Okay - anyone know the real deal on this? First of all, what exactly is it? Second, is it a total scam or worthwhile? I have friends who returned from a Carnival cruise talking about it and regretting that they didn't go to the onboard presentation (they think they may have missed out on a really good deal). I never even heard of it before.

Brenda

Brenda,
I do not have any first hand knowledge about the Vacation Club, so I can't really say if it is a worthwhile program, but here is what I do know:
It is a kind of Vacation Plan with Points. For $5,000 you purchase a Silver Membership which will earn you 20,000 points. Your points are good for 5 years and can be redeemed for cruises (points required varies by cabin selection, length of cruise, and destination). Since you are idenitified as a VIP, there are a number of perks you will enjoy while on your cruise - such as special parties, welcome gifts, concierge services, a special embarkation lounge and pre-boarding privileges to name a few. You also get 2 for 1 air certificates or Free Companion Fare and 3 Land Resort Vacation Certificates (7 night stay for $299 for 2). It also includes a Family & Friends Program which allows them to make bookings under your membership. There are other components to the program - but that's the gist of it.
Nancy

Thanks - gee - maybe I will look into that on my next cruise. Anyone on this board join the Vacation Club and willing to share their experiences?
Brenda

I became a member of this club back in July and it sounded great! But I realized that it was just a scam. You do go by a point system like NancyN stated and all that she wrote is exactly what they tell you, but I have yet to receive my free companion air tickets, the resorts that you get are limited to only Cozumel & some other mexican resort and I was told I would be getting the best rate in the industry and I just checked for a cruise next year and my travel agent was cheaper than they were. I'm extremely disappointed and wish I would've never joined this club.

In my opinion, anytime someone asks for money upfront for subsequent "discounts and bargains" it is likely to not be for real. Just my opinion

Tom

Tom,
Thanks for that word of caution - you are probably right - especially since someone who joined is sorry they did.
Brenda

We also joined this club back in July, and we haven't received our air tickets either. We paid for the club in full, but still haven't received the things that were promised.

I also joined the club in Oct 2004 and find it near impossible to use any of their bonus promotions.The $299 resort certificate is for cheap spots and you cannot find a listing for many of their advertised world resorts. I am trying to get my money back by registering complaints at federal and state level.I would appreciate any help as this is the only way to stop these scams.

Nina, I'm taking you up on your suggestion. My husband is trying to cancel our credit card payment and seeing what else he can do. Can you give me a heads up on who you are trying to reach in order to get this messy situation solved. I'm soooo upset that I was stupid enough to join. Thanks.

I joined back in June while doing the Baja Mexico cruise. I am diappointed also in that I got the Platinum package for $10,000 which gives me 44,800 points . I am going on a cruise on the 18th of this month to the Mexican Riviera and tried to book the cruise back in June using my points . The cruise in a cat 11 for me, my wife and son would have used over 1/2 of my points.
I booked it directly with Carnival I pain $4200. I called the Vacation club and asked the why the difference. I was told that each point was worth approx $.25 . That to me did not add up to 10K. She told me that the rest was for the VIP priviledges . I did recieve my airline passes which are only good in the continental US and do me no good in Hawaii.
As far as the resort coupons I have yet to explore them but what I was told on the ship was that up to 7 people can stay at one of the resorts for 7 days for $299. The VIP priviledges are definately worth it judging by my last cruise but as far as booking your cruises and using the points you are getting ripped off. You get it cheaper buying it yourself.

Geez, I just signed up for the club. They said I have three days from when I get back to cancell.

When I called to cancell my membership today I was told the points are only worth about 17 cents, not 25 cents.

quote:

Originally posted by anni522:
I became a member of this club back in July and it sounded great! But I realized that it was just a scam. You do go by a point system like NancyN stated and all that she wrote is exactly what they tell you, but I have yet to receive my free companion air tickets, the resorts that you get are limited to only Cozumel & some other mexican resort and I was told I would be getting the best rate in the industry and I just checked for a cruise next year and my travel agent was cheaper than they were. I'm extremely disappointed and wish I would've never joined this club.

We also have found that the great savings promised have not been there. On board when they wanted me to sign up they promised 30% to 50% savings on future cruises...but I have found every time that the Carnival Vacation Club (CVC) price works out to be the same if not more than just booking through Carnival itself. I have called CVC and written them about this, but so far not one of the people I have talked to has helped. I am thinking of taking them to court on this because it was very deceptive advertising to say the least. The resort stays are always all gone or not available, no matter when you try to get them. This has turned out to be a very big dissapointment.

If you find any help, please let me know. We joined back in July 2004. We also found the points were not worth the value they told us on the cruise. The resort stays are always all booked up. We are at the end of our rope. We can't afford to lose the $5,000 we gave them for our big dream cruise we had hoped we could go on, which with the points we can't even get close to taking the four of us we had hoped for or were promised for the 30% to 50% savings. We would have kept our money and bought the cruise outright from Carnival if we had known what a scam this was. We have called and written them letter after letter but no help has been forthcoming. I think maybe if we all get together and form a class action lawsuit, we might be able to see some justice.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry in Miami:
When I called to cancell my membership today I was told the points are only worth about 17 cents, not 25 cents.

Did they let you cancel? Did they explain why you were told the points were worth 25 cents but they told you they were really only 17 cents?

This sounds a little weird for a cruise line to be sponsoring. I would be talking to Miami Better Business Bureau as they may have something to say about this. Or even contacting the District Attorney in Miami.

Thank goodness I cruise the other cruise line

I think maybe a law suit is the only thing that is going to get their attention. They don't seem to reply when you try to contact them about your concerns. We too have been very misinformed concerning the points and the availablity of the resort stays.

I was within the three days so there was not a problem canceling. However they have yet to credit my card with the money I paid on the ship.

They had no explanation for the difference in the value of the points.

I don't know how a lawsuit would work. They only sell the memberships a high tea, not in any ports. I am sure they have them selves covered very well. That does not mean I can't or won't file complaints if they don't refund my money.

We purchased the Carnival Vacation Club while on the Pride in September 2005. We have been on 6 Carnival cruises and were happy for the opportunity to save a little on future cruises and receive the VIP priveleges they advertised. We also were told it was valid for any of the other cruise lines, and in fact, their brochure states "As a member you will receive a variety of VIP rates and privileges onboard the World's Leading Cruise Lines." (identified in the index as Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Yachts of Seabourn, and Windstar Cruises.) In addition, they gave us a 'free' Mexican vacation certificate. Membership included four resort certificates good for '7 night stays at resorts around the world' and four companion-fare certificates. What a joke! First of all, the 'free' Mexican vacation is only good at two resorts in Mexico both of which are coincidentally booked through our expiration date! Second, the resorts that show availability for a particular week are suddenly not available with the certificate, and you can't book more than a year in advance. The 'hotel discounts' are only available within 30 days of reservation date, and then only if the hotel doesn't think they can book the room at the regular rate. And third, we finally received the companion-air certificates and the fine print on them state so many restrictions that they are even more worthless than the resort certificates. Carnival should have stuck to offering discount (pre-paid) cruises and skipped the rest--I won't enjoy our next cruises nearly as much and am wondering now if Carnival will even make good on their 'VIP services' as promised.

They are not answering my email about my refund. I guess I call the State Attorney's office on Tuesday...