Dear Bit,
Vacations To Go is celebrating its 40th
anniversary this week. Read on for
a bit of the company's history, or scroll down for this week's special
offers and best cruise deals.
Forty years ago this week, we strung a
hand-painted "Grand Opening" banner above the door in a small shopping
center in Houston and Vacations To Go was born.
My business partner (Bob Carney) and I opened our two-room travel agency
on a Sunday because the travel editor of the Houston Chronicle, Mary Lu
Abbott, ran a story about us that day. With my meager life savings on
the line, I wanted to be in the office just in case the phone rang, and
it did.
We were a new breed of travel agency with a unique mission: to convince
cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and hotels that they should
deeply discount the price of unsold cabins, seats and rooms near
departure date, that making anything on the inventory was better than
making nothing.
If we could do that, we would have a viable business and open up the
world to people who could not have afforded international travel
otherwise.
I set out to convince major travel companies to give us deals they did
not offer to other travel agencies. This was not made easier by the fact
that we had no customers.
Finding customers, on the other hand, was not aided by the fact that we
had no deals.
Eventually, a dozen airlines, cruise lines and tour operators agreed to
test our concept. Riding what turned into a huge wave of publicity due
to our record-low prices, we were off and running on that day in May
1984.
In 1986, we took the company public, and in 1987, we launched our
publishing division with the first of our three magazines,
Vacations, which was later
joined by Travel 50 & Beyond and
Where to Retire. I coaxed Mary
Lu away from the Houston Chronicle and she became the founding
editor of Where to Retire, where she called the shots until her
own retirement in 2012.
We grew out of that shopping center space and opened an airline-style
reservation center, and added travel and retirement books to our list of
publications. After several years as a public company, we bought out the
outside shareholders and took the company private.
In 1999, we launched our
cruise
website and within a few years, we launched sites
for
river cruises
,
guided tours
,
air & hotel packages
,
safaris
and more.
We bought our own office building, translated our cruise site into
Spanish and Portuguese and French, launched group cruise and hosted
singles departments and the industry's first department dedicated solely
to cruise passengers with special needs.
Somewhere along the way, we became the world's largest seller of cruises
and river cruises.
So many people have contributed to the growth and success of Vacations
To Go that it would be impossible to name them all. Three who stand out
are Emerson Hankamer, our CEO; Troy Bringle, our President; and Dane
Fish, our CFO.
Today, we represent every significant cruise line, river cruise company,
tour operator and hotel chain in the world. True to our roots, we are
still the very best at finding last-minute discounts for our customers.
Our
90-Day Ticker
is the standard by which all last-minute cruise
lists are measured.
Every week, we sell hundreds of cruise cabins at the last minute, at
rates that other travel agencies never even hear about. And we offer
deep early bird discounts and shipboard credits for people who prefer to
make plans in advance.
When I look back at what has been accomplished in the last 40 years, I
am most proud of the group we have built here, the more than 1,000 men
and women of Vacations To Go. They are the kind of people you want to go
to work with every day, dedicated to being the best and providing the
best service and advice in the travel industry.
I am grateful to be on the same team.
In our four decades, the travel industry has survived more epidemics,
hurricanes, wars and recessions than I can remember. The instant, global
dissemination of bad news sometimes makes it seem like the world is a
dangerous place, but I don't believe there are any new threats in the
world, just new strains of old threats.
International travel today is safer than it has ever been, and there are
more amazing trips to more fascinating places than ever before.
And Vacations To Go? We are bigger and better than ever.
What new adventures await travelers in the
next 40 years? I can hardly wait to find out!
You can be sure that Vacations To Go will be here to bring you the very
best the world has to offer -- at a discount, of course.
Sincerely,
Alan Fox
Executive Chairman
Vacations To Go
Next, I'd like to show you the
latest deals we've negotiated to
save you money on
14 top cruise lines. Our deeply discounted
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 beverage packages.
Royal Caribbean is offering our customers huge new discounts --
save up to 81%. Also, receive shipboard credits of up to $50 per cabin
on select sailings. Children ages 12 and under sail free on select
departures.
See dates and prices.
Norwegian is offering our customers huge discounts of up to 87%.
Also, receive exclusive shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin on
some sailings, plus 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 access, 4) a shore excursion
credit of $50 per cabin, per excursion and 5) friends and family sail
free as third and fourth passengers in the cabin on select departures
(port fees and taxes are additional).
See dates and prices.
Oceania is offering Vacations To Go customers discounts of up to
78%, plus newly reduced rates, a free beverage package, shipboard
credits of up to $600 per cabin, a shore excursion credit of up to
$1,400 per cabin, free specialty dining and unlimited internet on select
sailings.
See dates and prices.
Princess is offering Vacations To Go customers big discounts --
save up to 81%. In addition, receive shipboard credits of up to $135 per
cabin, and for a limited time the third and fourth guests cruise free
when sharing the same cabin with two adults (port fees and taxes are
additional). Get free drinks, Wi-Fi and pre-paid gratuities on select
sailings booked at eligible rates.
See dates and prices.
Azamara is providing huge discounts to our customers -- save up
to 85%. Also, receive exclusive pricing on a variety of upcoming
sailings to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and more, plus shipboard
credits of up to $1,500 per cabin. Rates include gratuities and drinks.
Book by May 13.
See dates and prices.
Holland America is offering our customers huge discounts of up to
68% and shipboard credits of up to $400 per cabin on a variety of
popular itineraries. Plus, on select sailings, 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.
Seabourn has reduced rates by up to 50%, plus get new exclusive
pricing on last-minute cruises and shipboard credits of up to $1,200 per
cabin on select departures. The upfront fare of a six-star Seabourn
vacation includes gratuities, open bars and fine wines at lunch and
dinner.
See dates and prices.
Windstar is offering our customers discounts of up to 84% on
select cruises, with exclusive rates on a variety of itineraries plus an
onboard credit of up to $200 per cabin.
See dates and prices.
MSC Cruises is offering huge discounts to our customers -- save
up to 71%. Also, receive a free upgrade from oceanview to balcony and
exclusive shipboard credits of up to $150 per cabin on select sailings.
Plus, get free drinks and free Wi-Fi on sailings booked at eligible
rates.
See dates and prices.
Atlas Ocean Voyages is offering Vacations To Go customers
exclusive savings of up to 73%, along with a $200 per cabin onboard
credit and one free bottle of champagne on select sailings. Pricing
includes one free cultural immersion on every voyage, unlimited
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a fully stocked in-room mini
fridge, all gratuities and a limited amount of Wi-Fi.
See dates and prices.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is offering discounts of up to 84%
in a variety of destinations. The line's all-inclusive fares cover
meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, shore
excursions in every port and airport transfers.
See dates and prices.
Crystal offers exceptional voyages throughout a variety of
exciting destinations, including the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska,
Europe and more. The upfront price of each cruise includes gratuities,
unlimited Wi-Fi, butler service in all suites and guest rooms, two
complimentary specialty dining reservations, and all alcoholic and
non-alcoholic beverages.
See dates and prices.
Virgin Voyages is providing fantastic discounts of up to 44% to
Vacations To Go customers on a variety of sailings. Also, get a $100 per
cabin onboard credit in select categories.
See dates and prices.
Emerald Cruises has discounts of up to 70% in destinations like
the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. The upfront price includes
gratuities, airport transfers, shore excursions in every port, Wi-Fi and
wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
See dates and prices.
Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering Vacations To Go customers
exclusive discounts of up to 27% on its cruises of South Pacific
islands. Plus, get shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin on select
sailings. Prices include gratuities, unlimited internet, select
beverages and specialty restaurant dining.
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.
Here's 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
Grand Voyages
Hosted Singles Cruises
Interline Rates
Military Rates (U.S. and Canadian)
Past Passenger Rates
Police Discounts
Teachers' Rates
Travelers with Special Needs
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.
Here are today's
Top 10 Cruises, brand-new specials from the
world's best cruise lines.
Click the FastDeal # for details.
1)
Alaska, 7 nights on
Celebrity, departs Anchorage (Seward) May 31, starting at $249, save
89%,
FastDeal # 33051
2)
Caribbean, 7 nights on MSC
Cruises, departs Port Canaveral Aug 4, starting at $559, save 56%,
FastDeal # 29089
3)
Eastern Canada & New
England, 7 nights on Holland America, departs Montreal May
18, starting at $349, save 72%,
FastDeal # 11118
4)
Caribbean, 7 nights on
Princess, departs Fort Lauderdale Jul 13, starting at $858, save 48%,
FastDeal # 33549
5)
Mediterranean, 7 nights on
Royal Caribbean, departs Rome (Civitavecchia) May 23, starting at $798,
save 65%,
FastDeal # 33259
6)
Caribbean, 9 nights on
Norwegian, departs Miami Aug 12, starting at $949, save 80%,
FastDeal # 42829
7)
Northern Europe, 10 nights
on Oceania Cruises, departs Seville Jun 4, starting at $3,299, save 67%,
FastDeal # 21737
8)
Alaska, 7 nights on
Silversea, departs Anchorage (Seward) May 16, suite starting at $3,050,
save 86%,
FastDeal # 22024
9)
Galapagos, 8 nights on
Hurtigruten, departs Quito Jun 5, oceanview starting at $6,703, save
42%,
FastDeal # 31168
10)
Greek Islands, 7 nights on
Regent, departs Athens (Piraeus) Aug 15, suite starting at $7,399, save
69%,
FastDeal # 22517
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 82% 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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