- Report: #994519
Complaint Review: fine food and wine cruise - Atlanta Georgia
Reported By:
gordon -
Reno, Nevada, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
fine food and wine cruise
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
www.finefoodandwinecruise.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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fine food and wine cruise Tour Operator taking funds then cancelling cruise with no reimbursments Atlanta, Georgia
Here is a copy of our letter to the GA Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office In addition to this letter, many of our travelers have filed complaints to the Atlanta BBB and we are told now that they are filing bankruptcy. Although, they are still advertizing trips on the internet. Beware, do not put your money at risk
12-27-12
To: GA Governor's Office of Consumer Protection
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334
Re: File a formal complaint regarding FineFoodandWineCruise.com, an Atlanta GA based company
FineFoodandWineCruise.com
2960 Pharr Ct South
Suite 8 South
Atlanta, GA 30305
FineFoodandWineCruise.com offered a Mediterranean cruise through the Merry Edwards Winery to its patrons.
The cost for my wife and me was $9,120.00 plus $450 for travel insurance totaling $9,570.00. Air travel was an additional cost.
On 4-9-2012, we made a $3,083 deposit and made a second payment on 8-27-2012 for $2,633.00 totaling $5,716, with a third payment due in Jan. 2013.
On December 19, Mr. Baltuch the President of FineFoodandWineCruise.com, informed us by letter that he experienced a contract dispute with Windstar Cruise Line and he was cancelling the trip and that we should submit our claim for insurance if we had purchased insurance. The problem is that insurance doesnt cover contract disputes and we have been unable to secure any refunds or a commitment for refunds.
Therefore with more than 100 couples involved from Coast to Coast, it appears that Mr. Baltuch through his company has acquired approximately $600,000 to $700,000 of our groups money and that Mr. Baltuch is attempting to avoid any communications or to refund these monies.
We as well as all of the other travelers have called, emailed and attempted to make every effort to communicate and resolve this issue with no response from Mr. Baltuch or anyone from FineFoodandWineCruise.
Personally, we are out the $5,716 plus $975.60 in airline fees we paid to purchase and then cancel our airfare, for a grand total of: $6,691.60
It has become clear that we will need intervention from the authorities and the legal system to resolve this egregious act on Mr. Baltuchs part.
Please contact me to acquire any clarifications or any other information that you may require.
Regards
12-27-12
To: GA Governor's Office of Consumer Protection
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334
Re: File a formal complaint regarding FineFoodandWineCruise.com, an Atlanta GA based company
FineFoodandWineCruise.com
2960 Pharr Ct South
Suite 8 South
Atlanta, GA 30305
FineFoodandWineCruise.com offered a Mediterranean cruise through the Merry Edwards Winery to its patrons.
The cost for my wife and me was $9,120.00 plus $450 for travel insurance totaling $9,570.00. Air travel was an additional cost.
On 4-9-2012, we made a $3,083 deposit and made a second payment on 8-27-2012 for $2,633.00 totaling $5,716, with a third payment due in Jan. 2013.
On December 19, Mr. Baltuch the President of FineFoodandWineCruise.com, informed us by letter that he experienced a contract dispute with Windstar Cruise Line and he was cancelling the trip and that we should submit our claim for insurance if we had purchased insurance. The problem is that insurance doesnt cover contract disputes and we have been unable to secure any refunds or a commitment for refunds.
Therefore with more than 100 couples involved from Coast to Coast, it appears that Mr. Baltuch through his company has acquired approximately $600,000 to $700,000 of our groups money and that Mr. Baltuch is attempting to avoid any communications or to refund these monies.
We as well as all of the other travelers have called, emailed and attempted to make every effort to communicate and resolve this issue with no response from Mr. Baltuch or anyone from FineFoodandWineCruise.
Personally, we are out the $5,716 plus $975.60 in airline fees we paid to purchase and then cancel our airfare, for a grand total of: $6,691.60
It has become clear that we will need intervention from the authorities and the legal system to resolve this egregious act on Mr. Baltuchs part.
Please contact me to acquire any clarifications or any other information that you may require.
Regards
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Khillski
USARobbing Peter to pay Paul
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, January 11, 2013
Jonathan took your money, all the other Merry Edwards cruiser's money, and the Tobin James cruiser's money and paid his debts on the other cruises that were only half sold. Unfortunately I was on one of the half sold cruises but I am also SOL on the Tobin James cruise. Fine Food & Wine Cruise's business model was high risk. If they sold more than 75-80% of the cruise they made good money. If they sold less than 70% they lost money, as much as $200,000 per under sold cruise. So the fact that 4 out of 5 of their last cruises did not break even, you can now see where everyone's money went. Some would say this is a Ponzi scheme, Jonathan would say it was an unfortunate business venture. Whatever it is, he is still in business selling charter cruises with Shoes Only Travel. In fact, that's where he and Lori are right now, sailing the Caribbean on our money.
