnival Cruises and they didn't have any record of anyone with my name being booked on a cruise. I then suspected fraud and called my credit union. I finally got through to mini-vacations and was told that all was fine with my cruise and I would be receiving a packet in the mail. This was followed up by a call several days later from mini-vacations apologizing because someone had failed to book my cruise. They promised a refund of my taxes and room upgrades and my airfare. My credit union got involved and assured me all was on the up and up. I am still waiting for my refund on the cruise booking. Minivacation sent me a check to re-imburse me for my airfare. I was stunned. Guess what? It bounced and I'm out another $5!

I'll be talking to my credit union again on Monday. I NEVER would have taken a certificate like this had my credit union not be on such stellar quality. I assumed they'd only do business with honest companies.

I hope someone can be held responsible for this fiasco.

Ruth
Petaluma, California
U.S.A.