Latest Vacations To Go Newsletter

created by: Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go
US and Canada reservations (toll free): 800-338-4962

Cruise prices have continued to plummet in the past two weeks, to levels not seen since immediately after 9-11.Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah and Ike first softened bookings, then the bad economic news and plunging stock market moved more cruise buyers to the sidelines.

But cruise lines are masters of managing their inventory, and unlike airlines and hotels that accept empty seats and rooms during slow periods, cruise lines are determined to sail full. All lines except the four 6-star cruise lines will slash prices as low as they need to in order to fill every cabin.

There are two reasons. First, on most lines, a significant percentage of the crews' compensation comes from tips--and there are no tips from empty cabins. Second, venues such as casinos, spas, boutiques, photography studios and excursion desks are completely dependent on onboard purchases, which of course are directly related to the number of people onboard.

All of this is resulting in some amazing bargains for folks still in the market, and Vacations To Go is the best there is at finding and offering the lowest discounts in the industry, frequently selling them out before other agencies are even aware they exist.As the prices have fallen, we've had some extraordinarily busy periods, especially in the evenings.

If you are one of the folks who had trouble getting straight through to an agent, I apologize.For a look at what may be a record number of cruise deals with discounts of 70% or more during the next 90 days, click here.

Good news from Galveston: After suffering damage from Hurricane Ike, the Port of Galveston is again able and ready to accept cruise ships.Ike's 14-foot storm surge flooded most of the ground-level embarkation area, as well as the cargo facilities and the cruise terminals. Recovery efforts were expedited by a $55 million emergency grant from the port's board of trustees, although the cost of full repairs to the port and the surrounding district is estimated to reach into the hundreds of millions.

The Carnival Conquest (7-night cruises) and the Carnival Ecstasy (4- and 5-night cruises) were the only ships sailing from Galveston when Ike hit, and both temporarily relocated to the Port of Houston's new Bayport Cruise Terminal. These ships will return to Galveston with their next scheduled departures--November 1 for the Ecstasy and November 2 for the Conquest.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas will reposition to Galveston in mid-December and offer 7-night cruises until mid-April.For a list of upcoming cruises departing from Galveston, click here.
Disney Cruises is headed to Europe in 2010.

The elegant, family-friendly Disney Magic will offer a small number of 10- and 11-day Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona and an even smaller number of 12-day Scandinavia sailings departing from Dover, England.

Disney primarily sails Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries and already sells out earlier than any other cruise line (with the possible exception of Oceania), so when the line repositions to other destinations, it is wise to book as early as you can.For a list of Disney's 2010 Scandinavia and Mediterranean cruises, click here. For a list of Disney's other upcoming cruises, click here.

One of the best aspects of a cruise vacation is the all-inclusive price, especially when it comes to dining. But in a highly controversial move, Royal Caribbean has added a $14.95 surcharge for every 10-oz, "all natural" New York strip steak ordered in the main dining rooms aboard the Freedom of the Seas and the Majesty of the Seas. According to the cruise line, this surcharge is part of an ongoing trial to determine whether passengers are interested in paying an additional fee for a higher-quality cut of meat.

Initially, there was some confusion as to whether the 10-oz strip, with its additional charge, would replace the 7-oz Black Angus steak traditionally offered in Royal Caribbean's dining rooms. However, the cruise line has confirmed that the 7-oz steak will still be available along with its other regular entrees, at no extra expense.The 10-oz steak is also being tested in Chops, one of Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurants. However, the surcharge will not be applied to steaks ordered in this venue, since this restaurant already has a cover charge.It will be interesting to see how passengers react to this new onboard expense, or if other cruise lines decide to follow suit. I'll keep you posted as this situation develops.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 is wrapping up her final sailing this week before repositioning to Dubai, where she will undergo extensive refurbishment and reopen as a floating hotel at the Palm Jumeirah, the world's largest artificial island.Originally launched in 1969, the QE2 has had a long and distinguished career and is arguably the most famous cruise ship of all time. She has crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 800 times, offered an unprecedented 25 world cruises, and traveled almost 5.7 million miles around the globe.

More than 2.5 million passengers have sailed on the QE2, including Princess Diana, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, not to mention Beatrice Muller, an 89-year-old widow who lives aboard the ship, having booked every QE2 sailing back-to-back for the past nine years. (No word yet on Ms. Muller's future plans.)In 1982, the QE2 was commissioned by then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher to participate in the Falklands War, in which she ferried 3,000 soldiers of the Fifth Infantry Brigade to the South Atlantic. The ship was fitted with three helicopter pads prior to the journey, and her public areas were refurbished to serve as dormitories. More than 650 Cunard crewmembers volunteered for the voyage.

Queen Elizabeth II paid a farewell visit to the QE2 in Southampton this past June, on the anniversary of her coronation. She originally launched the ship in 1969, signing the visitor's book before the first passenger on the vessel's maiden voyage.Many are sad to see such a grand ship leave service, but her fame saved her from the ship breakers at Alang, and her new life as a floating hotel in one of the world's top resort destinations is highly anticipated.For a list of upcoming cruises on Cunard's other ships, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria, click here.

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
Grand Voyages
Group Cruises
Hosted Singles Cruises
Interline Rates
Military Rates (U.S. and Canadian)
Past Passenger Rates
Police/Firefighter Rates
Regional Rates Sign-up
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 cruiselines. Click the FastDeal # for details.

1) Bahamas, 7 days on Norwegian, departs Charleston Dec 6, starting at $249, save 75%, FastDeal # 10183
2) Caribbean, 5 days on Celebrity, departs Miami Jan 26, starting at $299, FastDeal # 27412 (Celebrity does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
3) Mexico, 7 days on Holland America, departs San Diego Nov 29, starting at $449, save 55%, FastDeal # 13483
4) Caribbean, 7 days on Carnival, departs Miami Nov 16, starting at $329, save 80%, FastDeal # 21074
5) Mexico, 7 days on Princess, departs Los Angeles Nov 29, starting at $392, save 66%, FastDeal # 13464
6) Panama Canal, 11 days on Royal Caribbean, departs Miami Jan 19, starting at $1299, FastDeal # 27331 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)
7) Caribbean, 7 days on Princess, departs San Juan Nov 30, starting at $392, save 66%, FastDeal # 11394
8) Antarctica, 16 days on Holland America, departs Buenos Aires Jan 8, starting at $1499, save 71%, FastDeal # 10278
9) Central America, 7 days on Windstar, departs Puerto Caldera Jan 31, starting at $1799, save 45%, FastDeal # 20447 (Windstar will not allow this rate to be shown on the Internet - please call us at the number below for information or reservations.)
10) Asia/Far East, 12 days on Regent (Radisson), departs Shanghai Mar 6, starting at $7795, save 40%, FastDeal # 12188

For all 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 001-713-974-2121.