Yes, but is it tax deductible?

Times may be tough for mortgage lenders, but originators with great sales chops -- or executives who control their company's purse strings -- may soon be talking their way aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on their employer's dime.

The Mortgage Leader Cruise departs Miami on Feb. 22, with stops in San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

Although a berth in the 387-square-foot grand suite with balcony will set you back $3,999 per person, you can justify the expense by pointing out the potential rewards for attending seminars like "Selling Higher Priced Products against Lower Priced Competition: Increase your sales and income immediately. Learn how to sell more, faster, easier, and at higher prices and profits – in any market!"

Given the number of lenders that went belly up making "exploding" ARM loans, you might decide not to mention another, unfortunately titled seminar when pitching the trip to your boss: "How to use the Web to Explode Your Business."

You would assume that the seminar "Save Money on Your Taxes – Big Time" will cover whether the cost of this cruise ship "conference" is tax deductible.

If $3,999 is too rich for your employer, a 317-square-foot junior suite with balcony is only $3,499 per person. If you don't mind slumming, the 214-square-foot "superior ocean view cabin" is $2,799 per person.

"Never before has there been a conference in which all of your speaker presentations, continuing education, food, entertainment and incredible excursions are included in the cost of the conference," the Web site for the cruise promises.

After all the bad press the company got when it planned to put 30 correspondent lenders up at a luxury ski resort near Vail this winter, I'm guessing the organizers aren't counting on Countrywide Financial reserving any berths.

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