Just Won a "$4K Cruise", but is it worth the $1.2K to $2K Airfare To Go?

[packetfire]

So, my lovely wife shows me that she has won a contest, and the prize is a week's cruise in the Canary Islands:

 

The Grand Prize consists of an eight (8) day/seven (7) night yacht cruise departing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the Grand Prize winner and his or her travel companion, which includes seven (7) nights’ accommodations for the Grand Prize winner and his or her travel companion in a Category B cabin (one (1) cabin, double occupancy) onboard Variety Cruises’ 25 cabin Megayacht Harmony V and full

board including American buffet breakfast daily, lunch daily, dinner daily including one (1) BBQ and one (1) Captain's Dinner, use of fishing and snorkeling equipment, Port Charges, and a multilingual cruise escort.

 

Grand Prize excludes all airfare, all ground transportation and all shore excursions which shall each be at the expense of the Grand Prize

Winner. Cruise must be booked and redeemed by October 30th, 2017. Cruise dates are subject to availability at the time of request. The total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the Grand Prize is $4,000

 

Reviews seem to indicate that this is an older boat, last refurb in 2006, but the experiences seem to vary from "horrible plumbing" to "mildly tacky" to "very nice".

 

Never having been on any sort of "cruise ship", but having lived aboard my own 42-foot sailboat for a decade and circumnavigated twice, I am certainly not going to be a crybaby or a whiner. But is something like this really worth the out-of-pocket cost of roughly $2K to get there and back? I'd tend to think "YES", but the cruise line and ship may be well-known to others, as it also sails the Mediterranean.

 

What's the story here? There seem to be two kinds of reviews for this boat, as if there are two boats by this name, one poorly kept, and one kept well? Or are some people just too darn picky about details that most people ignore on their way to having a good time?

[Enforcer]

Hi,

 

We'll have it if you don't :)

 

Pete

[AussieOmni]

I'd probably take the price as a 50% discount rather than a free vacation.

 

 

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[SailBadtheSinner]

I would price out similar cruises to see if it is really a $4K cruise or since you know the cruise ship, what is the price for the same cruise on it if bought on the market.

 

 

SBtS

[rvsullivan]

What is the name of the ship/boat?

[navybankerteacher]

"Approximate retail value" is almost always overstated in contests - to make prize seem generous. We have spent time at more than one spot which has been used as quiz show prize - spending well less than half of the "ARV" claimed - including rental, airfare, and meals. I suggest you price out that, or comparable, cruise separately.

 

A commercial charter yacht which has not been refurbished since 2006 is not likely to be in very good shape - check to see how often cruise ships are dry docked and/or refurbished - and they have on-going maintaince programs.

[WatchHill]

Be very, very careful. You may land up receiving a 1099-Misc. at the end of the year with the "retail" value fully being taxable, both state and federal. When you win a contest, the prize isn't tax free.

 

Darcy

[Langley Cruisers]

Be very, very careful. You may land up receiving a 1099-Misc. at the end of the year with the "retail" value fully being taxable, both state and federal. When you win a contest, the prize isn't tax free.

 

 

Excellent point. I think OP may end up spending close to the "retail value" of this prize in other expenses and taxes. For the cost of this "free trip" they could choose their vacation on a cruise ship of their choice. :)

[Essiesmom]

http://www.varietycruises.com/

 

There are two Harmony ships: Harmony G, built 2001 renovated 2013; Harmony V launched/rebuilt in 2009. You might ask on the Other Cruise Lines forum here for experiences/opinions. EM

[ISLABONITA]

I agree with all statements above.. price it out.. and that is what you claim on your taxes.

 

Get yourself a credit card that gives you miles and fly for free.. !

[TNShadyLady]

Be very, very careful. You may land up receiving a 1099-Misc. at the end of the year with the "retail" value fully being taxable, both state and federal. When you win a contest, the prize isn't tax free.

 

Darcy

 

I agree with all statements above.. price it out.. and that is what you claim on your taxes.

 

 

Both are true. If you accept the prize, you will get a 1099 for the retail value. However, if you can find--and document--the exact same trip at a cheaper price, you can claim the lower amount as actual fair market value. Keep the documentation to back it up should the IRS question why you didn't claim full value.

 

Same as for any large prize won. If I win a car (I should be so lucky! ha!) I can run an ad in the local paper and collect some offers. THAT is your fair market value, regardless of what the 1099 says (which will always be manufacturer's suggested retail price).

[Flatbush Flyer]

So, my lovely wife shows me that she has won a contest, and the prize is a week's cruise in the Canary Islands:

 

The Grand Prize consists of an eight (8) day/seven (7) night yacht cruise departing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the Grand Prize winner and his or her travel companion, which includes seven (7) nights’ accommodations for the Grand Prize winner and his or her travel companion in a Category B cabin (one (1) cabin, double occupancy) onboard Variety Cruises’ 25 cabin Megayacht Harmony V and full

board including American buffet breakfast daily, lunch daily, dinner daily including one (1) BBQ and one (1) Captain's Dinner, use of fishing and snorkeling equipment, Port Charges, and a multilingual cruise escort.

 

Grand Prize excludes all airfare, all ground transportation and all shore excursions which shall each be at the expense of the Grand Prize

Winner. Cruise must be booked and redeemed by October 30th, 2017. Cruise dates are subject to availability at the time of request. The total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the Grand Prize is $4,000

 

Reviews seem to indicate that this is an older boat, last refurb in 2006, but the experiences seem to vary from "horrible plumbing" to "mildly tacky" to "very nice".

 

Never having been on any sort of "cruise ship", but having lived aboard my own 42-foot sailboat for a decade and circumnavigated twice, I am certainly not going to be a crybaby or a whiner. But is something like this really worth the out-of-pocket cost of roughly $2K to get there and back? I'd tend to think "YES", but the cruise line and ship may be well-known to others, as it also sails the Mediterranean.

 

What's the story here? There seem to be two kinds of reviews for this boat, as if there are two boats by this name, one poorly kept, and one kept well? Or are some people just too darn picky about details that most people ignore on their way to having a good time?

 

 

Curious? Did she actually enter a specific contest or did she only receive an unsolicited "you're a winner" letter or e-mail. If it's the latter, probably best to toss it. If it's the former, all the ifs/ands/buts wouldn't be worth my time and energy.

[cb at sea]

Most of these "free cruise" things are total scams! Unless she actually entered a contest or won a prize where you KNOW there is a prize offered....it's a scam. If this was a phone call...it's a scam. Totally.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Curious? Did she actually enter a specific contest or did she only receive an unsolicited "you're a winner" letter or e-mail. If it's the latter, probably best to toss it. If it's the former, all the ifs/ands/buts wouldn't be worth my time and energy.

 

Most of these "free cruise" things are total scams! Unless she actually entered a contest or won a prize where you KNOW there is a prize offered....it's a scam. If this was a phone call...it's a scam. Totally.

 

I was wondering this myself. Usually the phone calls (when we forget to turn off the bell on our landline) are for some rust bucket ship on a mostly third rate cruise line (I did write down the ship's name once and looked it up and then checked the BBB). And for a contest I never entered. we also get those postcards which immediately get tossed into the recycling bin -- some fake travel agency that uses the Carnival logo to make it seem that Carnival is sponsoring a contest.

 

When I see a legitimate contest for travel, I'll check the fine print of the rules and usually there's black out dates and other details that would not make it worthwhile.

 

60 Minutes did a story some years ago about scams that require you to pay COD for a Fed X package to get your tickets and require you to buy your airfare from the agency.

[luvtheships]

If you have circumnavigated 2x do you really need to do this cruise?

 

Sounds like an old ship

 

Sounds like expensive airfare

 

 

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