Anyone ever do a stand-by cruise?
 

I hear that the retired people that live in Florida get killer deals on cruises. I hearthat cruises have deals for people right before the ship sails (like $200 for a 7-day cruise). I hear that the catch is that you don't know until right before the ship sails (so you may have to return home if the cruise sells out) but that is no big deal for the retirees that have nothing else to do besides shuffleboard.<BR><BR>Anyone ever do one of these stand-by cruises? Are you retired?

Anyone???

Yes; it is true as I've had dinner mates who did this quite often.<BR><BR>Why do you ask?

Rhea, why the hell do you think Rick asked? Duh, he is probably considering doing it and wanted to see if someone was pulling his leg or if such stand-by cruises exists.

Bob: Because if Rick is a Florida resident which is mandatory, he might be intelligent enough to call a travel agency to ascertain the validity of the rumor.

Ok, I see that I have gotten some responses, none of which indicate anyone with personal direct experience. Rhea knew some dinner mates who did this, but I can't ask many details of her since she didn't do it herself.<BR><BR>Rhea, Bob is correct to assume that I am considering doing this. Your snide comments about me not being intelligent enough to contact a travel agent are uncalled for. I thought that these travel boards were supposed to be helpful.<BR><BR>What did you mean by being a Florida resident being mandatory? Did you mean that only Florida residents are eligible for the stand-by option? What about people who are in Florida for a few weeks and had time to kill? Were you being sarcastic and suggested that all retirees must live in Florida. <BR><BR>Better yet, Rhea, please don't respond at all. Your all reother responses have been next to useless and have only created confusion and anger on this thread.<BR><BR>Has anyone done a stand-by cruise themselves???

Bob: There are alot of trolls on this board & my response was to a troll.<BR>Since you are genuine, these are the facts as I know them.<BR>1. A couple of weeks in Flordia doesn't cut it. My parents lived in Fla. & I was trying to do what you'd like to do. Since Fla ID must be shown to qualify, I didn't qualify. <BR>2. At the time you didn't have to be retired. <BR>3. There might be a way to do this - I know people who divide their time between Fla & their other residence BUT their main residence is FLA.<BR>I, too, would be curious to see a Floridian's answer to your query because the rate a few years ago for a week cruise was around $200. pp for a 7-day'er. An appreciable difference.<BR>