Ever won a cruise? (but not on a cruise)

[SoFetch]

Has anyone ever won a cruise, but not while actually ON the cruise or through the cruiseline? Like in a sweepstakes?

I noticed a lot of companies have sweepstakes where they give away a cruise as a prize. Thinking of entering some....even though I know the odds are against me.

[hightownCO]

I won a cruise at Walt Disney World playing the Who Wants to be a Millionaire game (no longer there). Of course it was on DCL - 3 nights for 4 incl air, tips and transport.

Yes, odds are certainly against you but someone has to win. I would suggest you be careful and make sure it's a reputable company. Also be aware you'll have to pay taxes on the value of the prize and those are pretty hefty.

[travlnblueberries]

My friend and her DH won, all ex. paid for, including air, etc. They are looking at the beginning of next year.

[Keith1010]

I have read on these boards about people winning cruise trips. Some sounded like good deals and some sounded like scams.

Keith

[Bonnie J.]

Yea, we 'won' a few.--- From car dealers or via a phone call. But as an experienced cruiser I know what questions to ask so we have never taken a 'free' cruse. You must pay port tax and all other taxes. By the time you fininsh that the cruise is no longer free! In fact you can get a short cruise for less than they want you to pay with everything paid for! These are scams.
Back in the day when they pulled your comment card fo a free cruise we met a couple who did win a free cruise that way. Anyone know why the cruise lines stopped giving free cruises this way?

[gooch47]

I won a 4-night one at the Horseshoe Casino in southern Indiana. That was pretty great. It included airfare, too. All we had to pay were the port charges.

My hubby was given a free 4-night one at the Harrah's Casino in St. Louis for being a semi-VIP. This one didn't include air fare but it will still be fairly cheap since we only have to fly to Miami. This was with NCL and we were able to upgrade from an inside cabin to a very desirable aft cabin for only a couple hundred bucks. We thought that was well worth it.

[K&RCurt]

Several years ago for the 25th anniversary of the company I work for they had a husge picnic / open house for the employees and their families. They also had a give away of several very nice prizes. The "Grand Prize", which I was lucky enough to win, was a 7 day Carribean cruise, with airfare.

The T/A who had donated the prize was very wise...As after that - our first cruise - we were hooked!

[wldflr]

My mom and I won a 12-night European cruise from Royal Caribbean back in 1992.

Mom faxed me the "winner letter" to ask me if I thought it was legit - and it looked for real but I also had the convenience of working in the same building as a cruise travel agency so off I went to get their opinion...they made a phone call to R.C. and yep, it was for real. So if in doubt, make a call or two.

Took a once in a lifetime cruise to Scandinavia/Russia....oh, but wait...we missed the ship sailing out of Amsterdam!!! (TWA stranded us in NYC due to mechanical problems) so the 7 of us in the same situation, had to catch up with the ship a few days later in Stockholm at TWA's expense (mostly).

[jocap]

I've won several holidays, and hundreds of other prizes, but not a cruise- yet!
If you do win, make sure that there is a follow-up letter to confirm, with details of which comp. you actually entered, and NEVER send money, even if they say they can't release the details without. There's a lot of nasty scams out there. Someone in Florida offered me such a "prize", which was in an effort to get my bank details. There's a few scams going at the moment from different countries, which are very plausible. If it's a true prize, they will not object to writing a letter. Also, if you are like me, a comp. addict, you'll jot down which comps you've entered, as it can be 6months to the closing date in some cases.
By the way, the best comps are slogan ones- hard work, but the prizes can be good. And ALWAYS enter every free prize draw- because someone has to win! Good luck!-jocap.

[eggypann]

Several years back a girlfriend of mine and I went to a Labor Day sale at one of the department stores. They had drawings for different things in different departments - one of which was a cruise to the Virgin Islands and we both entered them all. Unfortunately (for me) it was my friend that won the cruise (all inclusive with air, etc.)! She did bring me back a lovely necklace but it wasn't quite the same! They had a marvelous time though. I always enter stuff like that - but the most I've ever won is concert tickets or dinners!