[Fallchicks2]

I would like to know if anyone has attended one of the 90 minute presentations on vacation ownership, where they offer you a free cruise just for going. What I would like to know, has anyone actually gone on the cruise?? Would appreciate any comments.

[Applepie]

Yes, We went on a 3 night 4 day cruise.; It was on an older ship but still very nice. Our whole package was 3 nights in Orlando, the cruise, and 3 nights Ft. Lauderdale. Keep in mind, you will get a high pressure sales pitch.
They want to sell you a time share.
Why already owned 2 time shares so we didnt buy. But be prepare! However they left us along on the cruise. We had a wonderful time.

[graciegirl]

I would NOT ever go to anything like that. There is NO free lunch. There is NO free anything. You get what you pay for.

[KathieI]

Yes, I have. Wonderful accommodations, great food and lots of fun,, you just need to keep the sales folks from pressuring you, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Yes, I have. Wonderful accommodations, great food and lots of fun,, you just need to keep the sales folks from pressuring you, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I'd be afraid that I'd crumble under the pressure and end up owning a mud hut in Tijuana.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I'd be afraid that I'd crumble under the pressure and end up owning a mud hut in Tijuana.

LMAO..... oh, you'll like the mud hut... its fully stocked and makes a great holiday trip, LOL.... nooo, I didn't crumble,,, I'll teach you how to ignore them. The trip was so great it was well worth fighting the battle with them.

[English Ivy]

Never done one here, but over the years we've been to a few. We're very particular about the presentations we'll attend. The "gift" has to be cold, hard cash. Last year we did one and received $100. It was easy money for less than 2 hours of our time. You just have to be firm in telling them NO!

[Fallchicks2]

We went to the presentation first but didn't buy. The company gives these here all the time.
The gift was a 7 day cruise, but it's taken 5 months to get to the actual booking. They want to charge $600 just for the port charges before we even upgrade from the bottom of the ship. I wondered if anyone had this same experience trying to take the cruise? This was supposed to be a "free" cruise. People should know about this before they ahead of time!

[jblum315]

If something sounds too good to be true, it is.

[wendyquat]

I totally agree with Gracie and Jblum!

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by wendyquat

I totally agree with Gracie and Jblum!

same here !

Latest one is a $49K car. Timeshare property is in Texas.......

[rubicon]

About 15 years back my wife pleaded with me to take her to one of these presentation. She wasn't interested in a time share but rather in their selling technique. She had just spent a week in sales school and wanted to observe these sales guys in action. She took delight in predicting each exact move starting with the first guy who must have done an internet search on us since we had pre-registered. So we tested his veracity when he claimed he lived in our hometown that left him stuttering. My wife predicted the second guy was about to make his entrance. Again some of the same blarney. Finally as my wife predicted a third guys shows up and my wife predicted verbatim what he was about to say and do.

The manner in which these folks conducted business was looked down on by her company and was used as an example on how NOT to sell as it was considered unethical and very deceiving. So my enthusiastic wife wanted to see the technique in action with the idea of speaking with her fellow employees about her experience.

Oh that free present you were promised ended up being a pamphlet explaining how you could win the prize they advertised. Again as she predicted. By the time they finished my wife was so full of herself because of her accurate prediction.... My wife still owes me for that one

[angiefox10]

We did it once in Cancun and received a free day trip to the Isla Mujeres. We told them we wanted to think about it and they were good with that. We went back the next year and bought. So glad we did.

We did another one in Maui and received all excursions 1/2 off for two couples. Only one couple had to go.

Did one in Cabo and received a week car rental, dinner on the beach, and snorkel trip. This guy knew we weren't interested and spend the whole time telling us the best places to go to eat!

Did an excursion starting in Orlando... they gave us a car, air fare, rooms... a day at disney and some meals. We upgraded our car.... we then went to Fort Lauderdale where we did a boat excursion with dinner and a show, and then a day cruise to the Bahamas.... We came back on the day cruise to Fort Lauderdale and extended our trip by going to the Keys and then driving back to Orlando where we flew home!

I'm sorry some of you had such bad experience... for us... It's been a hoot! So glad we did it! We only do them if it's a cloudy day or if they are offering something big like we have gotten!

[ssmith]

We've done 2 time share presentations in Orlando. Most of the time the sales people get flustered when we say 'Sorry, but we want to live in TV'...you see a time share in Orlando is not as meaningful then . BTW you must be frim in saying, 'no'.

[Fallchicks2]

I think the best deal we ever got was a free buffet and 1/2 off on a show in Vegas. We wasted our time here at the Waterfront and won't be taking their "free" cruise for $600 without an upgrade! Maybe there should be a thread to warm people about certain things?