Alan is still on his expedition to the North Pole and will have a new
trip report next week. If you missed his first installment about this
adventure, you can read it by
clicking here.
I'd go anywhere on a cruise ship, or nowhere for that matter. Just get
me on board and I'm set.
Of course, there are some places on my wish list that can't be done by
cruise ship, like the
Great Wall of China,
Italy's Lake Como
and
America's Yosemite National Park,
to name a few.
In addition to being the world's largest seller of oceangoing cruises
and river cruises, Vacations To Go also is among the top sellers of
escorted tours (including itineraries that visit the destinations above)
and basic air-and-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
Danube,
Mississippi
and
Mekong,
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.
Today, I'll tell you about some of the best and most trusted companies
throughout the travel industry, leaders in their segments, along with
special discounts and deals for Vacations To Go customers. Some of the
cruise line offers include free shipboard credits, which are as good as
cash on board and can be used to pay for almost anything not included in
the upfront cost of the cruise, including alcoholic beverages, boutique
items, spa treatments and shore excursions.
Just click any link for more information.
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its Freestyle Cruising
concept, which emphasizes complete flexibility on board. Guests can
choose to eat when they want and with whom they want. With a "resort
casual" dress code, there's no need to bring the tux and evening gown,
though optional formal nights are offered at least once on every
cruise.
Norwegian's newest ships,
Norwegian Breakaway
and
Norwegian Getaway,
take innovative cruising to a whole new level. From a spectacular
entertainment lineup -- including a dazzling fireworks display at sea
and the Latin-inspired dancing of "Burn the Floor" -- to more than two
dozen dining experiences, these blockbuster vessels offers passengers an
array of choices to tailor their voyage.
Norwegian is offering our customers terrific discounts -- save up to
80%. Plus, receive exclusive shipboard credits of up to $300 per cabin
on select sailings aboard the Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and
Pride of America (which sails year-round in Hawaii) in 2014.
Book by
April 20.
Click here
for dates and prices.
Click here
for itineraries, dates and deeply discounted rates for all Norwegian
Cruise Line ships.
Trafalgar offers one of the best selections of vacations around
the world, delivering an incredible value and an authentic insider
experience you just can't get traveling on your own.
For one price, you'll receive high-quality, centrally located hotels,
transportation between cities by luxury coach, a Welcome Reception with
drinks, daily breakfasts and many dinners. Admission to popular
attractions is included -- and with preferential access, you won't wait
in long lines.
Trafalgar's itineraries offer the perfect balance of included
sightseeing, optional experiences and free time. Choose from several
travel styles, including the popular
Family Experiences.
These hassle-free vacations are designed to help parents, kids and
grandparents discover the world together. Enjoy fun-filled activities
like visiting a gladiator school in Rome, experiencing cowboy life on a
dude ranch in Wyoming or walking through a verdant rain-forest canopy in
Costa Rica. Young travelers can
save up to 10% off the company's
vacations.
Trafalgar also is offering the following specials to Vacations To Go customers:
Save $400 to $500 per couple
($200 to $250 per person) off the air-inclusive price of guided
vacations in Europe when you
book by May 15.
Save up to 5%
off itineraries in Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, the continental U.S.
and destinations in Central America and South America.
Book by April
30.
For a complete list of Trafalgar's trips,
click here.
Celebrity Cruises sails in destinations worldwide with a fleet of
ships ranging in size from the
Celebrity Xpedition,
which carries just 98 passengers on cruises of the Galapagos Islands, to
five
Solstice-class ships,
which accommodate more than 2,800 guests.
The newest Solstice-class ship is the
Celebrity Reflection.
It has popular Solstice-class features, such as the AquaSpa and the Lawn
Club, a top-deck expanse of real grass, as well as newer venues such as
the Lawn Club Grill, an interactive, outdoor grill experience; The
Alcoves, a cabana-style retreat; and the Art Studio, with hands-on
instruction in subjects like painting and drawing.
The Solstice ships have proved to be so popular that Celebrity has
"solsticized" its four
Millennium-class vessels:
Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Summit and
Celebrity Millennium. They now boast such features as the Blu restaurant
and AquaClass spa staterooms, which provide access to spa amenities.
Celebrity is offering Vacations To Go customers savings of up to
77%. Plus, book ocean-view and higher cabin categories on select
sailings and receive your choice of one of the following three offers:
1) free drinks, including alcoholic beverages, 2) free gratuities or 3)
shipboard credits of up to $300 per cabin.
Book by April 30.
Click here
for dates and prices.
Click here
for links to all of Celebrity's ships.
American Queen Steamboat Company specializes in overnight
sailings along America's most famous rivers, providing a unique
perspective of the country's history, culture and natural beauty.
Refurbished for 2014, the
American Empress serves as a floating
boutique hotel as guests travel into the heart of the Pacific Northwest
on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The rolling hills, soaring mountains,
deep canyons and open fields appear now just as they did to Lewis and
Clark in 1805 -- magnificent and unimaginably beautiful.
The 432-passenger
American Queen was built to resemble the paddle
wheelers of the Mark Twain era and is the largest vessel on the
Mississippi. The ship is filled with contemporary comforts, yet its
staterooms and public areas reflect 19th-century elegance, with rich
woodwork, antiques and Tiffany glass. Staterooms are outfitted in
antebellum charm, and some have private verandas or French doors that
open to the deck.
Every sailing includes a Champagne reception, complimentary bottled
water and soft drinks throughout the voyage and complimentary wine and
beer at dinner. There's also 24-hour room service available at no
charge.
Click here
to view all American Queen Steamboat Company departures, as well as all
special promotions, such as this one:
Companion cruises for free
on select trips on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Deluxe line
Azamara Club Cruises offers an immersive experience
in its cruising destinations, with longer stays and more overnights in
port. Its twin, boutique-style ships carry 694 guests each and provide a
sophisticated yet relaxing onboard ambience.
Your Azamara fare includes a wide selection of free spirits,
wines and beers available throughout the day in each ship's bars,
lounges and restaurants. Gratuities, bottled water, soft drinks, teas
and specialty coffees also are included. Butler service is provided to
guests in suite accommodations.
One complimentary AzAmazing Evening is included on every voyage (except
during trans-Atlantic crossings). For example, enjoy wine and dessert
and listen to an opera singer at a chateau in France's Provence region,
or take in an exciting samba show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Azamara is offering our customers big savings, with rates reduced
by up to 73%. On select 2014 voyages, receive a free upgrade from an
inside cabin to a balcony stateroom. Plus, balcony cabins for select
2015 departures have been significantly reduced in price.
Click here
for dates and prices.
Click here
to see all dates and prices for Azamara Club Cruises.
Palace Resorts has seven beautiful, all-inclusive properties
along the Yucatan coast of Mexico. You'll enjoy unlimited food and
beverages, nightly entertainment and a variety of amenities and
activities. Accommodations come with in-room double whirlpool tubs,
liquor dispensers and minibars. It's all covered in your prepaid
rate.
Moon Palace recently completed the $22 million renovation of 120 guest
rooms, food and beverage outlets, a gym and more. This updated section,
called Nizuc, now features an authentic Irish pub that provides a
mouthwatering bar menu complimented by top-shelf liquor and beer.
A new mini-golf course and kids club have been added to the resort. The
Playroom boasts 11 different game rooms -- including an Xbox room --
plus a beauty salon, arcade zone, full kitchen and creative area. Kids
also have a theater with plush seating and concessions, playgrounds and
a mini soccer field.
Right now,
receive up to $1,500 in resort credits.
These can be used toward room upgrades, spa treatments, golf outings,
dolphin swims, scuba diving and more. The amount of the credit depends
on the length of your stay: receive up to $1,500 per room for stays of
five to eight nights, up to $750 for four nights and up to $500 for
three nights.
Guests who do not use all their credits can roll them over to their next
stay or give them to family or friends who are planning a Palace
vacation. The balance must be redeemed within 12 months of the original
stay.
And,
kids 12 and under stay free
when sharing a room with an adult at select Palace resorts. This applies
to stays of three or more nights from June 1 through August 31 and is
combinable with the resort credit offer.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a six-star line known for top-notch
service, fantastic gourmet cuisine and wonderful enrichment programs.
The upfront price of a Regent cruise includes all beverages, including
wines, beers and spirits. Free prepaid gratuities also are included.
There is no charge to dine in the specialty restaurants or for 24-hour
room service; you even can enjoy in-suite dining served course by course
during restaurant hours. In each port of call, Regent provides unlimited
complimentary shore excursions.
Seven Seas Voyager
and
Seven Seas Mariner
each pamper 700 guests in all-balcony, all-suite accommodations. The
Seven Seas Voyager emerged from a drydock last fall with new interior
decor and spruced-up exterior decks; meanwhile, the Seven Seas Mariner
just completed its own multimillion-dollar refurbishment this month. The
Seven Seas Navigator
carries just 490 passengers in all-suite, ocean-view accommodations,
most of which have private balconies.
Regent is offering our customers savings of up to 70% and
exclusive shipboard credits of up to $800 per cabin on select voyages.
In addition, receive free unlimited shore excursions, free prepaid
gratuities, free unlimited beverages including fine wines and premium
spirits and free unlimited Internet on select sailings (valued at $30 a
day). Customers paying with American Express Platinum or Centurion cards
qualify for an additional $300 to $500 in shipboard credits per cabin.
Click here
for dates and prices.
Click here
for links to Regent's luxury ships.
Hurtigruten specializes in unique voyages along the beautiful
coast of Norway. The company's first voyage departed Trondheim, Norway,
in 1893. Today, the line has 11 ships that regularly navigate the iconic
fjords and ports of the Norwegian coast between Bergen in the south and
Kirkenes in the Arctic Circle.
Every Hurtigruten trip offers an abundance of history, culture, locally
sourced cuisine, wildlife and spectacular scenery. You can choose a
12-day round trip or a shorter six- or seven-day one-way itinerary to
some of the 34 Norwegian ports the line visits. Daily departures are
available year-round, and each season provides a stunning backdrop to
your journey.
On a summer sailing, experience the true meaning of the Land of the
Midnight Sun. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun stays above the
horizon around the clock. This is the most popular time to visit
Norway's coast and take in the picturesque scenes of narrow passages,
deep fjords, flower fields, cascading waterfalls and flowing rivers.
Highlights include visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as
Bergen's Bryggen District, Geirangerfjord, the Meridian Column
(Hammerfest) and the Vega Islands.
Right now, Hurtigruten is offering Vacations To Go customers savings of
up to 40% on eligible cruises departing this summer.
To view all Hurtigruten itineraries and discounts, including expedition
cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and continental
Europe,
click here.
In addition to its worldwide oceangoing voyages,
Holland America
Line offers Alaska cruise tours. These package a sailing through the
Inside Passage and along the Gulf of Alaska with a multiday exploration
of some of the state's most popular inland sights. The tour portion
includes your hotel accommodations, transportation to the tour
destinations, baggage handling, some sightseeing and activities and the
expertise of a Holland America Journey Host.
On the land portion, you can travel via a comfortable, domed railcar to
Denali National Park and Preserve, where you might spot grizzly bears,
wolves, bald eagles and moose during your stay. Holland America cruise
tours also venture to the Yukon, where guests visit historic gold rush
towns, hear tales of early prospectors and ride the White Pass &
Yukon Route Railroad.
Holland America is offering Vacations To Go customers exclusive
shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin on most upcoming Alaska cruise
tours. Plus, past guests may see better rates on some sailings.
Click here
for dates and prices.
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 4, starting at $359, save 78%,
FastDeal # 10246
2)
Alaska, 7 nights on Celebrity, departs Anchorage May 30, starting at $599, save 68%,
FastDeal # 14305
3)
Caribbean, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Fort Lauderdale May 10, starting at $570,
FastDeal # 35125 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
4)
Hawaii, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs Honolulu May 3, starting at $949, save 76%,
FastDeal # 18018
5)
Caribbean, 7 nights on Princess, departs Fort Lauderdale Jun 7, starting at $598, save 40%,
FastDeal # 37491
6)
Canada/New England, 14 nights on Holland America, departs Boston May 17, oceanview starting at $749, save 71%,
FastDeal # 31097
7)
Baltic, 11 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Copenhagen Jun 18, starting at $834,
FastDeal # 34973 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
8)
Mediterranean, 7 nights on Azamara Club Cruises, departs Nice May 26, oceanview starting at $1,499, save 71%,
FastDeal # 13771
9)
British Isles, 11 nights on Celebrity, departs London May 12, oceanview starting at $1,099, save 71%,
FastDeal # 20493
10)
Alaska, 7 nights on Oceania Cruises, departs Seattle Jul 7, starting at $1,599, save 70%,
FastDeal # 11013
