On Wednesday 4/2 around 1:00pm, I purchased 3 tickets for Crazy Marina Dolphin Watching Sunset Tour, a surprise for my sister's birthday. I received 10 emails between 1:04 pm and 5:20 pm and a voice message at 5:20 pm. with details of my purchase and other Myrtle Beach area information. It was very clear in the instructions that I had to 1) Pick up vouchers at the VME Welcome Center and 2) be at the boat by 6:15 on Thursday. Thursday morning we were delayed leaving Charlotte due to work. I called the VME customer service department at 9:21 am, explained my challenge and she informed me I could not reschedule or pick up my tickets at the pier. The tickets had already been electronically released to to the VME Welcome Center. She verified I needed to be at the pier by 6:15 pm. At 11:53 am I received a phone call from VME stating you have not picked up your vouchers. I explained to her we were going to be arriving very close to the required time and may possibly not make it. I was told I still had to go by the Welcome Center and had to be at the pier by 6:15 pm. We left Charlotte at 2:35 pm with an 5:42 pm ETA to VME Welcome Center. I started to just go to the beach house and not try to make it, but my niece said "Let's try to make it." I received text messages from VME at 2:57 pm and 4:46 pm stating I had to pick up my vouchers before going to the pier. We arrived at the Welcome Center at 5:43 pm. We parked in the circle. I jumped out of the car and ran into the VME Welcome Center to pick up the required vouchers. There were 2 ladies working. I told them I was there to pick up vouchers for the Dolphin Watching Sunset tour. The lady on the left desk stated "Do we sell dolphin watching tours?" I looked at the lady to the right and she said "Look up her name. "
The customer service lady on the left asked for my license, looked me up on the computer and said "Yes, you are scheduled."
I asked for the required voucher and she said "Just go the pier" and the other lady stated "It will take too long to print the vouchers so just go to the pier and they will have them there." I ran back to my car. Our ETA to the pier was 6:14 pm. We arrived at the pier to find out the boat did not load until 6:45pm. I picked up my tickets at 6:20 pm and was informed that the Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruise have nothing to do with VME. We did not need to go by the VME Welcome Center to pick up a voucher. This was the most stressful encounter I have ever had with a vendor. I was sweating, my heart was pounding in my chest and I was light headed by the time I picked up my tickets at the pier. Vacations Made Easy caused a lot of unnecessary stress for a me, a customer. I now understand you want people to come by your Welcome Center so you can sell other attractions but can you have some compassion on late arrivals.