For those who dream of traveling around the world but can't afford it, one private cruise company is offering a cut-price alternative -- but there's a catch.
King Cruise Tours announced yesterday that it will choose 1,200 cyclists who are willing to travel to 46 countries around the world in 120 days.
Commencing in Taiwan, participants will travel by bike on land, while the company will arrange for a cruise ship to transport them between continents. The fee for the "expedition" is NT$600,000 -- cheap compared to most standard cruises. They can choose to pay the entire sum in one lump-sum payment or in installments over six years.
The company will accept applications for its extreme cruise from now until the end of December.
The comparative bargain comes with conditions: those who are chosen to embark on the trip must be a Taiwan citizen and aged between 20 and 60. Most importantly, bikers are must carry banners that appeal to the international community for Taiwan to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
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Ko added that the extreme cruise originated from an ambition to increase the exposure of Taiwan in the international community.
Cruise trips allow travelers to secure entry visas more easily and cheaply compared to other means of transport, he said.
Ko noted that the company has consulted with the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports about the venture.
The council has indicated the endeavor is unlikely to succeed, because the nation has yet to be accepted as a host for any sports event of a smaller scale than the Olympics, such as the Asian Games or World Games.
However, since the Olympic Games Committee does not require applicants to host several significant sports events before they proceed to the Olympics, "You [the nation] may have a shot when you begin to act on it," he said.
When asked if participants are able to obtain any kind of refund if they are unable to complete the journey for personal reasons, Ko's answer seemed less encouraging than the noble goal he was trying to achieve.
He said the company will not give participants any refunds.
Overall, the company will bring in NT$720 million on the project.
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