canadian-nurse Posted February 15, 2016 #1 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Hello! I have just looked through several Cruise Compasses, and they all mention things like "free Oasis charm," "free tanzanite earrings," "free 1 carat midnight sapphire" etc. I'm wondering if these are all too good to be true, and if there is a catch to them. Is it a huge mob? Is it worth waking up early for? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 15, 2016 #2 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Hello! I have just looked through several Cruise Compasses, and they all mention things like "free Oasis charm," "free tanzanite earrings," "free 1 carat midnight sapphire" etc. I'm wondering if these are all too good to be true, and if there is a catch to them. Is it a huge mob? Is it worth waking up early for? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!!! :) Not worth it to us. Just gimmicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micmacmissy Posted February 15, 2016 #3 Share Posted February 15, 2016 To me, this is the worst part of cruising. -The "port talks" that are really just ads for stores that the cruise line partners with. -The fake giveaways -The awful "sidewalk sales" selling cheap watches and t-shirts. Ugh, ugh, ugh... OP, The stuff they give out (and read the fine print, it's probably a raffle out of all the people there, not everyone is leaving with something...) is garbage. The worst of the worst? The woman trying to shove shopping fliers in your hand as you exit the ship at each port. Maddening! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 15, 2016 #4 Share Posted February 15, 2016 To me, this is the worst part of cruising. -The "port talks" that are really just ads for stores that the cruise line partners with. -The fake giveaways -The awful "sidewalk sales" selling cheap watches and t-shirts. Ugh, ugh, ugh...... You forgot to mention the informercials they call "seminars" in the fitness area, where you have to pay hundreds of dollars for products that will fix all your ills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfcathorse Posted February 15, 2016 #5 Share Posted February 15, 2016 no don't go...the give away stuff is not top quality. The tanzanite is lavender and just a chip set in some yellow stuff simulating gold. Some stuff is only available to the first 50 people...so don't waste your time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotel CA Posted February 15, 2016 #6 Share Posted February 15, 2016 There are extraordinary deals to be had a certain ports of call-- St Thomas and St marten come to mind-- but you do need to do your homework so you know what you might pay for similar item at home so you can recognize when it IS a good deal. To echo previous statements--the seedier side of cruising comes out in these shore talks and sales gimmicks. But if you know what you want and what you might pay on the low end at home, you can find great deals from reputable dealers in the Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario Cruiser Posted February 15, 2016 #7 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I agree these port talks are just promotional and a waste of time especially in the Caribbean Ontario Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted February 15, 2016 #8 Share Posted February 15, 2016 My DD and I made fun out of the port talks on the Majesty and went to all of them. Of course we had to go to the shops onshore an pick up all the crap :D. I have a nice collection of cruise "jewelry" now as I won´t take any real jewelry with me anyway on a cruise. You can see what we´ve got here (scroll down). First photo shows the Effy pendant (comes in various colors, I have more now - you can buy the matching studs for 10 USD in port). The second photo shows the Tanzanite pendant you can win (BTW we won it twice on that 4 night cruise). Third one shows the pearls (yes I bought the studs) available in Key West (only, I think). Last one shows the DI bracelet with the collected charms (100% plastic).:D steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BillOh Posted February 15, 2016 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2016 You forgot to mention the informercials they call "seminars" in the fitness area, where you have to pay hundreds of dollars for products that will fix all your ills. Amen, I was really put off by what was billed as a back pain workshop when I was on Jewel in 2012 (2 years before my back surgery) It was a shame they taught the same scam demonstration technique to Royal crew members that they do on land for $300 insoles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted February 15, 2016 #10 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Man... my world has been shattered this morning! Guess the next thing I am going to read is all the art I got at the auctions is not an investment! Just darn!!;):D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 15, 2016 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Total waste of your vacation time. It's like a "timeshare" thing...they get you there, promise you a "goody"...and talk your ear off, and your "goody" isn't that great! 1 carat sapphire? Nope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzeluver Posted February 15, 2016 #12 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Thousands upon thousands of those "free tanzanite earrings" have been given away over the years, so what do you suppose the quality of them might be? We got a pair a few years ago just so we could seem them up close. Set in base metal, inclusions so vivid as to make the stones very cloudy and virtually none of the violet hue found in good tanzanite. The free charms are also just cheap, base metal and thousands have been given away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldguysandgalls Posted February 15, 2016 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2016 "Al that glisters is not gold" ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookish Angel Posted February 15, 2016 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Also, if you care about such things, do some research about the environmental and worker rights problems in some gemstone mining. As for resale values stated in those port talks, caveat emptor. My friend and I attended one talk, where the word "amazing" was used 34 times, and heard some sketchy sales pitches. We know because we both sold fine jewelry for years and know our facts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieF4861 Posted February 15, 2016 #15 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I have the free stuff in my cruise collection too. You can usually get the free coupons at the Shopping Desk. You don't have to go to the talks. I actually like the DI bracelet. I would never wear it, but it is a nice memento of the ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanwel Posted February 15, 2016 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2016 My jeweler said the value of the diamonds in those bracelets is around $2 and they are not gold. (you get a "free" bracelet in the first port and a new charm in the next 2 - 3 etc). I did the ship walking tour yrs ago - got the bracelets and a new charm in every port - gave them to my granddaughter to play with - personally would not be caught wearing that crap - I take my real stuff with me - nobody is going to steal stuff off your body - if you are doing a beach day - leave it on the ship. If I do not have a tour, I find a city/port map - usually someone hands that to you as you get ashore - if not look for a tour booth and get a map and go for a walk. If you want to go to the shops do so, if you buy, they often will give you a cruise ship discount - ask for one. I do not like wasting nice weather to sit in a show that always starts late, and only a hand full of people get free stuff tossed into the audience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted February 15, 2016 #17 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Personally I love those port shopping seminars. Seeing 500 - 1000 new cruisers line up for the talks means everything else on board is less crowded for me.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigeagle12 Posted February 15, 2016 #18 Share Posted February 15, 2016 We skip the onboard talks but occasionally collect some of the free gifts in port for our young granddaughters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 15, 2016 #19 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Personally I love those port shopping seminars. Seeing 500 - 1000 new cruisers line up for the talks means everything else on board is less crowded for me.:D A smart man who makes lemonade out of lemons.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadian-nurse Posted February 17, 2016 Author #20 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I assumed that it was too good to be true, but your info has just reiterated it for me! Thanks so much for all of your help! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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