Cruise Photos & Answers To Your Questions

Back from my 11-day adventure. I always sink into
a short funk after a cruise. (Always sorry that
its over.) But on the other hand, I'm also very
happy to get back to my wife and kids. So it evens
out.

I have my first installment of pictures to show
you. Check out some of my Grand Cayman images
here --

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/cayman.html

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ANSWERS TO SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I have recently received some very good comments
and questions about cruising free with enrichment
programs that I want to share with you.

Its almost tax day here in the United States so I
thought I'd start out with a tax question.

* One subscriber wanted to know about the tax
consequences of cruise ship speaking since it is a
quid pro quo arrangement.

I shared the fact that I am about the furthest
thing from a tax expert as is possible -- however,
I do have good advice related to the question:
ask your tax accountant or CPA. Your situation is
different than mine (or anyone else's) so ask the
person who intimately knows your financial
situation.

* Another subscriber wanted to know whether you
always get an inside cabin when you cruise free
with the enrichment programs.

Actually where your cabin is located depends on a
number of factors including: which cruise line
you are on, the time of year you are cruising, the
size of the ship, etc.

Be that as it may, my experience varies widely.

Most of the time I have been in an inside cabin.
This cabin has been as low as deck 2 mid ship to
as
high as deck 8 forward. BTW the higher your
cabin, usually the more prestigious its
considered. Most of the time I have had inside
cabins on deck 3 or 4 mid ship.

The only cruise I've have gotten an outside
stateroom is this last cruise. We had a nice big
window and we were on deck 3. I have never had a
cabin with a balcony.

Should you worry about where your cabin is?

Absolutely not. You're cruising free and won't
spend much time in your cabin anyway. Just sit
back and enjoy the cruise that you probably would
not be taking if you were paying for it out of
your own pocket.

* And a natural follow up question: Can I request
a different cabin if its available.

Short answer: No.

Take what is offered and be happy with it. Your
cruise line contact will always place you in the
best available accommodations for what you are
doing. They will do their best to keep you happy
within the parameters and policies of their
particular enrichment program. If you become a
burden (or a pain in the rump) for sure you will
not be asked back.

We had a saying during the dog days of law school
(when there was no end in sight):

"Cooperate and graduate." In other words, don't
make waves and you'll make it easier on yourself.

Well a variation of the saying is apropos to this
question...

"Cooperate and recreate."

Same idea. You want to keep coming back for more
free cruises so don't identify yourself as a
problem or a brat.

* One subscriber commented that the cruises
really were not free because you had to pay the
cruise speaker agency a small fee.

While it is certainly true that you can use cruise
speaker agencies to book your cruises (assuming
you can get on with them in the first place) you
certainly don't have to go this route. In fact,
that's what makes "Speak On Cruise Ships" so
special. In the program you'll learn how to book
directly through the cruise lines and thereby
circumvent the agency fees.

See --

http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/cb.html

N.B. For those of you who are interested in using
the cruise speaker agencies I have included a
bonus section of the program in which I cover how
to get on with these agencies (all of them are
quite picky about who they accept on to their
talent roster). In fact, included with the
program are over three hours of mp3 audio
interviews with each of the owners of these
agencies in which they tell you exactly what they
are looking for in new speakers and how best to
contact them so you get priority consideration as
student of mine. Yes, membership has its
privileges.

* Another question I received was who pays for
your transportation to and from the ship or
departure and arrival port(s)?

Generally, you do.

Now I do know of some enrichment presenters who
have been offered special incentives like an
airline ticket. But this is not the norm and
generally these folks are either semi-celebrities
or celebrities.

* Do you get other perks as an enrichment
speaker?

An overwhelming BIG TIME YES! -- Here's a short
list of some of the things I've received:

-- Bottles of wine, Champaign

-- Fruit baskets

(See the first picture here --
http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/cayman.html )

-- Free shore excursions

-- Free cruise line merchandise like shirts,
coolers, leather luggage tags, luggage locks,
hats, toys, underwater money carriers, beach bags
etc.

-- VIP tender tickets

-- Deep discounts at the bar, gift shop, photo
shop, laundry

Will you get stuff like this? Maybe. Every cruise
is different. But I usually get a little
something extra out of a cruise as an appreciation
gift.

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Well, I hope this answers some of the questions
you've been having.

This is still a wonderful, life enriching gig,
well worth considering in your life...

I hope you decide to take the plunge.

Enjoy the pictures of the Caymans

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/cayman.html

Also, stay tuned to future cruise photo
installments.

To your success,

s/ Daniel Hall