quote:

There is no substitute for common sense.

Or realization that not everyone values the same things in the same way.

I don't know about the vacation club but has anyone ever heard of cruisejungle? They say they are giving away a free cruise each year to one person for life. But come on now, how can that be possible. Has anyone else heard of this or any other sweepstakes that are legit?

URGENT

Okay, I blew it and signed up and I'd like to cancel during the cancellation period -- so I called the 800 number and was forced to leave a voicemail with a promise from the recording that I'd receive a call back. In order to "time-stamp" my call I needed a membership number -- and according to the documents I was given, I will not receive a member number until my account is activated - 7 to 10 days from now. I'm praying I'm not in a total pickle. Does anyone have any advice--the clock is ticking on that three-day cancellation notice. Thanks for your help and advice.
Judy

quote:

Originally posted by judy27:
URGENT

Okay, I blew it and signed up and I'd like to cancel during the cancellation period -- so I called the 800 number and was forced to leave a voicemail with a promise from the recording that I'd receive a call back. In order to "time-stamp" my call I needed a membership number -- and according to the documents I was given, I will not receive a member number until my account is activated - 7 to 10 days from now. I'm praying I'm not in a total pickle. Does anyone have any advice--the clock is ticking on that three-day cancellation notice. Thanks for your help and advice.
Judy

I'm assuming you paid at least a deposit to join, right? If so, you should have received (unless things have changed) a "Guest Receipt Form." In the first block there is "Guest Information" where your name will have been entered in. To the right of that should be a box with 8 squares. Your Membership ID# should be written in there.

Like I said, that is if things haven't changed. I am looking at ours as I type this. Although the box has 8 squares, our Membership ID# is only 5 digits long.

No one that wants to cancel should be put in a pickle because their phone lines are busy -- and I'd be afraid they wouldn't call back in a timely manner if they knew you were going to cancel.

Once again, my husband and I have been completely satisfied with our CVC membership, but if you don't want it, you should be able to cancel within the legal time allowed.

terri,

thanks for writing.

i'm glad you have been happy with cvc. i didn't go into it believing that i was going to receive all that much more "for nothing" because the real world just doesn't deliver typically -- and i've learned that the hard way.

i bought the largest package because they were offering $1000 worth of cruise insurance with it (learned that one the hard way too!)

included with the $10K package was the stretch to five years and the ability to book (at least twice for free instead of a $100 charge) for other people. they promised early boarding and disembarkation and the best hope for obtaining dining preference. this is great stuff -- but in the end, my husband, who was not with me when i purchased this, advised against this because the priority items do not come with other cruise lines (and we do like princess very much and go with them first if possible).

i was sad and quite discouraged to read on this forum that people weren't getting what they thought to be the best price -- which was also promised.

important to note, also, is the snag i hadn't considered - that when you are low on points, those additional points or your companion's booking seems to come at a premium,if not prohibitive price. that seems like an "oops" and can negate any savings you may have enjoyed up to that point.

when i called to cancel i was forced to leave a message and no one called me back so before close of business i called repeated times until i reached a human voice - but not the cancellation person. the person i spoke to acknowledged that no member number had been issued to me and then instructed me to fax a cancellation request with a few pieces of add'l information. when i asked for fax confirmation or some type of reference or confirmation number or something - i was refused. they don't "do that."

so, i confirmed their address and as per contract, i submitted in writing my cancallation request AND MAILED IT OVERNIGHT FEDEX. this can be tracked right down to the date and time and person who signs the receipt of the envelope -- and this is enough to present to my credit card company if it comes down to disputing the charge. i hope this doesn't have to happen.

we love to cruise. maybe i'll put the 10K into CCL stock; make some money; cruise with those pennies! how about that?

thanks again,
judy

judy27:

I should think that your overnighting the letter of cancellation should have you covered. I hope so, anyway!

I almost suggested taping your phone conversations or messages!

Okay, this is weird.

Just as I was typing that last reply I got a call from my Carnival PVP (that is how she described herself)....thanking me for my interest in cruising the Freedom. I explained to her that we are already booked on the Freedom through the Carnival Vacation Club and she said that as of Sunday (last Sunday -- I asked) Carnival Vacation Club "is ended."

I asked her what that meant....she said that she didn't know how it would work -- that my booking is fine, but that new contracts were not going to be issued.

When I get home (I am at the office right now) I am going to call CVC and see what they have to say.

So...I called CVC, and they said that there are going to be changes, but that all CVC benefits are in place, will remain in place for the remainder of any and all memberships. The gentleman I spoke with said he did not know, as yet, exactly what the changes were going to be, but that he'd heard that it would involve not being restricted to selling only on the ships.

My main concern, of course, was that the CVC, as an agency, still exists, since I know that when you book a cruise through an agent, Carnival will NOT talk to you about your booking, you HAVE to go through your agent. I don't know what would happen if the agent went "pooof!"

I was assured that our unused Resort Coupons could still be redeemed, we could still book through them, still buy points (we're not planning on it at this point)...

If there are any problems that arise, I will certainly share that information here.

I cancelled my CVC membership within the three-day period that is allowed by contract. I submitted this cancellation: #1) Over the phone during which time my request was supposedly "time-stamped." and 2) By fax - and I was told that there was no way I could receive a confirmation that they had received the cancellation. and 3) By Letter - send overnight FedEx and tracked down to the time of delivery to Solusions at Sea in Phoenix, the delivery location, the name of the person signing for the letter. The letter was received well within the three-day cancellation period.

My credit card company just now told me that the charge went through -- it was Carnival Cruise Lines that submitted it.

I just got off the phone with Solutions at Sea after speaking with someone in the accounting department. There is no record whatsoever of my cancellation she told me. I read her the list of names I had, documentation etc. She told me that it was Carnival that would have to submit for the credit and she cc'd me in on her request to Carnival to reverse the charge. One more time, I'm supposed to hear back from Solutions at Sea about this.

The woman I spoke with talked a bit to me about the number of people that seem unhappy with the club versus the number of people who are pleased. There are plenty of both, apparently. She told me that no more CVC memberships would be sold but that Solutions at Sea will continue to sell, for Carnival, some type of membership in some type of club - that it would be an even better product etc. Meanwhile, the CVC members will be serviced.

The Solutions at Sea reps on the ships seem to have made a lot of promises to people that couldn't be kept (by anyone) - which is what I surmised from the threads about CVC. The telephone reps definitely lied outright to me. I was told things like, my call was time-stamped so there was no problem cancelling my membership. My cancellation request would be honored even if it fell outside the three-day cancellation period. It was on record that I was asking to cancel my membership and that my card would not even be charged for the first payment.

I kept a list of the names of people I spoke to. There were layoffs this week, I was just told. Those names -- not employed there any longer.

It's hard for me to think well of Carnival at this time for associating with this company. It is Carnival that has my money at this moment. Now I have to wait for a credit. In the meantime, I have it in dispute with the credit card company.

It's a bit of a headache. I wish someone had been on my roll-call thread for this cruise to warn about this.

Judy

We became Members in 2005 and have used several of our resort certificates. I attempted to call the resort direct to take along some Friends and the cost was $1549 for the week, I would consider that a tremendous savings. Plus, we have used our points and enjoyed the savings we had with them.
I am very surprised that everyone is upset, our Rep covered the contract with us and it did take time but we had to sign by all the items that you guys are upset about.
We love walking past everyone getting one the ships, receiving a gift in our room, we had a table for two by the railing last cruise and enjoyed it. We have worked with several different agents since we bought and they are still with the company, I spoke with one today. They have stopped sailing on the ships to make this was it was designed to be an Exclusive Membership. All of Onboard benefits are available. Enjoy Vacationing and saving money.

I was just looking to log in to my account and found this e-mail chain. It was really surprised to see all of these people that are happy with their Membership. But after looking it seems to be just a few unhappy Members and one disgruntled former want to be Sales Rep. For those that take time and read the materials and use the product it works. We are now on our third Membership witht the Club. And no matter how many times I sign up I still read through the contract. If this is all the unhappy Members there are I am GLAD. I heard they have over 100 Thousand Memberships and two on ever Membership we are dealing with just a few that can't read a contract, nor count to three which is how many days they could have cancelled. Enjoy want you have and Travel. They Guy from South Africa are you the one that sold the Membership to LPH, that would be something to be upset about. If you want to be upset be unhappy about the cost for Alaska Tax, unhappy about smokers on the ships that smoke in other areas than where designated.Unhappy that the Wine Club was cancelled.

One other question have any of you ever used your points on the other Carnival Lines? It wasn't apart of the program when we started and OH CVC added something for us. Those mean, mean people giving us more.

BeTravel, we just returned from Dawn Princess and we jused our points. Princess is different than Carnival, but it was a great change. We have Cunard cruise booked next, but after that we will probablly return to Carnival.
What resort have you been to with Resort Certificates? We went to Utah during November, the Westgate Resort was amazing, the snow was beautiful. We also stayed at a Starwood Resort in Arizona, spent a day in Sedona. One last question have them book you on a Wine Tour through California, that is amazing vacation option. The only thing I can say bad about the club is my husband Law Firm and my practice doesn't allow us enough time to do all we want to do. Bring me up to date BeTravel about your usage.

Kortney -
We have only used one of our resort certificates, except for the Free Week, which was amazing. Our $299 cert took our family of six to the Lawrence Welk Resort in CA. We plan on researching the other Cruise Lines too. Thanks for the info.

Somthin' fishy goin' on here.

quote:

Originally posted by BeTravel:
I heard they have over 100 Thousand Memberships and two on ever Membership we are dealing with just a few that can't read a contract, nor count to three which is how many days they could have cancelled. Enjoy want you have and Travel. They Guy from South Africa are you the one that sold the Membership to LPH, that would be something to be upset about. If you want to be upset be unhappy about the cost for Alaska Tax, unhappy about smokers on the ships that smoke in other areas than where designated.Unhappy that the Wine Club was cancelled.

You have obviously not read this thread.

Because if you had (and since you brag on being able to read a contract) you would know that I have never purchased this contract.


A 6 month survey from January 2006 - June 2006 found that 75% were livid (not mad...not angry) but wanting to SUE..because they had been lied to about many things ...including the following:

1. Their cruises would be 30-60% discounted. This is not true. The cruises actually cost more than Internet rates to pay for the VIP Check In and other perks. Now if people want to pay more for the perks, that is fine...but these people were lied to ...plain and simple.

2. The discount resorts were all over the world, readily available, 7 days and 5 star. This is not the case. Bookings are limited at best. Definately not 5 star and additional fees were implemented. The worse part of the discount resort is that ANYONE off the street could get the same deal. ICE routinely mails me these same offerings and I have never joined CVC. If I can get it for free.....why join CVC? Therefore these have no true added value.

3. Companion airfare....please...need I say more?

Just to name a few of the infractions. I do not call 75% of owners "a few".

Again, if you will take the time to read all the posts on this thread, you will find that I have never purchased the CVC program. Our entire family is already Platinum and we get all these stuff for free.

The above listed compliants were from people that I communicated with that DID purchase the program ... so these are from actual people who are members.

South Carolina's Attorney General banned residents from purchasing these packages almost immediately. CVC instructed their agents to get SC folks to use a false address to circumvent the law. That tells me all I need to know about this company.

18 other States do not allow residents to "rent" extra points. And several other Attorney General offices were lining up to ban their residents from participating (based on complaints) so my guess is ICE saw the writing on the wall and got out while the getting was good.

But the most disgusting comments were from the "powers that be" at ICE themselves. Their comments were that they approached Carnival because the Carnival passengers were "less educated" and "an easier target" (their words not mine) for this kind of sale.

The final straw that broke this camel's back is the fact the NO ONE was renewing these contracts. I have been in touch with 100's of CVC members and of all those folks... TWO were planning to renew. One of these was from SC and wasn't even suppose to be able to purchase the program to begin with (they used a false address) and the other is a guy that thought paying $900 a person for a 1A gty was a good deal. (Not someone's advice you would want to follow) So now I can raise that number to 3.
WOW there is a ringing endorsement to a company.

Even people who were generally pleased about their purchase admitted that they would not be renewing. That is why CVC is closing its doors.


BTW, it is not just ONE disguntled employee. I know 4 employees (2 are still working there...one has been there since it started in 2004). He readily admitted that they used the worst time share tactics imaginable at first. (He has sold time share all his life before going to the CVC subsidiary.)

If you want to blow smoke to all these folks who were lied to...I suggest you go back and address all their posts individually and tell THEM to their face that they don't know how to read a contract.

Other cruise lines that let you use points do not give you any of the perks. Not even VIP Check In.

quote:

Originally posted by f-mattox:
Somthin' fishy goin' on here.

Yep, these 4 posts, 3 posts, etc show up every now and then "extolling" the virtues of CVC and insulting those who were lied to.

How sad.....

The bottom lins is CVC has ended.

Now the PR people will say because it was to successful. (yeah right...all companies close their doors because they are to successful)

If somone shuts their door, they normally don't answer their phones. You still seem to be so confused or scared of something that is truely good. Call them for yourself, if you question that they are still open, they just are not on the ships.
Hope to met you a sea, so we can really chat about CVC.

quote:

Originally posted by f-mattox:
Somthin' fishy goin' on here.

Afraid of a happy customer, not as interesting?