The only thing better than a cruise? How about a free cruise? If you’re lucky, then you could have exactly that.
In a joint promotion between Carnival and Pepsi Zero Sugar, the cruise line and the soda brand are offering the “Pepsi Rookie Cruise Sweepstakes.” Fifteen winners will win a free cruise aboard Carnival, good for anytime in the next 18 months.
The marketing for the sweepstakes revolves around a football theme, to turn “rookie” cruisers into seasoned veterans. Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert — the 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year — is the face of the promotion, bringing some football star power as the Super Bowl nears.
“There’s an energy, excitement, and curiosity a rookie brings to an experience – something Justin Herbert knows a thing or two about,” said Scott Finlow, the chief marketing officer of PepsiCo. “We wanted to harness that enthusiasm for this program and allow first-time cruise-goers to experience the thrill of being a rookie for themselves.”
Despite the name, you don’t need to be a first-time cruiser to enter and win. It’s open to all legal U.S. residents 21 years or older.
Each day between now and then end of February, you can visit PepsiRookieCruise.com to enter. Entering more will give you more chances to win.
However, be careful about using multiple email addresses to increase your odds of winning. The fine print says that doing so will mean “such person will be disqualified and any prize won, shall be forfeited.”
The prize? As mentioned, the contest picks 15 winners to be selected at random on March 1, 2022. Each person will win a cruise for them and a guest. The trip is for a 3-7 day cruise in an oceanview cabin aboard Carnival from any North American port to the Caribbean.
But don’t think you’re getting a completely free cruise…
The terms and conditions state in bold letters that “gratuities, taxes, fees and port expenses are the responsibility of the winner.” As well, you’ll have to cover onboard spending, transportation to the port, and shore excursions.
In other words, if you win, you’re only winning the actual fare — not anything else. So expect to still spend plenty of cash on your trip.
Even so, it’s hard to be upset at the chance for free cruise fare when all it costs you is a few seconds to enter.
If you want to enter the sweepstakes, check out PepsiRookieCruise.com. Remember, you can enter each day through the end of February… and you don’t have to be a first-time cruiser to win.
