My wife and I recently sailed on Voyager of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean luxury cruiseliner. While onboard we received literature and verbal guarantees that as long we used their "approved vendors" who by the way pay a fee to become an approved vendor, they can then advertise in cruise brochures and literature. The literature even states that the vendors are inspected and represented as being reputable. Thus, we could rest assured that our jewelry purchases would be guaranteed as to quality and value.
With this assurance and guarantee we decided to purchase an expensive piece of jewely in Jamaica. The ONLY reason we decided to purchase jewelry was this guarantee. The Royal Caribbean media guide indicated, and an employee on board the Voyager of the Seas stated that if the jewelry purchased did not appraise at the value, quality, and workmanship represented by the jeweler, we could return the diamond ring for a refund.
The diamond ring we purchased was represented as being more valuable and of higher quality than it is in fact.
Upon returning to the USA, we took the ring to a certified gemologist who informed us of the following:
The ring is VS1, below its VVS2 rating.
The color is M/N, far below its J/K rating.
The 18k white gold is actually just simply a plating and will rub off and fade in a short time, revealing a 14k gold body.
The invisible setting is damaged and was repaired in three places.
Three of the princess cut stones surrounding the main setting have been chipped and are broken.
All of this information was provided to Royal Caribbean, who in turn stated that they are not responsible because they contract with a company in Miami by the name of OnBoard Media, Inc. For these services.
In dealing with representatives of Onboard Media, they have failed to honor the guarantee, they have asked us to follow the request of the retailer in Jamaica to send the ring to the ORIGINAL WHOLESALER of the jewelry for appraisal in New York City, and they have stalled, hindered, and otherwise made every effort to frustrate us in an effort make us walk away and forget about the refund. The employees of Onboard Media, Inc. Do not return phone calls or respond to Email inquiries.
Royal Caribbean contracts with vendors and the public has no knowledge of these relationships. It is Royal Caribbean's responsibility to make sure its vendors honor their guarantees to the public and they fail to do so.
Consider yourself warned:
Do not buy jewelry on the ship. Do not buy jewelry from Royal Caribbean "endorsed" jewelry stores. Do not buy jewelry outside the USA. Do not sail on Royal Caribbean because they will take your money to get you on the ship and then claim amnesia thereafter.
Royal Caribbean and Onboard Media, in my opinion and given my personal experience engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices. Both companies should be ashamed of themselves. I mean the owner of Onboard Media, Inc, according to corporate business filings even owned a jewelry business at one point! If ANYONE should honor the guarantee it is Onboard Media, Inc.
Words cannot express my utter disgust and disappointment with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. You can lubricate it, dress it up, apply local or general anesthesia, but the fact remains, we got screwed!
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