Interested In A Cruise Ship Job?

Hello --

I promised you in my last email that I would be
back in touch with an audio interview I did with
the leading expert on getting a cruise ship job.

So if you're not interested in this -- you can
stop reading here and go back to your day. Thanks
for checking in.

If, however, you have ever had the slightest
inkling of working on a cruise ship then you need
to listen to this interview that I am providing
F~REE.

Check it out Part 1 --

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

Part 2 is here --

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/job2.html

and Part 3 here --

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/job3.html

You can either listen online or download the
files to you mp3 player.

As always, I appreciate your feedback. Was it
interesting, helpful? What kinds of topics do you
want covered in the future?

You can either email me with that or leave your
feedback here at the Speakers Cruise Free blog.

God bless and happy cruising,

s/ Daniel Hall

Aruba Shipwreck Pictures

I finally got my underwater pictures developed of
my snorkel experience of the shipwreck "Antilla"
off Aruba.

Check them out --

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

Welcome to all my new subscribers. To catch you up
- I've been writing about my last free cruise
experience: 11 night cruise of the Caribbean.

You can check out my Grand Cayman pictures here --

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

I still have to share pictures of Panama and Costa
Rica with you... but one project at a time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ANOTHER VERY FREQUENT QUESTION...

I have received a couple of questions recently
which ask:

Can I take someone along with me when I cruise as
an enrichment speaker?

The answer: Definitely.

Every enrichment program I know of allows you to
bring along a traveling companion free of charge.
And your traveling companion has no work
obligations at all. Its a complete "no strings
attached" deal for them.

You, on the other hand, are expected to deliver
three to four 1-hour presentations on a typical 7-
day cruise. And, get this, you're presentations
are only on sea days. So everyday you're in port
you're completely off. Days when you're at sea
you're only expected to work for an hour.

Can you hold up under the strain?

See what I mean when I say this is a great gig?

Of course, the trick is getting the cruise lines
to approve you -- that's the exact reason I
created my multimedia "Speak On Cruise Ships"
program -- See

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/cruise-free.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oh, one other thing... knowing that some of you
may be interested in working for the cruise lines,
I arranged to interview the world's expert on
getting a cruise job. I'm editing the audio now.
So be on the look out for that.

'Til next time God bless and happy cruising,

s/ Daniel Hall

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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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

Down To The Banana Republic

Note: There is a several day lag time to these
blog posts. Sorry. But Blogger was difficult to
access when I was on the ship.

Better late than never....

Costa Rica

Hello and welcome to all my new subscribers. To my
current subscribers thanks for sticking with me.
To bring you up to date, I'm on an 11 night
Caribbean cruise. I'm cruising free using the
same techniques I teach in "Speak on Cruise Ships"

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

At each stop I'm checking in with a travel log and
a tip on how you can start cruising free using
onboard enrichment programs.

Costa Rica has been my most recent stop. As is
usual when I travel to a new place I learn a
tremendous amount about it.

Costa Rica is fascinating and beautiful. Among
other things, I toured a banana processing plant
and learned that Costa Rica is the world's leading
exporter of bananas.

Chiquita and Dole are based here. And this
country takes its bananas VERY seriously. You
might say in a literal sense that it is a "Banana
Republic."

What makes Costa Rican bananas so special is the
industry is very concerned with quality. And they
go to great lengths to produce and export only
"perfect" bananas.

For example, I learned that while growing, each
banana bunch is covered with a plastic mesh to
help keep the perfect temperature. This procedure
promotes the growth of the long, slender and
unblemished bananas that we are used to seeing in
the United States, Canada and Europe.

Quality is also a very big part of Costa Rica's
other major export, coffee. Much of the world's
truly primo coffee comes from Costa Rica. I
sampled some... delisioso!

When it comes to Costa Rica's exports they are
always fixated on quality. And it has been like
this almost since the country's independence.

Perhaps its has been this focus on quality that
has made Costa Rica one of the most prosperous
and politically stable countries in Central
America.

This discussion about quality calls to mind
another important cruise free tip.

Tip #6

All the cruise lines that have enrichment programs
are also fixated on quality. Accordingly, any
enrichment program they offer likewise must be of
high quality.

What does this mean to you, the aspiring
enrichment speaker?

You too must take the quality of your onboard
programs seriously.

What do I mean?

Here's a list --

* Your knowledge base in your topic area should be
sound. You don't necessarily have to be an expert
but you should know more about your topic area
than the average cruise passenger.

* You should use the various devices and tools
that professional speakers use to sound, well,
"professional" -- "Speak On Cruise Ships"
teaches what these tools are and how to use them
so you sound prepared and polished every time.
See -- http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/cb.html

* You must always be mindful of creating a
quality experience for passengers who attend your
programs. This extends beyond the time you're
presenting.

You must give these folks a few moments of your
time and attention after class time. Let me give
you an example.

Yesterday, I gave my Origami class. Many of the
attendees wanted to fold more models than we had
time for so I offered to continue the class in a
lounge. We did and we had a blast.

The extra time allowed me to give a little extra
attention and help to those who wanted it. It
also allowed me time to connect and create
stronger relationships with some members of my
audience. This always results in higher
evaluations and I thoroughly enjoy myself too.

I hope you're finding these tips helpful. But
you need to get started enjoying the great life
cruising free with enrichment programs can
provide.

If you're serious about it, get "Speak On Cruise
Ships" and learn the shortcuts.

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

s/ Daniel Hall

Panama Surprise

You know one of the great things about cruising
free with onboard enrichment programs is your
ability to pick and chose which itineraries you
wish to cruise.

For example, I choose the cruise I'm on now
because it included stops at three ports I've
never visited: Aruba, Panama & Costa Rica.

I've always wanted to see the Panama Canal. And
this cruise was my chance.

I did in fact have a wonderful time in Panama and
got to experience new and exciting things that
even I, the experience cruise traveler, have never
experienced before. For example --

* On a cruise of Gatun Lake I saw (and heard) wild
Holler Monkeys and Sloughs climbing through the
trees

* I visited the Gatun locks and witnessed a cruise
ship slowly going through the canal -- the canal
is truly a spectacular engineering marvel

* I sampled the local brew (my custom) named
"Cerveza Panama"

* While drinking my beer a native folklorico
dancing girl asked if I wanted to dance -- I did
and am told by other passengers that I "looked
pretty good out there" Hats off to Cerveza
Panama

* I also bought some handmade jewelry from a
Panamanian Indian tribe named the Embria. They
have beautiful handicrafts. But perhaps what's
most unique about them is both the men and women
are topless and fully tattooed.

(I hope to have pictures for you soon after my
return)

This brings me to my next tip.

Tip #5

Take a chance.

Take a chance on yourself. Take a chance on the
"Speak On Cruise Ships" program. You have nothing
to lose.

Look -- You can create rich experiences like these
for yourself. But first you must learn how to
cruise free with onboard enrichment programs.

Dare to do it.

I have provided the tools for you.

You can cruise free too -- my program guarantees
it!

Stop wondering and start doing....

http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/cruise-free.html

s/ Daniel Hall

Aruba Shipwreck Dive & Tip # 4

Aruba was fantastic! We did our own shore
excursion and saved a bundle.

See the "Shore Excursions On The Cheap" free bonus
to learn the inside tips of putting together low
cost, high quality shore excursions at --

http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/cruise-free.html

In any event, I snorkeled the Bay of California
and a World War II German shipwreck called the
"Antilla."

To say the time spent snorkeling the Antilla was
awesome is an extreme understatement!

This ship is a massive 400+ foot hulk lying in
shallow water. Parts of the ship even break the
surface of the water.

I've never snorkeled a shipwreck before and it was
errie and wonderful at the same time.

The story of the Antilla is interesting as well.
At the outbreak of World War II the Antilla, a
German supply ship, found itself right off Aruba.

On Aruba were stationed a small group of Dutch
Marines who ordered the Captain to either
surrender or be blown out of the water.

The Captain did not like either option so he
ordered the destruction of his own ship.
Apparently he accomplished this by first getting
his boiler as hot as he could. He then flooded his
boiler room with cool sea water. The difference
in temperatures caused a massive explosion which
blew a hole in the side of the Anitlla and down
she went.

The Captain and crew swam the short distance to
Aruba and spent the duration of the war at a POW
camp on Bonaire.

Knowing this history as I made the dive made my
experience all that much richer and it is a
perfect example of what you're trying to do with
your onboard enrichment programs.

Tip #4

All successful enrichment programs do one thing:
they enrich the cruise experience of passengers.
Many times the easiest way to accomplish this is
with a destination driven lecture or activity.
That is why you should have at least one lecture
topic that is related to a port or ports you'll be
visiting.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To cruise free by learning how to take what you
already know or have an interest in and molding it
into a captivating onboard destination program
see --

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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey -- you owe it to yourself to seize this
opportunity to cruise free.

Imagine how much richer your life will be when you
can cruise anytime, anywhere free with onboard
enrichment programs.

Get goin --

s/ Daniel Hall
Author, "Speak on Cruise Ships"

Grand Cayman Lesson

This is day 3 of the cruise. I'm in the onboard
Internet cafe. I spent the day in
Georgetown, Grand Cayman -- had a great time
engaging in a favorite activity -- snorkeling.

Absolutely gorgeous tropical fish and coral
formations.

We also toured the turtled farm. The new one is
much better -- bigger and prettier -- than the old
one that was blown away in Hurricane Ivan.

But hey -- I want you to plug into to the same
wonderful cruise enrichment opportunities that
allow me to have experiences like this.

And you can.

To that end, I want to share another tip with you.

Tip #3

Your success as a cruise enrichment speaker will
depend on the reception your topics receive
onboard.

That is, you will be evaluated onboard by both
passengers and cruise staff each and every cruise.

But not to worry because there is a great way to
insure your onboard programs are well received.

And here's the secret -- you must choose topics
for which you have a passion. Your passion, your
enthusiam will filter through and your audience
will feel it and respond positvely. You will get
good reviews.

The trick is taking what you know and what you
have a passion for and matching that with what
cruise lines want and need.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If your serious about cruising free with onboard
enrichment programs there is an easy choice see

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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next, port of call is Aruba.

To your success,

Daniel Hall

I Love This Gig!

To all my subscribers - WELCOME!

Plane leaves at 5:30 AM for my current cruise.
Getting ready for it brings to mind another
important tip about cruising free using enrichment
programs.

Tip #2

Before approaching cruise lines have your topics
well thought out and make them applicable to the
specific itinerary you're cruising.

For example, my topic lectures for this Caribbean
cruise which also includes Spanish speaking ports
like Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico are perfect for
my specific itinerary.

They include the following:

Reggae Nation: The Cultural & Religious Roots Of
Island Music

Miss Jolly Roger: The Caribbean's Most Notorious
Female Pirates

Cerveza Fria: 45 Minutes To All The Vacation
Spanish You'll Ever Need

Here is what I want you to understand very
clearly:

I have a personal interest in each of these
subjects but I am not, by any means, an expert in
these topic areas.

That's the beauty -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE.

That's what I teach you to do in "Speak On Cruise
Ships" - take what you already know and like and
mold it into great onboard activities and
lectures. These topics are perfect for the
particular itinerary I'm cruising.

Which itinerary do you want to cruise?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Start cruising free now --

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

and experience the freedom of cruising where and
when you want!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

O. K. I'm going to try to get more tips for you
during this cruise -- be on the look out. Next
stop Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- all aboard by
2:30 PM.

I always get so excited before a cruise!


s/ Daniel Hall

P. S. If you're new to my list here's the news --
I am off on another free cruise using the same
system I teach in "Speak On Cruise Ships" -

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

So during the next 12 days expect more tips and
perhaps a juicy piece of info now and then to keep
things interesting. ;-)