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Safari Newsletter Dated April 15, 2013
Dear Vacations To Go Customer,
Vacations To Go is the world's largest seller of oceangoing cruises and
river cruises, and among the top sellers of escorted tours 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
Yangtze,
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'd like to 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.
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.
Plus, you'll get Trafalgar's
Insider Experiences. These include
the exclusive Be My Guest program, which treats travelers to an
authentic local dining experience in a unique venue, like a 17th-century
family farm in France or an olive-growing estate in Tuscany. Hidden
Treasures are off-the-beaten-path gems shared by your Travel Director.
Local Specialties introduce you to a region's crafts, customs and foods;
learn how whisky is distilled in Scotland or visit a chocolate factory
in Argentina, for example.
Trafalgar's itineraries offer the perfect balance of included
sightseeing, optional excursions and free time. Choose from several
travel styles, including the popular
At Leisure
trips, which have a relaxed pace, more free time, no starts before 9
a.m. and stays of at least two to three nights in visited destinations.
Hassle-free
Family Experiences
are full of activities designed to help parents, kids and grandparents
discover the world together.
Vacations To Go has negotiated several money-saving deals with
Trafalgar, including
discounts of up to 5% off guided vacations in
Europe when you
book and pay in full by April 30. Click
here
to see all promotions and departures with Trafalgar.
Royal Caribbean is known for its large, innovative ships and
creative amenities. Rock-climbing walls and ice-skating rinks are among
the unusual features passengers will find on many of the line's ships.
Aboard the largest vessels in the fleet -- the 5,400-passenger Oasis of
the Seas and Allure of the Seas -- look for ziplines, FlowRider wave
simulators for surfing, inward-facing balcony cabins and the outdoor,
oceanside AquaTheater.
The Oasis and the Allure each boast seven distinctive
"neighborhoods," like Central Park (planted with more than
12,000 live trees and plants), the Royal Promenade (an interior
boulevard flanked by eateries, lounges and shops) and The Youth Zone
(the largest children's play area at sea).
For the first time, the Oasis of the Seas will offer cruises in Europe,
sailing three Mediterranean cruises in fall 2014. Two 12-night
trans-Atlantic repositioning cruises -- with plenty of days at sea --
will give guests ample opportunity to sample the onboard amenities,
entertainment and many dining experiences.
Royal Caribbean is in the process of updating its ships, extending the
most popular Oasis-class features to more vessels. Enhancements include
the addition of new specialty restaurants and entertainment options,
poolside movie screens and nurseries. Ten ships completed their Royal
Advantage updates in 2011 and 2012, and the rest will be revitalized in
2013 and 2014.
Right now, Royal Caribbean is offering our customers
exclusive shipboard credits
of up to $150 per stateroom on a variety of cruises departing
through January 2014.
Click
here
for more information about Royal Caribbean and its fleet of 21
ships.
Viking River Cruises made history last month when it christened
10 brand-new Viking Longships in a single day. The ceremony on March 20
was recognized by the Guinness World Records for the most ships
inaugurated in one day by one company.
Four of the christenings took place in front of spectators in Amsterdam,
while the remaining six were conducted live via satellite from a German
shipyard. Each vessel had its own ceremonial godmother.
In all, 14 Viking Longships currently sail for the company. Two more are
expected to launch later this year, and an additional eight vessels are
scheduled to debut in 2014, bringing the total number of Viking
Longships to 24.
Each Viking Longship accommodates 190 guests who can choose from a
variety of staterooms. Two Explorer Suites -- among the largest river
cruise suites in Europe -- measure 445 square feet each and feature a
separate living room and bedroom and a private wraparound veranda
complete with 270-degree views. Seven two-room Veranda Suites include a
full-size veranda in the living room plus a French balcony in the
bedroom. There are 39 Veranda Staterooms, each with a full-size veranda,
and 22 French Balcony Staterooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that
slide open.
Viking Longships have energy-efficient, hybrid engines that offer a
quiet ride and also feature solar panels and organic herb gardens on
their sundecks. The indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, a Viking exclusive,
at the bow features retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and is an
ideal area for sightseeing, relaxing and casual dining.
Your companion cruises and flies for free from select gateways on
eligible
2014 Viking departures when you
book and pay in full
by May 31. Click
here
to see all 2-for-1 deals from Viking, as well as every Viking
itinerary.
The outstanding onboard experience and fascinating itineraries of
Regent Seven Seas Cruises have drawn my family to the line for
four different voyages over the years. I can attest that cruising just
doesn't get any better than it is on this six-star line, known for
top-notch service, fantastic gourmet cuisine and wonderful enrichment
programs.
Two of the line's three ships --
Seven Seas Voyager
and
Seven Seas Mariner
-- pamper 700 guests in all-balcony, all-suite accommodations. The
Seven Seas Navigator
carries just 490 passengers in all-suite, ocean-view accommodations,
most of which have private balconies.
The upfront price of a Regent cruise includes all beverages, even
unlimited 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.
Passengers who book higher categories receive concierge-level amenities
such as priority, pre-departure online reservations for shore excursions
and specialty restaurants, as well as in-suite binoculars, coffee brewer
and cashmere blanket.
Regent is offering Vacations To Go customers deeply discounted fares --
save up to 73% -- plus
shipboard credits
of up to $900 per stateroom on select sailings. And, receive
free
unlimited Internet on certain departures.
Click
here
for a full list of Regent cruises.
Celebrity Cruises sails the seven seas on a fleet of ships
ranging in size from the
Celebrity Xpedition,
which carries just 98 passengers on cruises of the Galapagos Islands, to
the
Solstice-class ships,
which accommodate more than 2,800 guests.
Celebrity's fifth and final Solstice-class ship,
Celebrity Reflection,
debuted last October. Popular Solstice-class features, such as the
AquaSpa and the Lawn Club -- a top-deck expanse of real grass -- are
represented. It also has the newer venues introduced on sister ship
Celebrity Silhouette
in 2011, 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, drawing, beading,
mixology and cooking.
Celebrity is offering Vacations To Go customers
exclusive
shipboard credits of up to $425 per stateroom on a variety of
cruises and cruise tours. Plus, receive
free prepaid gratuities
(a value of up to $30 per day) on select sailings.
Click
here
for links to all of Celebrity's ships.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's premier
all-inclusive resort brands, with locations in the Dominican Republic,
Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil. These properties are known for great food,
attentive service and a wide variety of included amenities and
activities.
All meals and beverages, nonmotorized water sports, many daytime
activities and some evening entertainment options are included in the
upfront price. In some locations, there are several Iberostar hotels in
one complex and guests have privileges at neighboring properties.
Iberostar has some terrific offers for our customers who want an
easy-to-budget tropical getaway. The savings are factored into the rates
provided when you use the Find A Deal quote tool on our resort website.
All offers
must be booked by April 30. Click the links below for
more details about the eligible resorts, including room category
information, or to shop for a great price.
Pay reduced rates
for a fall getaway at select Iberostar properties. This applies to stays
of three nights or more between August 13 and October 31.
Kids stay and eat for free
at certain Iberostar resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and
Jamaica. This applies to stays between May 1 and December 23.
Save up to 40%
at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach in Jamaica, plus kids stay free, when you
stay between now and June 24.
Pay reduced rates
for a summer vacation at certain Iberostar properties on Mexico's
Caribbean coast. This is valid for stays of three nights or more between
now and June 24.
The
American Queen Steamboat Company specializes in overnight
cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The 432-passenger
American Queen, built to resemble the paddle wheelers of Mark
Twain's era, is the largest vessel sailing these rivers.
The American Queen provides a full complement of comforts and amenities,
but its staterooms and public areas reflect antebellum opulence, with
gleaming woodwork, antiques and fresh flowers.
Guests can attend presentations by the "Riverlorian," the
onboard river historian, or see a show in the Grand Saloon.
Entertainment ranges from Broadway hits and Dixieland jazz to ragtime
and rock 'n' roll.
Enjoy complimentary wine and beer at dinner and complimentary sodas,
bottled water and specialty coffees throughout the voyage. Menus feature
regional cuisine, like beignets at breakfast and Creole-inspired dishes
during five-course dinners. You can dine alfresco in the newly remodeled
Front Porch Cafe.
The American Queen is staffed by an all-American crew. The dress code is
"elegant casual," and formal wear is not required.
The company offers themed cruises that focus on a variety of topics,
like music, gardens, culture and history. Celebrate the
4th of July
under the St. Louis Arch, meet a few veteran stars of the game aboard
Baseball Legends
departures, see the riverbanks cloaked in gold and scarlet on
Fall Foliage
trips and celebrate the simple joys of summer (complete with apple pie,
lemonade and kite-flying off the top deck) on
Good Old Summertime
sailings.
American Queen Steamboat Company is offering our customers terrific
savings, including
discounts of up to $750 per couple ($375 per
person) and one-category stateroom upgrades on select sailings. Click
here
to see all of American Queen's departures and any accompanying
promotions.
The 5.5-star masted sailing ships of
Windstar Cruises include the
310-passenger
Wind Surf
and the 148-passenger
Wind Spirit
and
Wind Star.
With their sleek hulls and billowing sails, they make an impressive
sight on the high seas. The line specializes in itineraries that visit
off-the-beaten-path ports, many of which are accessible only by small
vessels.
Windstar recently completed an $18 million renovation of its fleet. The
stem-to-stern refurbishment enhanced public spaces, dining venues,
staterooms and suites.
The onboard atmosphere of a Windstar cruise is one of casual elegance,
so jackets, ties and cocktail dresses aren't necessary for the
open-seating dinners. On each ship, guests can try windsurfing, sailing
and other water sports at the aft Marina Deck, check out a DVD to watch
in their stateroom or visit the spa for a massage or facial.
The line will return to the South Pacific next year. Starting May 2,
2014, the Wind Spirit will sail weeklong cruises from Papeete, Tahiti,
calling at such islands as Raiatea, considered the cultural heart of
French Polynesia, and Bora Bora, a place of unparalleled natural
beauty.
Windstar is offering Vacations To Go customers
exclusive prices,
with savings of up to 68%, on a variety of sailings.
For more information about Windstar Cruises and its fleet, click
here.
In addition to its worldwide cruise operations,
Royal Caribbean
offers a variety of cruise tours in exciting destinations worldwide.
These land and sea vacations offer guests a unique opportunity to travel
beyond the coast to fully experience a destination's scenery, history
and culture.
Royal Caribbean's land tours are fully escorted trips with planned
activities, conveniently located hotel accommodations and comfortable
transportation between destinations. The line offers cruise tour
packages in Alaska and Western Canada, Europe and Australia/New
Zealand.
Cruise Alaska's coast, visiting places like Hubbard Glacier, Skagway and
Juneau, before heading inland to see the spectacular scenery of the
Canadian Rockies or the wildlife of Denali National Park. Extend a
European cruise vacation to sightsee in Paris, London, Madrid or Rome.
If you're planning a trip Down Under, consider one of Royal Caribbean's
Australia/New Zealand cruise tours to see the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers
Rock, Rotorua or Queensland.
For a complete list of Royal Caribbean cruise tours, click
here.
Top 10 Africa vacations
1)
South Africa Family - Kruger & Beyond,
12 days with
Intrepid Travel. Begins and
ends in Johannesburg with visits to the Mkuze Game Reserve, Kruger
National Park and Blyde River Canyon.
Save 10% when you pay in
full. Land-only starting from $2,290.
Departs July 21 &
August 4, 2013.
Book now!
2)
Kenya Kaleidoscope,
8 days with
African Travel. Begins and ends in Nairobi with
visits to the Shaba Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai
Mara National Park. Land-only starting from $2,645.
Departures from
April 30 through December 31, 2013.
3)
Nairobi to Victoria Falls Adventure,
20 days with
G Adventures. Begins in Nairobi and ends in
Livingstone with visits to Serengeti National Park, Zanzibar and Lake
Malawi.
Save 15%. Land-only starting from $2,649.
Departs July
15 & 29 and August 19, 2013.
Book now!
4)
Great Parks of Kenya,
10 days with
Globus. Begins and ends in Nairobi with visits to
Amboseli National Park, the Masai Mara National Reserve and Samburu
National Reserve.
Military members save $50 to $100 off the land
price. Land-only starting from $3,759.
Departures from August 7
through December 18, 2013.
Book now!
5)
Kenya
& Tanzania Camping Safari,
15 days with
G Adventures. Begins in Nairobi and ends in Arusha
with visits to the Samburu Game Reserve, Serengeti National Park and
Ngorongoro Crater. Land-only starting from $3,949.
Departures from
June 21 through December 29, 2013.
6)
Tanzania Lodge Safari,
8 days with
Intrepid Travel. Begins in Nairobi and ends in Arusha
with visits to Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and
Ngorongoro Crater. Land-only starting from $4,570.
Departures from
June 21, 2013 through August 1, 2014.
7)
South African Discovery,
12 days with
African Travel. Begins in Johannesburg and ends in
Cape Town with visits to the Kruger National Park area, Swaziland and
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. Land-only starting from $4,645.
Departures
from May 4 through October 26, 2013.
8)
South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana,
12 days with
Alluring Africa. Begins in Cape Town and ends in
Johannesburg with visits to the Cape Winelands, Kapama Game Reserve and
Chobe National Park. Land-only starting from $4,760.
Near daily
departures from May 7 through November 19, 2013.
9)
Botswana in Depth,
11 days with
SITA Tours. Begins in Livingstone and ends in Maun
with visits to Chobe National Park, the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and
Makgadikgadi National Park.
Save 5% when you pay in full.
Land-only starting from $5,600.
Daily departures from August 27
through December 31, 2013.
Book now!
10)
Uganda & Rwanda in Depth,
11 days with
SITA Tours. Begins in Entebbe and ends in Kigali
with visits to Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National
Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Save 5% when you pay in
full. Land-only starting from $8,375.
Daily departures from
August 17 through December 21, 2013.
Book now!
Once you've found a safari that interests you, call us toll free at
800-291-3346 (US and Canada) and a safari specialist will attend to your
needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0-800-098-8546.
All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at
+1-713-974-2121.
To search for a river cruise anywhere in the world,
click here.
To see our worldwide listing of escorted tours, independent tour
packages and train tours,
click here.
For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda,
the Bahamas, Europe, Canada and the continental US,
click here.
For savings of up to 75% on ocean-going cruises,
click here.
Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at
alanfox@africasafari.com and
I will respond the same day.
To send a copy of this newsletter to a friend or friends, click
here.
Sincerely,
Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go