Cruises - How to best use CC voucher!? Help!

Hello! I have a Carnival Cruise voucher for a 4 day Cruise for 2 people. We are a family of 4 so I will need to purchase 2 more tickets. We live in Oklahoma so it would probably be most efficient for us to depart from Galviston.

The dates we were looking at were December 15 or may 15th ish... Is there any specific ship that you guys recommend?

This will be our very first cruise!

I was wondering what do you guys recommend we do to maximize the use of the voucher and experience? Should we ask for an upgrade? Should we stay more than 4 days? Any suggestions help!

Thanks in advance,
Ray

Welcome to FT.

Can you give us any info on what kind of voucher this is? Did you "win" a cruise from a time share place (those are exceedingly restrictive)?

Welcome to FT.

Can you give us any info on what kind of voucher this is? Did you "win" a cruise from a time share place (those are exceedingly restrictive)?

Yes that's exactly what I have. How restrictive are they? Do you have any details?

Thanks!

i would talk to carnival and also to a local ta.....the ta can tell about the ships you can book thru the ta or the line.....good luck....

Yes that's exactly what I have. How restrictive are they? Do you have any details?

Thanks!

Usually there is information on redeeming them right on the certificate. You need to find out directly from them. You can google about these certificates and people's experience with them.

Usually these 'cruise vouchers' are really restrictive.

Do you actually have the free cruise voucher in your hands? Make sure and read all the fine print. You might only be able to book this through the travel agency listed on the voucher. I bet there are processing fees and such associated with this. Before you give anyone any money get the full and final price it will cost to go on this free cruise. Then go to Carnival's website and see how much the exact same cruise will cost if you book direct.

It's not that I am skeptical, but, I am skeptical that a free timeshare presentation will get you a no-cost cruise. But I would be happy to be proved wrong.

A bit of GOOGLing turned up these. Hmmmm...I would read these and make sure your are informed before giving anyone any money!

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/Free-Cruise-Scams-Return-080111.cfm#axzz1YGSXKBwA

http://festiva-resorts.pissedconsumer.com/free-cruise-for-90-minutes-equals-total-bull-20100426179821.html

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/consumer/free_vacation_fraud.html


http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=187948

http://www.cruisemates.com/forum/all-things-cruising/379258-has-any-actually-taken-free-cruise.html

Usually these 'cruise vouchers' are really restrictive.

Do you actually have the free cruise voucher in your hands? Make sure and read all the fine print. You might only be able to book this through the travel agency listed on the voucher. I bet there are processing fees and such associated with this. Before you give anyone any money get the full and final price it will cost to go on this free cruise. Then go to Carnival's website and see how much the exact same cruise will cost if you book direct.

It's not that I am skeptical, but, I am skeptical that a free timeshare presentation will get you a no-cost cruise. But I would be happy to be proved wrong.

I know four acquaintances who are making you unhappy and a winner with your bets.

OP: I would talk to someone from FL about timeshare baits.

I know four acquaintances who are making you unhappy and a winner with your bets.

OP: I would talk to someone from FL about timeshare baits.

So you are saying you know four people that have actually received and gone on a free cruise they received from a timeshare presentation? They dealt directly with the cruise line to pay the necessary fees and taxes? The final cost of the cruise was much less than if they had booked it directly? They were able to book the cruise they wanted on the dates they wanted?

That's great if it has happened. Just be advised that I posted 5 links to articles and experiences that are contradictory experiences of what you have said.

So you are saying you know four people that have actually received and gone on a free cruise they received from a timeshare presentation? They dealt directly with the cruise line to pay the necessary fees and taxes? The final cost of the cruise was much less than if they had booked it directly? They were able to book the cruise they wanted on the dates they wanted?

That's great if it has happened. Just be advised that I posted 5 links to articles and experiences that are contradictory experiences of what you have said.

NOOOOOOOO

You said you would be happy to be proven wrong.
So my acquaintances' experiences prove you are right; therefore the assumption is that you unhappy.

Sine you BET that there are fees and other issues with redeeming them, their experience make you a winner of your BET.

Usually these 'cruise vouchers' are really restrictive.

Do you actually have the free cruise voucher in your hands? Make sure and read all the fine print. You might only be able to book this through the travel agency listed on the voucher. I bet there are processing fees and such associated with this. Before you give anyone any money get the full and final price it will cost to go on this free cruise. Then go to Carnival's website and see how much the exact same cruise will cost if you book direct.

It's not that I am skeptical, but, I am skeptical that a free timeshare presentation will get you a no-cost cruise. But I would be happy to be proved wrong.

Thank for the help guys keep it coming! I am I'm the process of reading and dscovering all I can about this process. Yes, I have the " free" vouchers on my desk. I have discovered that it will be about $180 each for the free tickets because we will have to pay taxes, etc...

Thanks for all your help! I sincerely appreciate it!

Thank for the help guys keep it coming! I am I'm the process of reading and dscovering all I can about this process. Yes, I have the " free" vouchers on my desk. I have discovered that it will be about $180 each for the free tickets because we will have to pay taxes, etc...

Thanks for all your help! I sincerely appreciate it!

I bet that $180 escaltes into something close to the price of the cruise if booked directly or even cost more that the cruise. be very careful. It is the ect that will get costly since the "fees" will be agency and handeling fees....