My now husband and I were very excited when we received a voucher for a free 3 night cruise after attending a promotional session for waterless cookwear. We didn't know were to go for our honeymoon and were hoping to save some money. We sent in our voucher and received a brochure from VIP vacations, NY. We decided we would like to upgrade for a longer 5 day cruise. We sent in our $50 money order and waited. We never got a phone call. My husband phoned the company. They said we would not be able to go on a three day cruise until January of next year! We wanted this to be our honeymoon but she informed us of an earlier 5 day cruise which we thought was great. She emailed the form but claimed the rates would go up during the weekend. Then she was conviently out of town for the next two weeks. We were rushed to make a decision. Not having ever been on a cruise before agreeded to the price of $630 per person and port fees of $201.91 per person. For a grand total of $1663.82. Then waited to confirmation which is only done through email. We obtained our confirmation the next day! So I'm thinking great. When I went to register on carnival I couldn't enter our booking number. I kept trying at no avail. I finally figured out she and given us the wrong ship. After entering the right ship was able to register. Completed my funpass through carnival and was viewing the documents only to find that our cabin is way at the front of the ship. Yuck. Viewed the contract from carnival and found the price quoted from carnival with a cruise amount of $1,618 which is $809 per person. I thought I was getting a deal. Then I saw the taxes and fees which was $115.82 which was only $57.91 per person. I was being charged $201 for taxes and port fees. I called odenza and was on hold for a long time. I spoke to a gentlemen who told me I could only deal with the lady who booked the cruise and was transferred only to receive her voicemail and left a message. I was determined and called again. After waiting again for a long time, the same gentleman answered and I told him I wanted to speak to someone today not the next business day and that I only received her voicemail. He said she was the only travel agent that I could talk to even though everyone had access to the same information. I asked if she was in the building and he said yes. I left another message but was not polite. I was surprised when she called me back the same day. I asked her about the difference in prices and she had no idea what I was referring to. I told her about the website and it took her some time to located the information. When I asked about the pricing she claimed that the port fees where included in the cruise amount quoted by carnival. I asked her about the prices of the cruise and why I wasn't receiving 3 free days. She became very rude to me and yelling about how the voucher was applied and that were we going during peak season and the voucher was only good during the off season. She said this was all explained before we booked the cruise which was not. I asked what the dollar amount was then that she applied. She would not give me that information. I told her I didn't really see where I was saving any money. The total price from carnival was 1,803.82. I paid $1,663.82. If you subtract that the difference is only $140. Plus minus the $50 for processing fees. A total of $90. My advice is to go directly through Carnival. The voucher probably cost that much for the company to buy from them. Odenza is not giving you a deal.
Read Next Complaint >>Reader Comments:
Posted by jeffwphil on 10/07/2008
we booked out cruise thru Odenza, we won it after buying furniture, a 3 day cruise to bahamas. Yes we had to pay up front, including $50 process fee, taxes and fees. I do believe we paid more for the taxes, since i am sure they take that cost from the listed price not a discounted price. we were hesitant at first after reading horrible reviews but also saw some others, that were postive, we decided to take a chance. so glad we did, after waiting little bit longer than we preferred for our vouchers, once we were confirmed our agent service was wonderful, and yes she usually called us the next business day it was rare we spoke at the time of calling. But at a certain point we corresponde by email and that was perfect, (also gave us written confirmation of correspondence just in case) We just got back from a wonderful time! We understand that when you win something you have to work within the system, yes we went in October(off season) and yes we only had 2 dates from our preferred season to choose from but keeping an open mind - what company would offer a free cruise in the peak season, and on all the literature we received it clearly stated it would be off season, and we would be contacted by an agent who would try to give us our preferred dates, etc but it was not guaranteed. On the form we completed we had to choose 2 ports of preference, and four date seasons we preferred. And yes we thought we were booking a 4A room type, as was stated on the certificate infor but since it was off season we were upgraded to a nicer room without even asking , we found out when we got our fun pass at embarkation. I am not saying go into this blindly, keep copies of correspondence, get peoples names, don
Posted by justintime604 on 10/08/2009
I have a confesssion. I was just laid off by Trvel Amercas usa who is a comppetitor of Odenza Marketing Group. I'm furrious with the owner and his practices and I may as well set the record straight now that I am noo longger employed by them. We were forrced to post negative stories about Odenza as our current owner is trying to ruin their reputation. This is wrong I know but the few of us in the department were desperate for work because times are tough so we did it anyway.
We were operating out of California and Surrey BC and I'm going to call complaint.tv about it so they get into trouble.
Justin
Posted by weezy116 on 10/20/2009
I have worked for Travel America for years, and we have never openly discussed Odenza with any of our customers, any conversations we have had regarding Odenza have been initiated by our customers and their experience with Odenza. We have never had anyone by the name of Justin work in either of our offices, so clearly this is someone's idea of causing problems for both companies, which is not needed, or wanted. We are all trying to make it in this economy!
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