FAQ

You want to come on SQL Cruise.  You see the value of the training.  You’ve heard all the great things from the Cruisers that have already joined us.  You’ve seen the photos, and done the research.

But you’re concerned that your company will focus on “Cruise” and not on “SQL” and they’re afraid you will too.  So what do you do?  You have options.

Option One:  You ARE the Company

You’re a consultant, business owner, or that individual to which all other staff report. This makes things easy. Contact our Cruise Consultant at Norwegian Cruise Lines to arrange for your stateroom, fill out the registration form for SQL Cruise (be sure to give us your requests for customized training opportunities), pack your bags and let’s go!  It’s a business/training trip and expensible as a result (but confirm with your accountant to be sure.)

Option Two: You Work for a Progressive Company that Values Training and Innovation

Talk with your supervisor about the scheduled training you’ve seen on SQLCruise.com. Let them know that is only a small portion of the total training time offered. We devote hours each day for customized training and consulting in our “Office Hours”. This time is also devoted to further examination of the topics covered in class – addressing those questions you simply didn’t have time to ask in the classroom setting. Add to that consulting from the Technical Leads devoted to your training. Chip in the networking with your fellow Cruisers (some of which teach in their own right and have decades of experience). Bundle that with the free software offered by many of the sponsors, and then mention the lower travel costs than land-based training. You will have made your case quite easily that SQL Cruise is not only the best option for fully-rounded training/consulting/networking available for SQL Server, Powershell, and Business Intelligence – it’s also the most cost-effective.

Option Three: While Your Company Sees the Value in SQL Cruise they Still See This as a Training Vacation

This is where you have the most flexibility to work out an agreeable compromise between you and your company. If they will not pay for the cost of the cruise and the cost of registration for training then work with them to come up with any one of the arrangements that many of our former Cruisers had fashioned with their companies:

• Company pays for the registration costs for SQL Cruise and doesn’t deduct hours from your bank of PTO.  You pay for the travel costs.
• Company pays for the registration costs for SQL Cruise and doesn’t deduct hours from your bank of PTO for days you have classes, office hours, or consulting time scheduled.  You pay for the travel costs.
• Company pays for the registration costs for SQL Cruise.  You pay for the travel costs and take PTO.
• Company doesn’t deduct PTO from any you’ve accrued, but you pay all costs for registration and travel.

Option Four: Take Charge of Your Future Empowered and Driven IT Brothers and Sisters!

You get one shot at this life. Don’t be a slave to those that want to keep you in a cubicle under harsh fluorescent lighting day-in and day-out as the lines of code you write get less challenging while the lines on your face get deeper and deeper! Rise Up and take control of your future! SQL Cruise has plenty of examples of others that have done this over the last three years. Do you really want to work for a company that doesn’t value your education and doesnt’ understand the value of building technical networks between other driven IT professionals in today’s environment? If this is the case, dip into that accrued PTO, and schedule SQL Cruise into your future. Depending on your tax situation some or all of your expenses will be tax deductible as well. (Of course, check with your tax professional however for clarification.)

Register Today!

No matter which option fits your situation.  You can register for SQL Cruise by visiting our Registration Page and following the instructions there.  We’re looking forward to seeing you on a future SQL Cruise!