Is a notification saying I've won a free holiday or cruise real?
Almost never. Unsolicited holiday or cruise prize notifications are a classic advance-fee and timeshare-sales scam.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Free holiday and cruise prize notifications arrive by phone, email, text, and social media. They claim you have been randomly selected for a free trip and need only attend a brief presentation or pay a small administration fee to claim it. In reality, the 'presentation' is a high-pressure timeshare or holiday club sales pitch that can last many hours, and the fees escalate. There is no genuine prize. Legitimate prize draws require you to enter, have clear terms published in advance, and do not require attendance at a sales event to claim. Be especially suspicious of cruises to Caribbean or Mediterranean destinations with no obligation but a short claims window.
Common red flags
- You are told you have won a holiday you never entered
- You must attend a 'brief presentation' to claim
- An administration or booking fee is required upfront
- Urgency to respond within 24-48 hours
- Offer relates to a holiday club, timeshare, or membership product
What to do now
- Decline and hang up or delete the notification
- Report to your national consumer protection authority
- If you attended a presentation and signed anything under pressure, check your country's cooling-off period rights
- Warn friends and family, particularly older adults who may be targeted
Frequently asked questions
Are there ever genuine holiday prize draws?
Some legitimate competitions do award holidays, but they require you to enter, have transparent operators, do not charge fees to claim, and do not require attendance at a sales event.