Cruise Newsletter

Below is a copy of our current cruise newsletter. To subscribe to our weekly newsletter, absolutely free of charge, please click here. To email this newsletter to friends or family, click here. Please note that the FastDeals are subject to availability and sell out quickly.

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Dear Vacations To Go Customer,

Pent-up demand for cruising is at an all-time high, and it's not just the guests who are clamoring to resume. Cruise lines want to set sail, too, and they have been working hard on plans to begin again.

Last week, the Healthy Sail Panel created by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line submitted a 62-page report to the CDC outlining recommendations for the safe relaunch of cruising. The panel is comprised of maritime, hospitality and medical experts, including former FDA head Dr. Scott Gottlieb and former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt.

Their suggestions include testing prior to boarding, temperature checks, new rules on shore excursions, use of face coverings, social distancing, air filtration upgrades, improvements in onboard medical facilities and much more. It's not known at this time whether the CDC will adopt these recommendations.

Similar health and safety protocols were recently approved by the Italian government and implemented by MSC Cruises, an Italian cruise line whose ship, the MSC Grandiosa, set sail August 16 with over 3,000 passenger and crew. Only Italians are allowed to cruise and the 7-day itineraries are limited to Italian ports of call plus Malta. In October, they will visit Greek ports too. Onboard, the entertainment, activities and restaurants are open, and masks are not required outside or when dining. After six sailings, only one case of COVID has been identified onboard--a crew member who was asymptomatic--and he was immediately disembarked.

If the CDC permits major North American cruise lines to sail before a vaccine is approved and widely distributed, the onboard experience will likely be similar to that of MSC. One big question for the cruise industry is just how much customers will be willing to adapt in order to set sail.

Personally, I'd be happy to adhere to new sanitation and distancing guidelines in order to get back to the open sea. Of course, that's just one opinion and we'd like to hear what you have to say.

We have prepared a brief, anonymous survey and I'd sincerely appreciate it if you could take a minute to complete it now. I will share the results in an upcoming newsletter.

Please click here to take the survey now. (Note: the survey link has been removed for our online newsletter)

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Due to COVID-19, cruise lines suspended worldwide operations in March and no one can be certain when they will resume. Most ocean cruise lines have suspended sailings through at least October 31.

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We've arranged money-saving offers with six different cruise lines, including deep discounts and free amenities or shipboard credits, which are as good as cash on the ship and can be used toward onboard purchases not covered in the cruise fare, like shore excursions and Internet packages. Please note that some rates on our site may not be eligible for free amenities or shipboard credits.

Celebrity has slashed rates by up to 87%. Plus, get shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin and a Classic beverage package for two on select departures when you book an inside, ocean-view or balcony stateroom. Customers booking select cruises at eligible rates may also be eligible for one of the following additional perks: 1) an additional shipboard credit of $300 per cabin, 2) prepaid gratuities for two or 3) unlimited Internet access for two. Book a suite and get all perks on select departures. See dates and prices.

Carnival is offering our customers huge discounts and exclusive pricing on a variety of sailings -- save up to 87%. See dates and prices.

Norwegian is offering our customers huge discounts of up to 73%, as well as exclusive shipboard credits of up to $75 per cabin on select departures. Plus, on select sailings receive all of the following perks on cabins booked at eligible rates: 1) unlimited open bar for two, 2) a specialty dining package that includes up to five meals for two guests at select dining venues, 3) up to 250 minutes of Internet, 4) a shore excursion credit of $50 per cabin, per port (not including embarkation port), or 5) friends and family sail free as third/fourth passengers in the cabin on select departures (port fees and taxes are additional). Book by October 12. See dates and prices.

Silversea has reduced rates by up to 82%, plus on select sailings receive an extra discount of up to 20% off, shipboard credits of up to $1,100 per cabin, and pay a reduced deposit of just $500 per person. Your Silversea fare includes onboard gratuities, complimentary beverages including wine and spirits and butler service. Book by October 12. See dates and prices.

Holland America is offering Vacations To Go customers huge discounts of up to 68%, with special pricing on select sailings in Europe, Alaska and other destinations, plus onboard credits of up to $250 per cabin. Book by October 12. See dates and prices.

Windstar is offering our customers discounts of up to 71% on select cruises, with exclusive rates on a variety of itineraries. Windstar specializes in casually elegant sailings on intimate power ships and masted sailing vessels. Select departures feature James Beard Foundation culinary demonstrations and guest lecturers. Book by October 9. See dates and prices.

As always, these offers are for new bookings only and subject to availability. Restrictions may apply, and some free amenities and shipboard credits may apply only to eligible rates. Past guests of some cruise lines may see better rates on select sailings.

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Since cruises are not yet operating, hotels and resorts in Mexico are great alternatives for customers looking for a tropical getaway.

Below are some popular resorts that are open now. Click any link for more information, our fast and friendly travel counselors are standing by to assist.

Mexico
Hotel Riu Santa Fe, a 4.5-star resort in Los Cabos
Now Jade Riviera Cancun, a 5-star resort
Ocean Riviera Paradise, a 5-star resort in Playa del Carmen
Secrets Aura Cozumel, a 5-star, no-kids resort
Grand Palladium Vallarta, a 4.5-star resort
Occidental at Xcaret Destination, a 4.5-star resort in Playa del Carmen
Barcelo Maya Palace, a 5-star resort in Puerto Aventuras
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, a 5-star, no-kids resort in Los Cabos
Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta, a 4.5-star resort
Sandos Playacar Beach Resort, a 4.5-star resort in Playa del Carmen
Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico, a 5-star resort in Puerto Vallarta
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, a 5-star resort
Golden Parnassus Cancun, a 4-star, no-kids resort
Valentin Imperial, a 4.5-star, no-kids resort in Playa del Carmen
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, a 5-star resort

To see a list of other tropical destinations that are open or have announced a reopening date, click here.

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Here are today's Top 10 Cruises, brand-new specials from the world's best cruise lines departing early 2021. Click the FastDeal # for details.

1) Caribbean, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Galveston Apr 25, starting at $415, save 68%, FastDeal # 43233

2) Pacific U.S. & Canada, 7 nights on Holland America, departs San Diego Apr 24, starting at $499, save 38%, FastDeal # 12546

3) Caribbean, 7 nights on Princess, departs Fort Lauderdale Mar 14, starting at $498, save 45%, FastDeal # 16987

4) Alaska, 7 nights on Celebrity, departs Anchorage (Seward) Jun 4, starting at $596, save 79%, FastDeal # 33016

5) Caribbean, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs San Juan Apr 4, starting at $549, save 69%, FastDeal # 17985

6) Bahamas, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs New Orleans Apr 17, starting at $462, save 72%, FastDeal # 20315

7) British Isles, 9 nights on Norwegian, departs Amsterdam May 7, starting at $749, save 56%, FastDeal # 16714

8) Mexico, 10 nights on Princess, departs San Francisco Jan 7, starting at $799, save 27%, FastDeal # 18683

9) Asia, 7 nights on Star Clippers, departs Phuket Jan 9, starting at $1,480, save 65%, FastDeal # 26054

10) Mediterranean, 10 nights on Crystal, departs Rome (Civitavecchia) May 1, oceanview starting at $3,449, save 61%, FastDeal # 12026

To search for discounts of up to 82% on cruises, use our Find a Bargain tool.

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

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

Sincerely,

Alan Fox
Executive Chairman
Vacations To Go