Vacations To Go is now the world's largest seller of ocean-going cruises and river cruises, and among the top sellers of escorted tours and basic air & hotel packages. If you browse our sites, you'll find travel options for every interest and budget.
From Caribbean cruises on megaships to river cruises along the Nile and Yangtze, and from safaris in Africa to tropical all-inclusive resorts, we're here to help you see the world at the lowest possible price, in whatever style you choose.
Here's a bit of information about some of the best companies we represent.
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On December 1, Royal Caribbean will make history with the launch of the largest cruise ship ever built. The ship is the Oasis of the Seas, accommodating 5,400 passengers in 2,700 staterooms. By all accounts, she will also be the most innovative passenger vessel in history.
The ship will feature seven different "neighborhoods," including Central Park, Boardwalk and Royal Promenade, each offering a unique atmosphere. At the center of the ship, six decks of balcony staterooms will face inward to overlook Central Park, an area roughly the size of a football field, open to the sky, with lush, tropical landscaping.
These will be the first non-ocean-view balcony staterooms at sea. Other firsts include the first carousel at sea, the first zip-line at sea and the Rising Tide Bar, the first moving bar at sea.
This week, for two days only -- October 6 and 7 -- Royal Caribbean is offering our customers shipboard credits of $50 to $200 per cabin, depending on the length of the cruise, and reduced deposits of $50 to $225 per person (normally $100 to $450 per person) on nearly every sailing on every ship in their fleet.
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Occidental Hotels & Resorts operates all-inclusive, beachfront properties under three distinctly different brands: Allegro Resorts, Occidental Grand Resorts and Royal Hideaway.
Allegro Resorts are open to all ages and are moderately priced, making them good, low-cost options for couples, singles or families. Kids ages 4-12 will find plenty of fun at the supervised Occidental Kids Club. Allegro Resorts are located in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Occidental Grand Resorts are a step up in quality, and also open to all ages. Dining options are more upscale and varied, and some accommodations feature the exclusive, boutique-style amenities of Club Royal, including a private check-in, concierge services and private restaurant and lounge. The all-inclusive Grand Resorts are located in Aruba, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Royal Hideaway Playacar in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a 5.5-star, luxury property that has achieved AAA's prestigious 5-Diamond Award for three consecutive years. This resort caters to adults and is a good choice for honeymooners and other couples looking for a romantic getaway. Children under age 13 are not permitted to stay here. Guests will find six specialty restaurants, including Las Ventanas, which features a menu created by the resort's executive chef, Raul Vaquerizo. Service is impeccable, with a ratio of 2.2 staff members per guestroom, and accommodations are in villa-like, Mexican colonial-style buildings. A cascading infinity pool and plunge pools add to the serene setting.
In addition to these all-inclusive options, Occidental offers a selection of traditional hotels and resorts in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Spain.
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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 -- accommodate 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 three ships boast luxurious Carita Spas and multiple dining venues. All-inclusive fares feature complimentary beverages -- including fine wines and premium spirits -- as well as butler service in the higher cabin categories, onboard gratuities, and free, unlimited shore excursions on all 2010 sailings.
Right now, Regent is offering Vacations To Go customers shipboard credits of $100 to $1000 per stateroom on select sailings throughout the remainder of 2009 and in 2010. Regent is also offering reduced airfare from certain cities on select cruises.
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Trafalgar Tours has more than 60 years of experience in creating unforgettable, expertly crafted itineraries around the world. Travelers explore 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 save up to 40% off the cost of traveling independently.
An English-speaking Tour Director accompanies travelers and serves as a personal concierge, taking care of day-to-day arrangements and baggage handling. Hotel check-ins are a breeze -- you just pick up the key to your room. On sightseeing excursions, you'll bypass the lines at popular museums and attractions with Trafalgar's fast track entries. Each trip features a leisurely balance of guided activities and free time to make your own discoveries.
Trafalgar also offers more budget-friendly vacations in its CostSaver brochure.
Right now, you can save 10% off select 2010 vacations in Europe and Great Britain when you book and pay in full by October 10. Vacations To Go customers can also save $200 to $300 per couple ($100 to $150 per person) off select 2010 North America tours when you book by October 30.
You can still save on a Trafalgar tour this year as well. Get last-minute savings off select 2009 vacations in Britain, Europe, Canada, Hawaii and more when you book and pay in full by October 15.
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Celebrity Cruises sails the seven seas on a fleet of ships ranging in size from the Celebrity Xpedition, which carries just 98 passengers, to the Solstice-class ships, which accommodate more than 2800 guests.
The Celebrity Solstice made a splash when it debuted last year, with highlights such as the top-deck Lawn Club, the "Hot Glass Show" and restaurants like Silk Harvest, Bistro on Five and Blu, a specialty dining venue designed especially for guests staying in Aqua Class accommodations.
The second ship in the Solstice class, Celebrity Equinox, debuted this summer, and the third, Celebrity Eclipse, is set to launch next April. Like their sister-ship, the Equinox and Eclipse feature wireless Internet access throughout, more spacious bathrooms and more storage space in cabins. Eighty-five percent of staterooms on these ships include private balconies.
Celebrity is offering Vacations To Go customers additional discounts of $50 to $200 per cabin on select sailings when you book by October 14. The line is also offering shipboard credits of $25 to $100 per cabin on select sailings.
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Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus family of brands, offers river cruises along the Nile, Yangtze and rivers in Europe, as well as sailings of the Galapagos Islands.
Avalon's ships are modern, comfortable and nicely outfitted, and at night, guests retire to staterooms that are among the largest in the industry. Most have French balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows.
You'll normally spend half a day sightseeing on shore, with most guided sightseeing included in your upfront price, and half a day cruising the river. Ships are docked for longer periods in major cities such as Vienna and Budapest, and sometimes the schedule allows for an evening in town.
Right now, Vacations To Go customers can save $600 per couple ($300 per person) off the air-inclusive price of select 2010 Galapagos Islands cruises or save $400 per couple ($200 per person) off the air-inclusive price of certain Yangtze River cruises when you book by October 13. Save 50% off airfare when you book select 2010 river cruises in Europe.
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Sail to cosmopolitan capitals and picturesque villages in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South America and the Caribbean with Oceania Cruises aboard its three elegant midsized ships: the Regatta, Insignia and Nautica.
Oceania has released itineraries for cruises departing through the first few months of 2011, and nearly every sailing is offering discounts of 50% or more, many between 60 and 70%. And with this line, it's wise to book early -- 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.
In addition to deeply discounted rates, Oceania is offering onboard credits of $150 to $750 per stateroom on select sailings. Click here for dates and prices. Also, Oceania is offering discounted airfare from select cities on many of their upcoming cruises. Click here for dates and prices.
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Founded in 1976, African Travel is one of our favorite safari operators. The company offers two types of escorted itineraries in Africa: individual departures, where you can choose any day to start your trip, and small-group departures, which are designed for four to 12 guests and depart on scheduled dates.
On an African Travel safari, you can encounter the diverse wildlife of Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania or Zambia. Your trip might include a float down a river in a mokoro (a type of canoe), a nighttime game-viewing excursion, a lesson in tracking animals on foot, and accommodations in upscale tented camps and lodges.
To see all African Travel safari itineraries, click here.
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Here are all the best cruise deals worldwide in the next 90 days, organized by region:
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Asia Cruise Tours
Australia/New Zealand
Australia/New Zealand Cruise Tours
Bahamas
Bermuda
Canada/New England
Canary Islands
Caribbean
Disney World & Bahamas Cruises (Combination)
Europe Cruise Tours
Galapagos
Greek Islands
Hawaii
Mediterranean
Mexico/Central America
Middle East
Northern Europe
Norway
Panama Canal
Repositioning
River Cruises
Tahiti/French Polynesia
TransAtlantic
Here are all the best cruise deals worldwide in the next 90 days, organized by cruise line:
Azamara
Carnival
Celebrity
Costa
Cruise West
Crystal
Cunard
Disney
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
Holland America
Hurtigruten
MSC Cruises
Norwegian
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises Australia
Princess
Regent (Radisson)
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn
SeaDream
Silversea
Star Clippers
Uniworld
Viking River Cruises
Voyages of Discovery
Windstar
Here are today's Top 10 Cruises, brand new specials from the world's best cruiselines. Click the FastDeal # for details.
1) Mexico, 7 nights on Princess, departs Los Angeles Nov 7, starting at $329, save 73%, FastDeal # 22578
2) Caribbean, 7 nights on Carnival, departs Miami Oct 25, starting at $359, save 78%, FastDeal # 19199
3) Bermuda, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs Philadelphia Oct 24, oceanview starting at $449, save 78%, FastDeal # 25867
4) Caribbean, 7 nights on Holland America, departs Fort Lauderdale Nov 29, starting at $449, save 69%, FastDeal # 12130
5) Mediterranean, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Venice Nov 14, starting at $499, FastDeal # 25687 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
6) Bahamas, 7 nights on Carnival, departs Baltimore Oct 25, starting at $489, save 72%, FastDeal # 13813
7) Caribbean, 8 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Miami Oct 24, starting at $599, FastDeal # 31763 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
Transatlantic, 6 nights on Cunard, departs London Nov 11, starting at $1005, save 56%, FastDeal # 31273
9) Australia/New Zealand, 12 nights on Princess, departs Sydney Jan 4, starting at $1144, save 60%, FastDeal # 31662
10) South America, 14 nights on Regent (Radisson), departs Rio de Janeiro Dec 4, suite starting at $5150, save 57%, FastDeal # 12052
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,
R. Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go
5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77057
