Scam on Costa Mediterranea 2006

[cruiser willy]

Has anyone else experienced difficulty or impossibility of redeeming your promotional shipboard credit as was advertised during the summer of 2005 for upcoming sailings?

I can't begin to describe the "run-around" I got both on-board and since my February 2006 western Caribbean cruise aboard the Mediterranea.

After an unbelievable amount of time spent at the Purser's Desk on board, I was eventually assured that the $50 per person credit (we had 4) would appear on my charge card on my next statement.

It has never been credited.

Out of nearly 40 cruises, I found that one to be the least enjoyable.

Although the credit issue was very disturbing, we also found the food to be mediocre at best, and the service and attitude of the staff to be sub-standard.

The ship's decor, while impressive, would appear to have been designed by Liberace. For those of you who don't know who Liberace is, try to imagine being in an enormous GAUDY, mirrored fun house.

[joetrizeo]

Thank you for citing your personal preferences as far as ship decore and food taste goes.

I'm a little confused as to the scam. So during the summer of 2005 for up coming sailings they advertised on board credit? what exactly did they advertise. how was it to be applied. were they just giving it away? what were the rules and stipulations?

please return and 'begin to describe the run-around' so perhaps we can learn and be informed cruisers :)

[joetrizeo]

double post

the cruisers who went on the Bermuda cruises last year all got some refund on their credit cards because the government port costs went down! curious as to what the issue is...

[cruiser willy]

Although I was actually looking to find someone who had actually RESOLVED the same dispute I had, I will be HAPPY to INFORM all interested about MY dispute.

I read an on-line promotional advertisement for Costa back during the summer of 2005. The promotion offered a $50 per passenger ship-board credit toward purchases made during cruises booked by a certain date.

I contacted my travel agent and booked a cruise on the Costa Mediterranea for February 2006. I booked the trip well within the specified deadline and on a sailing and vessel that qualified for the promotion.

I then "sold" the trip to many of our friends (several families, 30 passengers in all) who also qualified for and took advantage of the promotional offer.

Once onboard, one of my friends overheard another passenger saying that they were having difficulty confirming their ship-board credit status at the Purser's Desk. My friend then visited the Purser's Desk and learned that although the home office acknowledged the credit promotion, there was some technical difficulties communicating these credits to the various ships at sea. My friend eventually recieved an invoice verifying their $200 credit. I and others have never received credits, despite many visits to the Purser's Desk, many letters to Costa from our Travel Agent, and many phone calls and letters to my VISA card company.

It was not my intention write a book about MY experience, but rather to learn of any other like experiences.