After recieveing a "free" cruise from a friend for Christmas, I was a bit skeptical but this friend got them from her travel agency so I figured I would pay the registration fee and the port taxes and see what happened.
After being told my vouchers would come in the mail and some sales lady trying to get me to upgrade I was a little frazzled but still not suspicous.
Then I began recieveing phone calls from Ramada trying to get me to upgrade my cruise for $500 to get a hotel stay before and after the cruise in Florida. I asked them to email me or send me the details and was refused. The manager got on the phone and basically said take it or leave it. I politely told him I would have to make the decision with my boyfriend and would need some sort of brochure or media to show him. He then told me that I "was stupid for giving up such a great oppurtunity and obviously didnt want it and he would give it to someone who deserved it" Well after he hung up on me I called back to speak to a supervisor. After all I just got this phone call at about 11am on a Sunday and he has the nerve to yell at me? The supervisor was the same guy who was yelling at me... Who proceeded to question my religion. And scream at me some more.
After being assured that Ramanda had nothing to do with Imperial Majesty because at that point I didnt want to go anymore. I gave in and sent me port taxes to them $118 for two people. I was told I would be getting more info in the mail.
A couple weeks before my cruise with airfare booked and passports ordered (another $1000) I get a notice in the mail that I have to pick up my cruise vouchers at a RAMADA hotel that is nowhere near the cruise port. Now I would have to rent a car and change my flight to allow for this "extra" trip to pick up paperwork which shoudl have been provided a long time in advance.
I finally googled the company... Thats when I learned of all the "wonderful" things Imperial Majesty has to offer... NOT!
I spent a whole day on the phone with various cust svc reps and supervisors... Until that night at about 9:30pm. My last attempt a supervisor was nice enough to inform me that even if he felt I deserved a refund he did not have the authority to give one... So he suggested a write the compliance dept to request a refund.
Long story short... If you paid on a debit or credit card... Call the company! Tell them it was a fradulent charge... After all you were expecting something totally different from what you are actually getting. Washington Mutual refunded me my money and went after Imperial for me.
I also contacted the Better Business Bureau and the Southeast Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services. I provided them with all the information and someone contacted me within three days! They went after Imperial Majesty for me too!
Finally I wrote a very lengthy letter explaining my ordeal to the President of Imperial Majesty and to the compliance dept. I also made sure to tell them about the contact I had with the BBB and Dept of Ag & CS.
Finally about two weeks after WaMu had refunded my money. I recieved another deposit in my bank account from Imperial Majesty! I contacted WaMu and of course gave them back their money... I WON!
Dont bother calling cust. Svc unless you want to document your calls and include them in your letter to the BBB... Make sure you get names and positions, dates and times.
I hope this helps anyone!
PS... Since I already booked airfare, I took my $118 and got a rental car on Priceline for $12 a day! And then searched around for inexpensive hotels... I got one on Southwest.com for like $50 a day. I spent a fabulous weekend in Ft Lauderdale enjoying the boardwalk at Hollywood Beach!
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