Vacations To Go

Dear Mr. Sterling,

This week, I'll share how to qualify for special rates when booking a cruise. Vacations To Go customers can sometimes receive exclusive discounts from cruise lines based on specific qualifications, such as region of residence, age, occupation, military service and past guest status.

I have compiled a list of specialty cruises, discounts and resources we offer. Some are available only to certain types of travelers, and others are available to all Vacations To Go customers. Click the links below for more information:

Age 55+ Rates
EMT Discounts
Firefighter Discounts
Hosted Singles Cruises
Interline Rates
Military Rates (U.S. and Canadian)
Past Passenger Rates
Police Discounts
Teachers' Rates

Discount programs like these can be issued or withdrawn at any time by the cruise line, and are not normally combinable with one another. Always tell your Vacations To Go cruise counselor if you qualify for a military or interline discount, are a past passenger of the line you are calling about, or if anyone in the cabin will be 55+, so that he or she can make sure to check for any additional discounts to which you may be entitled.

If you qualify for any of these special discounts and have not already told us about it in My Account, you can click here now to update your Special Discount Eligibility so we will always show you the lowest rate you qualify for when you are browsing our website.

Next, I'm pleased to tell you about money-saving offers we've arranged with 11 different cruise lines. In addition to deep discounts, these offers may include free amenities or shipboard credits, which are as good as cash on the ship and can be used toward onboard purchases, like shore excursions and internet packages.

Royal Caribbean is offering our customers huge new discounts -- save up to 74%. Also, receive shipboard credits of up to $150 per cabin on select sailings. Children ages 12 and under pay only port fees and taxes when sharing the same cabin with two adults on certain departures. Book by July 16. See dates and prices.

Oceania is offering Vacations To Go customers discounts of up to 77%, plus newly reduced rates, pre-paid gratuities, shipboard credits of up to $1,900 per cabin, a free House Select beverage package, free specialty dining and unlimited internet access on select sailings. Book by July 15. See dates and prices.

Explora Journeys has provided Vacations To Go with exclusive discounts and savings of up to 73% off. Plus, pay a reduced deposit and get a free onboard credit of up to $1,300 per suite on select sailings. Prices include gratuities, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, select specialty restaurant dining options, and unlimited internet. Book by July 15. See dates and prices.

Norwegian is offering our customers huge discounts of up to 87% along with shipboard credits of up to $400 per cabin on select sailings. Plus, cabins booked at eligible rates come with up to 300 minutes of internet per person and a $50 per cabin shore excursion credit on each excursion booked through the cruise line. The following optional offers that involve additional fees are also available: 1) an unlimited open bar for two, 2) a specialty dining package that includes up to five meals for two guests at select dining venues and 3) friends and family pay only port fees and taxes when sharing the same cabin with two adults on certain departures. Book by July 19. See dates and prices.

Windstar is offering our customers discounts of up to 83% on select cruises, with exclusive rates on a variety of itineraries. See dates and prices.

Virgin Voyages is an adults-only line providing fantastic discounts of up to 86% to Vacations To Go customers on a variety of sailings. In addition, receive onboard credits of up to $300 per cabin on select departures. Prices include gratuities, select non-alcoholic beverages and unlimited internet. See dates and prices.

Celebrity has reduced rates by up to 83%. Plus, get shipboard credits of up to $175 per cabin, a free Classic beverage package and unlimited internet access on select sailings booked at eligible rates. In addition, the third and fourth guests pay only port fees and taxes when sharing the same cabin with two adults on some departures. See dates and prices.

Regent is providing exclusive discounts to Vacations To Go customers -- save up to 78%. In addition, receive shipboard credits of up to $400 per cabin on eligible sailings and for a limited time, children ages 17 and under sail free on select itineraries. See dates and prices.

Princess is offering Vacations To Go customers big discounts -- save up to 72%. Plus, pay a reduced deposit starting at $99 per person and receive shipboard credits of up to $85 per cabin on select sailings. Also, the third and fourth guests pay only port fees and taxes when sharing the same cabin with two adults on some departures. Get free drinks, Wi-Fi and pre-paid gratuities on certain voyages booked at eligible rates. See dates and prices.

Holland America is offering our customers huge discounts of up to 62% along with shipboard credits of up to $100 per cabin and pre-paid gratuities for two on select sailings. Pay only port fees and taxes for the third and fourth guests in the stateroom on certain voyages, and receive all of the following perks on cabins booked at eligible rates: 1) a signature beverage package, including alcoholic drinks, for all guests in the stateroom, 2) a specialty dining package that includes up to three meals at select venues, 3) a free Wi-Fi package for two guests and 4) a shore excursion credit of up to $600 per cabin. See dates and prices.

Azamara is providing huge discounts to our customers -- save up to 82%. Also, receive exclusive pricing on a variety of upcoming sailings and shipboard credits of up to $750 per cabin. Rates include gratuities and drinks. See dates and prices.

As always, all offers in this newsletter 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.

HX Expeditions is an oceangoing cruise line with a heritage dating back to 1896. Its expedition vessels and highly skilled crews offer science- and nature-based experiences along with unique cultural encounters in some of the world's most spectacular places. Our customers can take advantage of a terrific offer right now:

Save up to 50% on a variety of HX cruises.

An HX voyage is all-inclusive and covers onboard meals and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) every day, Wi-Fi access, gratuities, guided excursions and the use of equipment for activities. Ships have modern and spacious designs with suites featuring huge panoramic windows that allow for easy viewing of amazing landscapes and wildlife. You'll also enjoy inviting public areas and a state-of-the-art Science Center where guests can participate in interactive projects with the Expedition Team.

One enticing option available with HX is a cruise of the Galapagos Islands aboard the 90-passenger Santa Cruz II. See giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions and many unique birds such as blue-footed boobies. This Ecuadorian archipelago is home to a wide range of plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. To view these sailings, click here.

HX also offers itineraries to Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, the Northwest Passage and Arctic Canada, among other places. On all the line's voyages, an Expedition Team leads thrilling activities on shore and gives talks on history, geology and biology on board. Knowledgeable photographers share tips for capturing fantastic shots and provide professional photos of your trip.

I'm excited to announce that four brand-new cruise ships have recently opened for bookings. These new ships will be equipped with the latest technology, modern amenities and innovative facilities. You can expect elegant, contemporary and stylish design, offering a high level of comfort and appeal.

Seven Seas Prestige sails in December 2026 and will offer 10- to 15-night itineraries in a variety of regions including the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Mexico. To read more about Regent's Seven Seas Prestige, click here. To see dates and prices, click here.

Star Explorer debuts in December 2026 and will offer 7- to 24-night Mediterranean sailings. The vessel will also offer 10-night Europe cruise and land tours from Venice and Rome. To read more about Windstar's Star Explorer, click here. To see dates and prices, click here.

EXPLORA IV launches in April 2027 and will offer 7- to 13-night sailings to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and New England. To read more about Explora Journeys' EXPLORA IV, click here. To see dates and prices, click here.

Viking Astrea sets sail in June 2027 and will offer 7- to 14-night Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings from a variety of ports including Barcelona, London and Rome. To read more about Viking Astrea, click here. To see dates and prices, click here.

Booking far in advance ensures the best cabin selection, such as a midship cabin, being near an elevator, or families needing adjoining cabins or larger suites.

If you are flexible on date and cabin, you might find a lower price closer to the departure date. Don't wait too long to book, as any particular sailing could sell out early.

Cruises are a popular choice for corporate meetings and events because they offer great value to businesses, participants and employees.

Typically, the price of a cruise ticket includes your stateroom, transportation between exotic ports, most meals, entertainment and a variety of unique onboard amenities depending on the ship. Onboard, meeting space and audio/visual equipment can be tens of thousands of dollars less than a conventional hotel or resort.

Here are some examples of amenities that have little to no cost on cruises:

Access to business facilities and meeting rooms
Large and small conference rooms
Digital projectors, audio systems and high-speed internet access
Showrooms for group presentations
Informal gathering venues

Vacations To Go's Group Department specializes in creating group travel experiences, taking all the work off of your company's meeting planner. For more than 35 years, our experts have assisted countless organizations -- from small companies to large corporations -- in planning seamless events at sea.

Your company will have a dedicated expert as a single point of contact who will assist with the entire process, including setting up a personalized registration website for fast and easy online registration and booking.

Lastly, as an added benefit, Vacations To Go can provide a Host or Hostess to accompany your group onboard. From the beginning of your trip to the end, the host will assist with logistics such as air travel and transfers to and from the pier, facilitate meetings and activities including team building and entertaining group games, resolve issues that may arise on board, and serve as your advocate with vendors.

For inquiries, give us a call at 800-514-9986 or visit our Meetings at Sea or Incentive Cruises page.

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 MSC Cruises, departs Miami Oct 5, starting at $537, save 54%, FastDeal # 16354

2) Mexico, 8 nights on Carnival, departs Los Angeles (Long Beach) Sep 13, starting at $409, save 55%, FastDeal # 42985

3) Alaska, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs Anchorage (Whittier) Sep 1, starting at $609, save 82%, FastDeal # 19437

4) Caribbean, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs Tampa Aug 30, oceanview starting at $760, save 59%, FastDeal # 41868

5) Alaska, 7 nights on Holland America, departs Vancouver Aug 31, starting at $609, save 63%, FastDeal # 27191

6) Eastern Canada & New England, 7 nights on Princess, departs New York (Brooklyn) Sep 20, starting at $799, save 56%, FastDeal # 43220

7) Caribbean, 7 nights on Celebrity, departs Miami Oct 5, starting at $853, save 57%, FastDeal # 41897

8) Tahiti & South Pacific Islands, 10 nights on Oceania Cruises, departs Papeete Aug 26, oceanview starting at $3,749, save 67%, FastDeal # 29141

9) Greek Islands, 7 nights on Silversea, departs Athens (Piraeus) Aug 5, suite starting at $3,950, save 78%, FastDeal # 26815

10) Mediterranean, 12 nights on Regent, departs Istanbul Oct 19, suite starting at $4,615, save 84%, FastDeal # 21272

For the best last-minute cruise specials in the next 90 days, please visit our world-famous 90-Day Ticker.
To search for discounts of up to 85% on cruises departing more than 90 days, use our Find a Bargain tool.

To save up to 40% with escorted tours, click here.
For river cruises up to 50% off, click here.
For discounts of up to 50% at hotels and all-inclusive resorts, click here.
For the lowest rates on Africa safaris from budget to luxury in quality, click here.

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.

If you enjoy our newsletter, please forward this email to family and friends.

Sincerely,

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

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