My husband and I received a call back in June. We were told that we can take a Ramada Plaza Resorts vacation which would include a trip to the bahamas for just 698.00 a piece. We thought about it and said we would get back to him. He said it was a one time offer and we had to decide today. We asked a few more questions and this is what they said. 3 nights in lovely Fort Lauderdale in a all accomodations suite, then 2 nights and 3 days cruise out of Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, and finally we could wrap up our trip with one of our complimentary vouchers to Sunny Orlando. All this could be done within the next 18 months for just 698.00 per person. My husband and I decided to grab the trip since we could pay for it before we left.
We decided to take our trip in October because it would be expiring in December. I called Ramada Plaza to book the trip in August and they told me if I would pay an additional 240.00 I could get a beach front hotel room upgraded from the one that was with our package and an outside cabin on the ship.
We decided to take this upgrade because he said we would be paying up to 20.00 a day for parking just to go to the beach. When he came back to the phone he told us he could get us 2 nights with ocean front and the other we would have to stay at the original hotel they didn't have a vacancy for the third night. We reluctantly agreed.
We booked our flight with SouthEast airlines for 375.00 round trip and had a great flight.
When we arrived at Fort Lauderdale Airport we went to the Alamo car rental with the idea it was going to be free. He told us we had to get insurance which was 89.00 and we could pay prepay gas which would be at 1.69 a gallon and of course the tax. I argued the fact that we have insurance on our vehichles which cover rentals he said that dosent cover downtime. I said what is downtime. He said the time the vehichle is off the road until it is back. He said no insurance covers that. I told him that was ridiculous. He said I'll fix you up I will give you the upgrade from toyota carola to blazer. Mind you I already paid for an upgrade when we booked out trip. He said I can take it off and I said your sure our insurance won't cover that and he said no insurance does. We ended up paying 188.00 for a free week of a rental car. That was #1 problem.
We proceeded to our ocean front hotel and when we checked in he said you are on the intercoastal side. I found out that our ocean front upgrade was just to that hotel not to a room. This was never mentioned when he talked us into a upgrade. He said we would be going out of our room right to the ocean. That was problem #2. We found out when we went to check in that in order to get our cruise voucher we had to drive 40 minutes to participate in a vacation property presentation. We took one whole day to go to Vacation Village in Weston Fl. They told us this presentation would be no more than 2 hrs. We arrived at the Vacation village at 9 am and we could not get out of there until 1:45. We not only told the woman at approximately 10 am that we had no idea this was the type of trip but we were not interested in purchasing vacation property. She seemed understanding but we were cohoarsed into telling 3 other people before we finally said please give us our vouchers we just wasted 1 of our days for no good reason. That was #3 problem.
We went to board our ship Tuesday 1 pm. When we got to the ship we were a little disappointed because it wasn't as big as we thought it would be. We went on board settled in and then went to the buffet for lunch. I chose a food called fish fingers. I took one bite and found some bones. I thought I got them all out but apparently I swallowed one and it lodged in my throat just at my gag reflex position. I could breath but everytime I swallowed I could feel it and started to throw up. One of the ships ushers came over and my husband told him I had a bone lodged in my throat.
They asked me if I wanted to go to the ships doctor. I told him something had to be done. They showed us to the doctor and he told me to sit down on the bet and he took this long metal tool and went down my throat. I kept gagging so he had me drink this stuff to numb it. After the third try he must have nicked my throat because he had me drink betadine. The fourth time he was able to retrieve the bone. My throat was still numb but they asked me for my ships card. I asked why and they said it was 75.00 for the consultation which I don't remember having and 50.00 to remove a bone that was their fault in the first place that it was there. They told me I could take to my doctor and they would submit to my insurance. My doctor wouldn't do that which I told them he wouldn't. I asked them why they didn't submit it to their insurance and they said that was only for accidents on the ship. I asked them what they thought swallowing and having one of their bones lodged in my throat was. Now I have 125.00 added to my credit card that should be their charge. That was #4 problem.
We went to Orlando and found out in order to get our Universal Studio tickets we would have to go to another presentation. We were totally sick. The lady at the Orlando welcome center told us we only had to stay 90 minutes no longer. She didn't know why those people kept us 5 hrs.in Ft. Lauderdale. We had to also put 20.00 down that would be returned to us at the presentation. We told the girl from the very beginning that we were not interested and that we were there for our tickets. She said that was fine just to brush throught the tour and off we go. After 90 minutes we informed her that our time was up and we would just like to have our tickets she said just a minute let me get my boss. He came over we told him that we were told we only had to stay 90 minutes is that true, he said not really but since your gun ho here it is 6700 1 wk every other year that's it have a great day and he got up and left. No she said let me get the lady with your vouchers. She came over and tried to get us to buy a one week vacation there to be taken in the next year for just 695.00 200.00 down today and 57.00 a month. We said we just aren't interested could we please just have our tickets we have been here way past our required time. We figured at 6700 times 52 and maintenance fee of 400 times 52 that one apartment was 750,000. What a rip off. This was #5 problem and glad it was over.
I will write to the Alamo, Imperial Majesty, and the Ramada Plaza Resorts and who ever else. I want my money back and I want them to be responsible for the 125.00 and then some for my throat which is still sore 1 wk later.
Kathy
Walnutport, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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