Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Vacations To Go Cruise Newsletter

Dear Mr. Zizou,

This week, I'll share the second installment of a two-part series featuring some of the best and most-trusted companies throughout the travel industry, leaders in their segments, along with special discounts for Vacations To Go customers. Just click any link for more information.



Since its launch in 2002, Oceania has gained a following of loyal cruisers who tend to book very early to secure their spots on the line's intimate, elegant ships. In fact, while most of our customers book their cruises 60 to 90 days in advance to secure the best rates, Oceania enthusiasts book an average of 9 months in advance. And right now, it's very tempting to do so.

The line's 2012 Europe cruises, including those on the brand new Riviera, have just opened for sale and the line is offering outstanding discounts on nearly every sailing this year and next. Nearly every sailing is offering discounts of 50% or more, most between 60 and 70%. One 7-night Mediterranean cruise, the November 1, 2012 sailing of the Marina, has been reduced by 73%. Click here to see a list of every Oceania sailing that has been discounted 60% or more.

In addition to deeply discounted rates, Oceania is offering onboard credits of $150 to $1200 per stateroom on select sailings. Click here for dates and prices.



Discover the heart of Europe on a relaxing river cruise with Viking River Cruises. In 2012, Viking will debut four spectacular new ships -- the Viking Longships. Expertly designed by the team behind the Yachts of Seabourn, these new vessels offer state-of-the-art engineering, design and comfort.

On each new ship, two Explorer Suites feature fantastic 270° views with a private wraparound veranda. Veranda Suites feature two full rooms with a veranda off the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom. Enjoy the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace at the bow of the ship, or relax on the Sun Deck. These "green" ships, featuring energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and organic herb gardens, were named to honor prominent members of the Norse pantheon. Each ship carries 190 guests in comfortable, understated elegance, with hotel-style beds and amenities like 26-inch flat-panel TVs and in-room refrigerators.

Right now, Viking is offering Vacations To Go customers the following specials on 2012 sailings when you book by May 31:

Your companion cruises and flies for free from select gateways on select 2012 sailings in China, Russia and Ukraine. Click here for dates and prices.

Your companion cruises free, plus save $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) off round-trip airfare on eligible trips in 2012 on European rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Rhone and Saone. Click here for dates and prices.

Companion cruises free, plus save $500 per couple ($250 per person) off round-trip airfare on select 2012 departures of Mekong River cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia. Click here for dates and prices.

All of these offers also include complimentary wine with dinner.

For a complete list of Viking's river cruises, click here.



The outstanding onboard experience and innovative itineraries of Regent Seven Seas Cruises have drawn my family to the line for four very different voyages over the past several years. We've visited the British Isles, Bermuda, Canada and New England, Iceland, Antarctica and French Polynesia. I can attest that cruising just doesn't get any better than it is on this 6-star line, known for top-notch service, fantastic gourmet cuisine and wonderful enrichment programs.

Two of the line's three ships -- Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner -- pamper 700 guests in all-balcony, all-suite accommodations. The Seven Seas Navigator carries just 490 guests in all-oceanview, all-suite accommodations, 90% of which have private balconies.

All-inclusive fares feature complimentary beverages -- including fine wines and premium spirits -- as well as onboard gratuities and free, unlimited shore excursions on all sailings. Passengers who book higher-level categories receive butler service and, beginning in the summer of 2012, concierge-level amenities such as priority, pre-departure online reservations for shore excursions and specialty restaurants; 60 minutes of free Internet access; 25% off premium wine and liquor purchases; and in-suite binoculars, coffee brewer and cashmere blanket.

Right now, Regent is offering Vacations To Go customers shipboard credits of $300 to $900 per stateroom on select sailings. Click here for dates and prices.



Trafalgar has more than 60 years of experience creating unforgettable, expertly crafted itineraries around the world. Led by professional Tour Directors, Trafalgar's guided vacations take travelers beyond the surface and delve into the heart of each fascinating destination, without getting bogged down by the details. Through Trafalgar's group buying power, they also provide significant savings off the cost of traveling independently.

Trafalgar's new At Leisure guided vacations in Europe and Britain combine the benefits of a hassle-free guided vacation with ample flexibility. The travel style is more relaxed, with no starts before 9 a.m. on traveling days and stays of at least two to three nights in some cities. You'll enjoy the deeper insights of fully guided sightseeing but also have substantial free time to go off on your own. In one major city on each itinerary, Trafalgar provides a complimentary ticket for hop-on/hop-off sightseeing, so you can pursue your own interests at your own pace. Click here to see all of the company's At Leisure trips.

Trafalgar has expanded their series of popular Family Experiences, which include specially planned activities that travelers of all ages will enjoy, such as visiting the Nestle chocolate factory in Switzerland, making pizza in Rome or enjoying s'mores and stories around a campfire in northern California. Click here to see all Family Experiences.

Trafalgar's exclusive Be My Guest dining program allows you to experience the culture from a local's perspective. You'll visit favorite local restaurants, wineries or even family homes for a tasty meal and an opportunity to mingle with your hosts, a one-of-a-kind occasion you wouldn't be able to set up on your own.

Trafalgar also offers budget-friendly vacations with its CostSaver brand.

Trafalgar is offering the following specials to Vacations To Go customers when you book by April 29.

Save $600 to $700 per couple ($300 to $350 per person) off the air-inclusive price or $300 to $450 per couple ($150 to $225 per person) off the land price of certain European itineraries. Click here for dates and prices.

Save an additional $100 to $150 per person off Trafalgar's Family Experiences. This offer is combinable with the deal above. Click here for dates and prices.

To see a complete list of Trafalgar's trips, click here.



Holland America, one of the world's most popular cruise companies, offers a variety of cruise tours in Alaska and Western Canada. Holland America's cruise tours combine a 3-, 4- or 7-night cruise with a land tour that provides an in-depth look at inland Alaska and/or Canada's Yukon Territory.

During the cruise portion of a Holland America cruise tour, you'll visit places like Glacier Bay National Park, Skagway and Juneau. The land portion -- which can occur immediately before or after your cruise -- might visit old gold rush towns like Dawson City and Whitehorse or focus more on nature and wildlife in Denali National Park.

Right now, Holland America is offering Vacations To Go customers onboard credits of $100 to $125 per stateroom on certain Alaska cruise tours. Click here for dates and prices.

For a full list of Holland America's cruise tours, click here.



Founded in 1933, SITA Tours is one of our favorite escorted travel and safari operators. The company travels to more than 30 countries, but its trips to India and Africa are among the most popular. I turned to them for my safari in Uganda and Rwanda early last year, which was outstanding and flawlessly executed.

SITA offers small-group vacations typically limited to just 15 guests per departure. Personal attention and experienced guides provide a detailed view of each destination, and well-crafted itineraries highlight the cultural and ecological aspects of the places visited. Travelers have opportunities to connect with the culture as they learn about local history, customs and folklore.

For a list of SITA's African safaris, click here.



I have scanned all the sailings in the next 90 days, and listed below are all the deepest discounts according to type of cabin.

Inside Cabins

Click here to see all sailings offering inside cabins for at least 60% off.

Oceanview Cabins

Click here to see all sailings offering oceanview cabins for at least 60% off.

Balcony Cabins

Click here to see all sailings offering balcony cabins for at least 60% off.

Suites

Click here to see all sailings offering suites for at least 55% off.

Here are today's Top 10 Cruises, brand new specials from the world's best cruise lines. Click the FastDeal # for details.

1) Caribbean, 7 nights on Carnival, departs Miami May 15, starting at $529, save 68%, FastDeal # 19067

2) Alaska, 12 nights on Oceania Cruises, departs San Francisco May 26, starting at $2549, save 66%, FastDeal # 10275

3) Caribbean, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs New Orleans May 15, starting at $599, save 54%, FastDeal # 18725

4) Baltic, 11 nights on Princess, departs Copenhagen May 24, starting at $1202, save 42%, FastDeal # 23782

5) Caribbean, 9 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Baltimore May 19, starting at $799, FastDeal # 12202 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)

6) Mexico, 7 nights on Carnival, departs Long Beach Jul 17, starting at $639, save 62%, FastDeal # 16370

7) Bermuda, 7 nights on Celebrity, departs Bayonne Jun 5, starting at $949, FastDeal # 10454 (Celebrity does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)

8) Mediterranean, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs Barcelona May 29, starting at $849, save 40%, FastDeal # 11642

9) Alaska, 7 nights on Holland America, departs Anchorage Jun 12, oceanview starting at $499, save 69%, FastDeal # 24843

10) Greek Islands, 7 nights on Regent, departs Athens Aug 5, suite starting at $4999, save 64%, FastDeal # 11647

For the best last-minute cruise specials in the next 90 days, click here.
To search for discounts on cruises departing more than 90 days from now, click here.
For escorted tours worldwide, or air/hotel packages to London or Paris, click here.
For hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda or the Bahamas, click here.
Para visitar a nuestro sitio web de cruceros en español, haga clic aquí.

Once you've found a FASTDEAL, call us toll free at 800-338-4962 (US and Canada) and a cruise counselor will attend to your needs. International customers, please e-mail or call us at +1-713-974-2121.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@vacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go
5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77057

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