Check That Fine Print On The 'Free' Cruise Offer

Jason · July 6, 2006

An e-mail spam advertises you could win a free cruise, but you'll be amazed how much that free trip actually costs you.

SEATTLE - With high gas prices forcing people to cut back on vacation plans, who wouldn't be interested in a vacation that's free?

Keep an eye on your e-mail, and make a note of this consumer alert. I clicked on a "free cruise" offer, and found a heck of a catch in the fine print.

We all know what happens on those big cruise ships -- the ports of call, the pools, the spa, the entertainment, and all that food! Well, that's exactly what comes to mind when you get a recent e-mail spam for a free vacation.

Pay attention -- it's a real word game. The subject line reads "Vacation confirmation, your next vacation on us - pending participation."

Open the e-mail and it says you can "win" a free cruise. But click the link, and you see you have been "selected to receive" a free Bahamas cruise vacation with Imperial Majesty Cruise Line.

From checking the Internet, I learned the company offers inexpensive two-night cruises between Florida and the Bahamas. I found one promotion for just over $100.

It's nothing fancy. Customers rate it about two and a half stars. The draw appears to be an old classic ship called the Regal Empress that was once the flagship of a now-defunct Greek line.

And while Imperial Majesty has a satisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau, its parent company is a different story.

Imperial Majesty is partly owned by Ramada Plaza Resorts, which is a vacation promoter with and unsatisfactory Better Business Bureau record because of hundreds of consumer complaints.

I first told you about Ramada Plaza 7 years ago when celebrity pitch man Robin Leach got sued by seven State Attorneys General for his role in deceptive sales pitches.

Consumers ended up shelling out hundreds more than they expected. There is fine print in the disclaimer at the bottom of this latest Web pitch:

"Traveler responsible for port taxes of $59 per person, gratuities, incidentals, and transportation to and from award destination."

That's $59 right off the bat, plus based on prices I checked online, $300 to $500 in airfare between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale.

And there's more: Take them up on the cruise offer, and you automatically give Imperial Majesty Cruise Vacations and Ramada Plaza Resorts permission to try to sell you other trips:

"BY ENTERING THIS PROMOTION YOU EXPRESSLY REQUEST A RETURN TELEPHONE CALL FROM IMPERIAL MAJESTY CRUISE VACATIONS, INC. (IMCV) AND AGREE THAT IMCV MAY CONTACT YOU BY TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR MAIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING VARIOUS TRAVEL OFFERS. YOU EXPRESSLY WAIVE ALL FEDERAL AND STATE NO CALL REGISTRY PROTECTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUTURE MARKETING BY IMCV."

So, it's not free. You're giving up privacy to telemarketers and you're easily spending $400 or more per person to fly to Florida to "receive" a two-night budget cruise that sells for less than $150.

If you really want a cruise, figure out where you want to go and what it's going to cost, save your money and book the trip. Don't be persuaded into spending money you hadn't planned on spending, on the assumption you're getting something for "free".

Read the fine print. If you get an unsolicited email offering a "free cruise" that's not really free, send it packing, and push delete.

Source: Connie Thompson, Komo News