Fourteen year-old David Bean is going on the voyage of a lifetime on board a luxury cruise ship -- for free.

But the youngster will not be travelling as a passenger.

Instead Captain Hoddevik Aage of the Norwegian Crown is allowing the ambitious CedarBridge student travel with the ship as an apprentice pilot from Bermuda to Cape Canaveral, Florida and back. Capt. Aage said he was first impressed by David -- who has already completed a two-day branch pilot training course -- when the teenager came aboard briefly as a part of a school "work shadow'' programme.

David is the only student to ever have been granted the unique experience.

While at sea, David will patrol the ship in security and safety watches, work alongside navigational officers, and stand as look-out, explained the captain.

He will also be expected to learn his way around the huge vessel and -- hopefully -- discover whether or not he is destined for a life at sea.

"The idea is that he basically gets an idea of what ship life is about,'' explained Captain Aage.

And the Captain said David could return for future voyages if the youngster decided he wanted to pursue a marine career.

Just hours before setting out on the high seas on Tuesday evening, David -- who is the son of Beverleyann and David Bean -- was clearly excited about his upcoming experience.

"Ever since I was little, since I was a little younger, I have liked boats and the ocean and marine stuff, '' he said. "I like ships. I've always wanted to to be a pilot, but I didn't know if I was going to be a marine or an air pilot,'' The Norwegian Crown is due to return on Tuesday morning.

FULL STEAM AHEAD! -- Captain Hoddevik Aage of the Norwegian Crown teaches 14-year-old apprentice David Bean how to steer a 190-metre, 34,200-ton cruise ship.