Events, Meetups, and FTU Conference

Comp Cruises in 2026: Earn Free Cruises with Credit Card Rewards | Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast Join host Justin Vacula and returning guest Marc Konchinsky on the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast as they explain practical strategies to earn complimentary cruises in 2026. Learn how to combine credit card points, casino loyalty programs, and MyVegas games to sail for little out-of-pocket cost. Justin and Marc discuss how to: Turn everyday spending into free or discounted cruises Use MyVegas and MGM status for comp cruise offers Stack credit card rewards with casino benefits Status and offer match into additional cruises Improve your odds of room upgrades and better offers over time They also discuss recent changes to cruise offers, the current landscape of MGM status benefits, creative ways to upgrade cabins, and how upcoming events and meetups can help you level up your travel game. Recorded December 10, 2025. Subscribe for more strategies to travel more while spending less. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast 00:45 Meet the Guest: Marc Konchinsky 02:22 Why Choose Cruises? 03:54 Earning Comp Cruises with MyVegas 07:30 Status Matching for Comp Cruises 09:02 Maximizing MGM Rewards for Cruises 13:13 Gambling and Credit Card Strategies on Cruises 17:33 Best Practices for Cruise Travel 21:04 Announcements and Upcoming Events 23:13 Conference Circuit and Meetup Growth 24:12 Comp Cruises in 2026 with Marc Konchinsky 24:26 Upgrading Rooms on Cruises 24:40 Bidding for Room Upgrades 31:38 MyVegas and Other Rewards Programs 33:53 Upcoming Credit Cards and Travel Plans 38:30 Cruising from Local Ports 42:01 Final Thoughts and Future Episodes — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 TuneIn → https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-p1275539/ 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events. https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/ — ✨ Thank You for Listening & Supporting the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast! Stay tuned for more tips, strategies, and stories to help you optimize your travel, rewards, and lifestyle. 🚀🌍💳