Luxury Cruise Vacation!  This past spring we decided to mix things up a bit at 10xT by giving away a luxury cruise vacation + airfare + a variety of extras to one lucky reader (and a plus one of their choosing).

A large white cruise ship is docked near a tropical beach under a clear blue sky. Text on the image reads 2019 Cruise for Two Giveaway and 10X Travel, highlighting ways to use points or miles for unforgettable travel experiences.

There was no sponsorship or hidden agenda to this, we just wanted to have some fun and make someone’s day. So we put together a prize package that would make for the trip of a lifetime for just about any winner.

Have a look for yourself:

  • Two tickets to a luxury cruise vacation of their choice, up to $3,000 in total value
  • Round-trip airfare
  • Ground transportation to the ship
  • $200 cash for onboard expenses
  • Two pairs of sunglasses of their choosing
  • Two 10xTravel t-shirts

Thousands entered, but only one could win. And that one was Ted Lechterman!

Ted

Congrats Ted!

This is where things got a little interesting. You see, when we launched this promotion I had an idea in my head of how things would go.

The winner would likely choose a luxury cruise vacation departing from Florida or California, visiting the Caribbean, Hawaii, etc. Standard cruise stuff. After all, the contest was only open to U.S. citizens.

And Ted is indeed a U.S. citizen. He just happens to live in Germany.

Which made for two firsts:

  1. Ted is the first international recipient of a 10xT t-shirt #MrWorldwide
  2. This is the first time that 10xT has ever booked an international cruise

Ted opted to book a Mediterranean luxury cruise vacation on the MSC Sinfonia that made stops in Italy, Croatia, and Greece over the course of its 8-day voyage.

Mediterranean cruise on the MSC Sinfonia

Ted opted for a Mediterranean cruise on the MSC Sinfonia

It looked awesome to say the least. Ted’s got the photos below to prove their luxury cruise vacation.

A big thank you to all who entered and congrats again to Ted!

Sporting our 10xTravel shirts and sunglasses during our luxury cruise vacation.

Sporting our 10xTravel shirts and sunglasses during our luxury cruise vacation.

A Lufthansa airplane on the tarmac with passengers boarding via stairs at the rear. Several traffic cones are near the aircraft, and airport staff are standing nearby under a clear sky, ready to assist travelers earning miles on their journey.
A wooden water taxi with a white canopy is docked at a pier. The taxi sign is visible on the side, and the boat’s interior features cream-colored seats and a wooden steering wheel. Other boats docked nearby await new points of departure.

Boarding our plane to Venice

We opted for the scenic route to Venice in a water taxi

A young man and woman stand close together, both smiling and wearing matching light gray 10X Travel t-shirts. The background shows a metallic wall and an elevator, highlighting their shared passion for travel and earning points.
A young woman with long brown hair, wearing sunglasses and a black sleeveless top, looks down at her phone while sitting inside a wooden boat with sunlight streaming in. Other people are visible in the background, perhaps enjoying their travel miles.

Frankfurt Airport before our flight to Venice

Wearing he 10xTravel sunglasses from Ace + Tate

Choppy blue water with waves in the foreground, two wooden poles in the water, and a distant shoreline with buildings and trees stretch for miles under a clear blue sky.
A grand historic building with arched windows and balconies sits beside a canal in Venice, Italy, with several boats docked along the water and flags hanging from the facade—a dream destination for using points or miles.
A white, ornate building with columns and arched windows stands along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Small boats glide by, inviting you to earn miles or points as you experience this beautiful scene under a clear sky.
People gather in St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, under a dramatic, cloudy sky. The tall Campanile tower and the ornate façade of St. Mark’s Basilica are key points for anyone who loves to travel.

View from water taxi

Venice building from the tower

Venice building from the tower

After landing in Venice, we took a stroll through San Marco

A man with short brown hair and sunglasses smiles while sitting on a wooden boat, enjoying the water and clear blue sky—perfect moments for earning miles or points.
A man in a white shirt stands on a bridge over a narrow canal in Venice, Italy, with warmly lit historic buildings and a small arched bridge in the background at dusk, enjoying the charm of the city known for rewarding wanderers with memorable miles.
A young man and woman smile while taking a selfie outside in front of an old brick building with arched windows and a stone balcony, capturing memories to remember their journey and the points earned on their miles adventure.
A sign reading WELCOME ON BOARD is displayed next to a red carpet on the deck of a ship, with white balloons and a Bienvenue à bord sign in the background—inviting guests to begin their journey and earn miles or points along the way.

Ted in his 10xTravel sunglasses from Ace + Tate after a bit of splashing

Ted posing on a bridge

About to board our ship

Welcome aboard the MSC Sinfonia

A panoramic view of Venice, Italy, showing historic buildings with red-tiled roofs, green trees, and canals under a clear blue sky. The lagoon and distant cityscape stretch out for miles in the background.
A man wearing sunglasses and a light gray 10X Travel t-shirt leans on a railing, smiling, with a cityscape of red-roofed buildings and water in the background under a blue sky, capturing the spirit of travel and earning miles.
A man and woman wearing sunglasses and matching gray T-shirts stand together smiling on a rooftop, earning points as they enjoy a scenic cityscape, waterway, and yachts in the background under a blue sky.
A large cruise ship is docked near the shore at sunset, with calm water in the foreground and a gradient sky transitioning from orange to blue—a perfect scene for earning miles on your next travel adventure.
A large white cruise ship is anchored on calm blue water near a small boat, miles from the distant coastline under a clear blue sky.

View from Sinfonia Deck

Ted on Sinfonia Deck

Sporting our 10xTravel shirts and sunglasses. The best luxury cruise lines for couples.

We had a quick evening stop in Mykonos, where we found a contemporary Greek restaurant called M-Eating. Best luxury cruise lines for couples.

Built in 2001, the MSC Sinfonia has 11 decks and holds 2,679 passengers and 721 crew. A perfect luxury cruise lines for couples.

A view of a calm blue sea surrounded by rugged brown hills, with distant mountains under a clear, bright sky—perfect for earning miles or points on your next adventure.
A winding gravel path cuts through miles of dry, golden grass-covered hills under a clear blue sky, with distant cliffs and a calm sea visible on the horizon.
A clear blue sky over a calm sea, with a rocky island in the distance. White buildings clustered along the island’s cliffs evoke a coastal Mediterranean village—an inviting scene for any travel enthusiast to discover.
Large smokestack with the MSC Cruises logo on a cruise ship, with party flags strung above against a clear, pale blue sky. Some railings and parts of the ship’s deck are visible in the foreground as miles of ocean await.
White buildings with blue-domed roofs sit atop rocky cliffs under a clear blue sky, overlooking the sea in a coastal village, likely in Santorini, Greece—a dream destination for earning travel points and miles.

We took an excursion to hike around the volcano

Santorini Volcano

Oia from another angle

Iconic MSC Sinfonia exhaust pipe

This is where the tourist come to take those iconic sunset Instagram pics

A small island covered with dense green trees sits in calm blue water, with several boats anchored nearby under a clear, sunny sky—perfect for earning miles on your next trip.
People stroll along a wide, stone-paved street lined with historic stone buildings and green shutters on a sunny day; a clock tower is visible in the distance, making it a memorable stop for any travel enthusiast.
A woman with sunglasses sits by a stone wall overlooking a harbor filled with boats, historic stone buildings, and a hill in the background on a sunny day—perfect for earning points or miles on your next adventure.
A group of people walk down a sunlit, stone-paved street lined with historic stone buildings and outdoor cafes; some take photos to commemorate their points of interest, while others stroll or gather in small groups.

Arriving in Dubrovnik

Old walled city of Dubrovnik

Vivien in front of the Old Harbor in Dubrovnik. Best luxury cruise lines for couples.

Vivien presenting Dubrovnik

People stand on the deck of a cruise ship at sunset, overlooking calm water and distant hills. The sun is low on the horizon, casting a warm glow as travelers reflect on their journey and miles covered.
A calm sea at sunset with the sun low on the horizon, casting a golden reflection on the water. Distant hills and mountains are silhouetted against the orange and purple sky, inviting you to dream of journeys measured in miles and memorable points along the way.
Sunset over calm water with the sun low on the horizon, casting a bright reflection. Silhouetted mountains and hills stand in the distance under a clear sky—a peaceful scene, perfect for anyone dreaming of using miles or points for their next adventure.
The sun sets over a calm sea, partially hidden by a dark silhouette of a hill on the right, with the sky displaying warm orange and pink hues above the horizon—inviting you to dream of distant miles and new points to explore.

Sunset off Dubrovnik coast

Sunset off Dubrovnik coast

Sunset off Dubrovnik coast

Sunset off Dubrovnik coast

A woman with long hair stands by the water at sunset, smiling as the wind blows her hair. The sun is low on the horizon, with mountains and a calm sea in the background—perfect for collecting memories and miles.
A man in a short-sleeved white shirt stands on a balcony overlooking the ocean at sunset, holding a drink. Islands are visible in the background under a colorful sky, capturing the beauty of travel and adventure miles away from home.

Vivien in the Croatian sunset

Ted in the Croatian sunset

A round, white stone monument with columns stands atop wide steps under a clear blue sky. A few people walk and sit nearby, admiring the structure as they plan their next adventure using miles or points.
A man sits in a modern lounge, holding a cup of coffee and saucer, wearing a gray 10X Travel T-shirt, surrounded by contemporary decor and sofas. Large windows enhance the setting with natural light, emphasizing his love for points and miles.

Final stop in Ancona

Used my CSR Priority Pass to take us to the Marco Polo Lounge at VCE on our way out. One of the nicest lounges I've visited so far.

A smiling couple takes a close-up selfie in front of a calm, blue ocean. The man wears a white shirt, and the woman, with her arm around his shoulder, wears a black strap top. Both look happy and relaxed as they enjoy their trip using points or miles.

Oh, by the way... During our luxury cruise vacation, I asked Vivien to marry me in Venice, and she said yes! 

Happy Travels,

Bryce