travlinguy777 Posted October 1, 2011 #1 Share Posted October 1, 2011 What can you tell me about the people on the ship who conduct these seminars and go onto port while we are there to "help" you get the best deal on gems. Do they work for Carnival and last cruise it made me feels as they get commission on what we bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Charlie Posted October 1, 2011 #2 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Stores featured in these presentations pay big bucks to be advertised during the ship's port talks and yes, there is a commission paid back to the cruise line/ port consultant. Dianne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockbock Posted October 1, 2011 #3 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I'm not going to the seminars to listen to the sales pitches, since the best deals are not going to be found in the shops that the ship promotes. However, I WILL be sitting through these seminars next week because my understanding is that they give away some pretty great prizes to the people who are lucky enough to win them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travlinguy777 Posted October 1, 2011 Author #4 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Last December while on the Valor I bought a very beautiful 3.56 CT Tanzanite and diamond ring in Cozomel for my now fiance. I was able to really bargin and then later that day the shopping expert helped bargin even more. When I do a Google search for tanzanite you will see some negative remarks about these shopping experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ata1976 Posted October 1, 2011 #5 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I'm not going to the seminars to listen to the sales pitches, since the best deals are not going to be found in the shops that the ship promotes. However, I WILL be sitting through these seminars next week because my understanding is that they give away some pretty great prizes to the people who are lucky enough to win them! Sit near the front of the talk because they will toss stuff into the audience and they don't throw far.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted October 1, 2011 #6 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Last December while on the Valor I bought a very beautiful 3.56 CT Tanzanite and diamond ring in Cozomel for my now fiance. I was able to really bargin and then later that day the shopping expert helped bargin even more. When I do a Google search for tanzanite you will see some negative remarks about these shopping experts. thats a very bid tanzinite. Mine is big enough and its about 1 1/2 karat. That would be one huge stone. I like them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelli Posted October 1, 2011 #7 Share Posted October 1, 2011 The shopping consultants don't work for the cruiselines-- they work for a third-party company that has deals with virtually all the major cruiselines. I can't recall the name of the company, though. It's like the spas-- they're all operated by Steiner, although each ship certainly profits from them... as they do from the shopping consultants. As long as passengers realize that the consultants aren't there to really help them, and instead, are a profit center for the ship (driving customers to stores that provide kick-backs to the line), it works out ok for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travlinguy777 Posted October 1, 2011 Author #8 Share Posted October 1, 2011 That was what she picked out and we got engaged. Really it is a "forever ring". Pleople say it looks like the Princess's ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tef43 Posted October 1, 2011 #9 Share Posted October 1, 2011 What can you tell me about the people on the ship who conduct these seminars and go onto port while we are there to "help" you get the best deal on gems.Count your fingers after you shake their hand. Never, ever, EVER shop at the "recommended" stores in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocF Posted October 1, 2011 #10 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I know prices on merchandise. I have yet to see a price in the various Caribbean ports on jewelry, perfumes, watches, cameras, liquor, that I cannot match within 25 miles of our home. Even buying locally can be risky. The chain where my DW bought about $15,000 worth of diamonds with a "lifetime" guarantee, from went out of business a few months ago. Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted October 1, 2011 #11 Share Posted October 1, 2011 The shopping consultants don't work for the cruiselines-- they work for a third-party company that has deals with virtually all the major cruiselines. I can't recall the name of the company, though. It's like the spas-- they're all operated by Steiner, although each ship certainly profits from them... as they do from the shopping consultants. As long as passengers realize that the consultants aren't there to really help them, and instead, are a profit center for the ship (driving customers to stores that provide kick-backs to the line), it works out ok for everyone. Well put. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosefloater Posted October 1, 2011 #12 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I'm not going to the seminars to listen to the sales pitches, since the best deals are not going to be found in the shops that the ship promotes. However, I WILL be sitting through these seminars next week because my understanding is that they give away some pretty great prizes to the people who are lucky enough to win them! Be careful for what you wish for. My mom & I went to a shopping seminar on the Paradise and she won a purse. The eyes are faceted glass and seem to glow. The worst part of this was that she had to pretend to be happy to be getting it because it was videoed. She tells her grandkids 'if you don't like your present, I can give you the purse'. They always like the presents they are given. Can't even give the purse away even at a garage sale. Any takers?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCalicoCat Posted October 1, 2011 #13 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I wouldn't be surprised if ________ cruise line owned D------- I----------. (Or some other in every port store.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitemyfly Posted October 1, 2011 #14 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I put them in the same bucket as the "art" Don't waste your time do research u will Do better locally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dapaddo Posted October 2, 2011 #15 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I'm not going to the seminars to listen to the sales pitches, since the best deals are not going to be found in the shops that the ship promotes. However, I WILL be sitting through these seminars next week because my understanding is that they give away some pretty great prizes to the people who are lucky enough to win them! On the Glory the team was moving to another ship and they gave everything away. I ended up with a bottle of rum that was not taken away and we could drink on board, Mt DS got a nice neckless also. from that talk. But like they said sit close to the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicked_Nurse Posted October 2, 2011 #16 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I'm not going to the seminars to listen to the sales pitches, since the best deals are not going to be found in the shops that the ship promotes. However, I WILL be sitting through these seminars next week because my understanding is that they give away some pretty great prizes to the people who are lucky enough to win them! I agree..I enjoy going and Ive left with prizes 3 out of 7 cruises...Some keychains but also some pretty good stuff:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmorg Posted October 2, 2011 #17 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I would never waste my precious cruise time attending those silly sales pitches, not even for free junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloepoke Posted October 2, 2011 #18 Share Posted October 2, 2011 like others have said, the best way to shop in a port is to do a little research about what sorts of crafts, booze, whatever the local area's known for, and go for that. the shopping talks will tell you about the chain stores, like D---I--- which are in many/all ports, and which sell you the same stuff. it's the difference between going to a foreign place and eating at Mc Donalds or eating at a local restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockbock Posted October 2, 2011 #19 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Be careful for what you wish for. My mom & I went to a shopping seminar on the Paradise and she won a purse. The eyes are faceted glass and seem to glow. The worst part of this was that she had to pretend to be happy to be getting it because it was videoed. She tells her grandkids 'if you don't like your present, I can give you the purse'. They always like the presents they are given. Can't even give the purse away even at a garage sale. Any takers?:D That's a scary looking purse, but I'm sure there are a lot of tweens who would like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1frayfan Posted October 2, 2011 #20 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I would have to agree with klmorg.....because we did that on our last cruise..we spent almost our entire sea day in those "talks". First it was the "future cruise credit talk", that lead to the "shopping talk" and that led to the "gem talk"...before we knew it, it was time to dress for dinner and our entire sea day was wasted...never again! oohh, and the "free" tanzinite earrings they were "giving away" at the "gem talk" was really a card to use at a specific jewelry store in Nassau. We spent our whole Nassau day hunting down all of the jewelry stores to get the "free" crap they gave us cards to get! Definitely a lesson learned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosefloater Posted October 2, 2011 #21 Share Posted October 2, 2011 That's a scary looking purse, but I'm sure there are a lot of tweens who would like it. Nope. She tried to give it to the teenage grandkids, who didn't want it & to other kids who laughed at it and said no way. Now it's just a great conversation piece.:D We go if we have nothing better to do. On the Paradise (soon to be Inspiration), the shopping talk is on embark day. We went once to a gem talk, realized they were just trying to pitch DI to everyone. Never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1frayfan Posted October 2, 2011 #22 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Nope. She tried to give it to the teenage grandkids, who didn't want it & to other kids who laughed at it and said no way. Now it's just a great conversation piece.:D We go if we have nothing better to do. On the Paradise (soon to be Inspiration), the shopping talk is on embark day. We went once to a gem talk, realized they were just trying to pitch DI to everyone. Never again. Yep....I think we went to every DI store in Nassau...and there is ALOT of them! What a waste! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallmarkk Posted October 2, 2011 #23 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I would never waste my precious cruise time attending those silly sales pitches, not even for free junk. Well said, I am on a cruise, not at the mall, and let them think they are getting a bargain, it's crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockbock Posted October 2, 2011 #24 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Nope. She tried to give it to the teenage grandkids, who didn't want it & to other kids who laughed at it and said no way. Now it's just a great conversation piece.:D We go if we have nothing better to do. On the Paradise (soon to be Inspiration), the shopping talk is on embark day. We went once to a gem talk, realized they were just trying to pitch DI to everyone. Never again. Yeah, I know my teenage daughter would never use it. But I still think some tweens (10-12 year olds) might think it's cool. I'm definitely skipping the gem and art seminars, but I am still very curious about what I might win at the shopping one. It doesn't take much to excite me. A free bottle of wine, even though I'm not a big wine drinker, would make my day. And even a tiger purse would be good for a few laughs. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathy884 Posted October 2, 2011 #25 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Be careful for what you wish for. My mom & I went to a shopping seminar on the Paradise and she won a purse. The eyes are faceted glass and seem to glow. The worst part of this was that she had to pretend to be happy to be getting it because it was videoed. She tells her grandkids 'if you don't like your present, I can give you the purse'. They always like the presents they are given. Can't even give the purse away even at a garage sale. Any takers?:D This looks perfect for one of those white elephant gift exchanges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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