Free Cruises?
Chapter 27 : Free Cruise Secrets
There are several ways to get a nice ocean cruise for free.
Here are some of the best ways.
Get Other Passengers
Many cruise lines will give you a free cruise if you can recruit
10 or more paying passengers. Call the cruise company and ask
what their specific requirements are. Even if you can't get the
limit required, they will often give you a discount for signing
up some passengers.
Be A Host
If you are a gentleman over the age of 55, you can get free
passage on some cruises as a "host." You will be required
to dance with and have dinner with older single women on the
cruise. You normally get free room and board and even free drinks.
Medical Professionals
Doctors and nurses who are willing to be on call while on
the cruise can get free passage. They also can get a salary sometimes.
Call and ask what the requirements are.
Be an Expert
If you are an expert in something, you may get a free cruise.
Naturalists and historians are especially in demand, but it can't
hurt to present yourself and your expertise to the cruise line.
You normally will have to give a lecture or two during the cruise,
and make yourself available to answer the questions of passengers.
A PhD or masters degree helps, which is an excellent incentive
to pursue that online
MBA you’ve been thinking about. However, there are no
set rules for this kind of arrangement, so if you have some kind
of credentials and can sell yourself, you might get a free cruise.
Once you have one under your belt, you have the credentials to
get more free cruises.
Using other Skills
If you are a musician or singer you might get free passage
in exchange for performing. If you are an exercise instructor
you could arrange an exercise program in exchange for a free
cruise.
Secrets of Cheaper Cruises
Try an online cruise auction site, like www.cruisecompete.com.
You can specify the kind of cabin you want and dates for your
cruise and have a dozen cruise lines give you their best quote.
You can also find discounts at some of the general travel sites,
like www.travelocity.com and www.expedia.com.
Off-season specials may save you a lot as well. Most people
go on Alaskan cruises in summer, for example, so May or September
can be substantially discounted. Take into account the weather
and other factors, of course. There is a reason for the season.
If you're flexible, check online, in the newspaper, or with
cruise companies for last-minute deals. If they haven't filled
their cabins by a month or two before the cruise date, they often
will discount the fare.
Check into "repositioning cruises" in the spring. This
is when the boats are moved from their winter homes to summer
bases. This means going from the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico or
Hawaii to Vancouver, Alaska, Europe or New York. These cruises
have the more unusual itineraries and are typically longer. They
also can be much cheaper.
Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often
shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been
made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in
foreign languages. - Dave Barry
Continue with Chapter 28 here: Travel
Secrets
Note: This chapter on free cruises was part of the
e-book Travel Secrets. Now all chapters are free on this
site. See the homepage (the link is at the bottom of this page)
for a list of all chapters and links to them.
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