Robin Leach's pitch panned

It wasn't exactly the vacation Robin Leach raved about.

For one thing, according to the state Attorney General's Office, the casino on the cruiseliner to the Bahamas was actually a bingo game. And the beachfront hotel? It was five miles away, and it wasn't exactly The Copacabana.

Leach, who served as spokesman for National Travel Services, settled a lawsuit last week with 12 states, including Washington, that claimed he misrepresented vacations that were more schlock than spectacular.

"Robin Leach promised champagne wishes and caviar dreams," said Assistant Attorney General Regina Cullen. "We think consumers got Kool-Aid and tuna fish."

Cullen, who saw a passenger's video of what was billed to be a luxurious trip from Florida to the Bahamas, said she couldn't believe what she saw. The ship casino was a bingo room, and the on-deck pool had no water.

Leach "talked about it being the vacation experience of a lifetime, but not in a way you think," she said.

Cullen said Leach did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement and does not owe refunds to any customers who feel they were duped. He agreed in the settlement to comply with Federal Trade Commission guidelines requiring spokesmen to base their endorsements on honest beliefs, based on personal findings or experience.

Leach, former host of television's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," did not return phone calls to his home in New Canaan, Conn. His attorney, John Hannaway of New York, could not be reached.

Leach no longer pitches for National Travel Services of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said director James Verillo.

Earlier this year, the company settled lawsuits brought by 18 states and gave refunds to customers who opted not to go on the trip, and $200 refunds to those not satisfied, according to company attorney Gerald Greenspoon.

Verillo said his company did nothing misleading. He said all calls are tape-recorded, and trip itineraries are detailed in literature sent to customers.

But Gene, 68, of Vancouver, Wash., said he feels duped.

In 1998, Gene, who did not want his last name used, went on a vacation with National Travel Services after receiving a brochure in the mail with Leach's picture.

Gene thought he would be staying along the beach in Florida and would be in the Bahamas for three days, after traveling there on a luxury cruiseliner.

But his hotel in Fort Lauderdale was miles away from the water, and he never stayed overnight in the Bahamas. The boat arrived in the morning, and its passengers were told they would have to return for dinner, when they would return to Florida.

Gene also said precious time was sucked up by hours-long pitches to buy timeshare property.

"I kept getting more and more depressed all the time," he said.