I accepted a vacation package sponsored by Ramada Plaza Resorts of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It included a two night stay at a Ramada facility in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando Florida. Between the two hotel stays was a cruise on the Regal Empress of Imperial Majesty Cruise line. The Ft. Lauderdale Ramada Motel was below par compared to the cheapest motels you could image. The wall paper was coming lose in the bathroom, the shower tile had mold on the grout between the tile, smelled of mold and urine, carpet was dirty. The food was a limited, mediocre, buffet. The package was also to include a two hour orientation and presentation that lasted four hours. The Ramada people would not release our $40.00 deposit until they were finished with their pitch line.
Now the cruise was unreal! We paid for and requested an ocean view room with a "square" window, Not a Porthole. The sales person said it was no problem. I was later contacted to confirm that I was given an ocean view cabin with a porthole. This phone call went through four levels of representatives at Ramada Plaza resorts to no avail. They said there were no square windows. I tried to get them to explain why I was told there were.
A couple of weeks before the vacation was to start we recieved an itinerary that showed we had an inside room, I called to inquire and I was told that it was printed a while ago and that it would be taken care of when we check in. Upon arriving at the motel to check in we were told that the cruise staff would take care of the problem at the dock
We arrived at the dock and asked the staff person about the inside room and was told that our room was "R21", and had a porthole, ocean view. I went to the upgrade window and asked to see where R21 was located and to check on an upgrade. This staff person, named Pitman, showed me an inside room. After explaining that the other staff person assured me it was an outside room, with porthole and in fact he stated he had been in the room, Pitman said the other guy was wrong. We asked Pitman to assign us an outside room since that is what the Ramada people said we had, however Pitman refused. He told us he did not have the money therefore it was not his problem. We argued about the contract arrangement he had between his cruise line and the Ramada Resort to no avail. He again told me it was my problem and not his.
At this point we tried to make the best of what we had and to enjoy our vacation. It was impossible! The room was 9' x 10', with a double bed, dresser and cabinet that left little room to move around. The bathroom was a joke, I could stand in it but not turn or move unless I stepped out side the shower. We had to sit sideways on the toilet because of the toilet paper holder extended toward the toilet.
I should state that our diner table guests were from Canada and they had very similar, if not worse experiences as we had. During the trip everyone we spoke to stated they would never take a cruise again with this company. Also, each of these people said they had not spoken to anyone that had enjoyed their experience on the cruise or with the Ramada Plaza company.
If you are reading this you already know from other comments that you should run as fast as you can away from any offer you receive from Ramada Plaza Resorts of Florida or anything to do with Imperial Majesty Cruise Line
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