Cruising Today - February Issue

Our Latest issue of CruisingToday is in homes soon . Click on the magazine to preview a digital version of it.

Director's Cut - Win a Free Cruise Worth up to $3000

We're ready for our close-up! Send us your most creative video on the ease of booking with CruisesOnly and you could win our $3,000 grand prize!

Time and time again, our customers tell us just how much they appreciate the ease with which they booked their cruise vacation through CruisesOnly. And now, we'd like our customers to show us – by submitting a video that helps convey that hassle-free experience to fellow cruise shoppers!

We'll be posting the most original, creative, and entertaining videos – those submissions that do the best job of convincing viewers that CruisesOnly is simply the easiest and best option when it comes to booking a cruise – on our new YouTube page. And then the viewing public takes over. The videos we post will be automatically entered into our "Director's Cut" contest and voted on by registered YouTube users (registration is free!). Up to 25 top vote-getters will compete for our grand prize ... a voucher, worth up to $3,000, that you can apply towards the purchase of any cruise you book through CruisesOnly!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CRUISESONLY: HERE'S HOW IT WORKS
Every entrant enjoys the freedom to submit a video that they think will score the highest number of votes. As long as your submission is focused on the theme of "the ease of booking with CruisesOnly," you're free to be as creative as you'd like. Here's how to get started ...

* Come up with an idea that you think has the highest "wow" factor: be funny, be clever, be effective
* Make a video: it's easy ... you can use a digital camcorder, a webcam, even your cell phone
* Keep it short: all submissions should be a maximum of 90 seconds (1:30) in length
* Keep it clean: videos containing obscene acts and language, or references to copyrighted materials are ineligible
* Keep it original: videos may not have been published, broadcast, or otherwise publicly distributed prior to entry

Additional guidelines apply. See below for complete details. To enter, please submit your video via email to mycruisevideo@wth.com. Please remember to include your name, your home address, a daytime phone number, an authorized email address (for which you are the user), and the names of the persons who filmed and appeared in your video along with your submission.




CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

Win a Free Cruise

Recently returned from your cruise? We'd love to hear all about it. Share your experiences and you'll be automatically entered into our sweepstakes!

Six lucky prize winners will be treated to up to $3,000 worth of travel – simply for helping other CruisesOnly customers make informed decisions about their next purchase. If you've recently returned from a cruise vacation, please take a few minutes to post a customer review. You could win a voucher good towards the purchase of your next sailing!

Here's how it works.
You can write a review in just minutes. Our review form makes it easy to personalize and preview your opinions. What were your overall impressions of your ship? What were your favorite ports of call? In your opinion, what are the "must-see" attractions and most entertaining activities?

Click here for full details

This Week's Email

CruisingToday - January 2009 issue

Our Latest issue of CruisingToday is in homes this week. Click on the magazine to view a digital version of it.

2009 Stimulus Sale - Starts Today

LIMITED-TIME BONUS OFFERS INCLUDE UP TO AN EXTRA $200 OFF, FREE ONBOARD SPENDING, STATEROOM UPGRADES & REDUCED DEPOSITS!

2009 has arrived, and we're ringing in the New Year with winter's hottest cruise sale – you simply won't find a bigger or better collection of deals available anywhere else! Start with the absolute lowest prices on an enormous selection of top-brand sailings. Then, choose from tons of valuable extras including free onboard spending, free stateroom upgrades, reduced booking deposits, and much more. You couldn't pick a better time to book this year's vacation – with fares on many cruises reduced by as much as 80%, our winter sale is your opportunity to treat yourself to the getaway you've been longing for at a very budget-friendly price. See our grid below for more details!

Hurry – sale ends January 31st, and the best deals will disappear fast. Book online or call 1-800-278-4737 today!

Seven Tips to Cutting Vacation Costs

In a New York Times article about how the very wealthy cut back during the economic downturn, one woman said she'd stop getting her sheets dry cleaned. Well, sure, I guess it’s a start. If you’re like me, this year’s vacation budget may have to be trimmed a bit but the good news you can still have a marvelous cruise vacation.

Start by understanding that a cruise gives you the biggest bang for your vacation buck over other vacation options. Included in the price of a cruise is your accommodations, as much food as you can eat and entertainment, which means that you’ve paid for 80% of your vacation up front. Add to that the steep discounts offered by cruise lines on every category of ship plus the cancellation of fuel surcharge and you’re already cutting costs by deciding to book a cruise.
So many of us consider vacations a priority and a cruise is the best buy there is. But for those of us who want to keep vacation costs in check, here are tips for cutting cruise costs.

Picking A Ship & Itinerary
There are a number of variables that will affect the cost of your cruise and they all start with picking the right ship.

1. So let’s start with what you don’t do. In my experience, the biggest mistake you can make is selecting a cruise ship based on price alone. Unlike picking an airline seat or hotel room, your lifestyle and interests should always be factored into choosing a cruise ship you’ll enjoy for the duration of your voyage. For example, there is a lot of diversity in dining plans from one cruise line to another. Do you prefer assigned, two seating dining or a more flexible plan that lets you dine when and with whom you please? If you are traveling with children you may want to head for vessels that offer the most extensive children’s programs. This is the time it’s important to sit down with your travel counselor and review the differences between cruise lines.
The very best travel agents can frequently steer you to bargains you never knew existed and, with some cruise lines, offer you a lower price than competitors.

2. Some cruising regions are more affordable than others. In 2009/10, and probably into the price of a cruise will largely be affected by cruising region. You'll find the lowest fares on Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico itineraries where there is an over-capacity of ships. However, fares for Europe cruises should be the lowest we’ve seen in years since so many ships are based there

3. There's a good reason why homeland cruising continues to be popular. With cancelled and delayed flights on the rise, not to mention high prices, you can save an enormous amount of aggravation and money by sailing from a nearby port. For example last year 1.3 million people sailed from the three ports of (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bayonne, NJ) and you'll find three cruise lines offering year-round cruises to the Caribbean.

4. The newest vessels typically command the highest prices so opt for one that's been around for a few years, especially if you prefer one cruise line over another. The food, service and entertainment will be the same and, in most cases, cabin sizes don't vary by category.

5. As any cruiser knows, onboard expenditures can add up quickly. Should you want to cut costs in this area, it’s a wise idea to plan for it. I’ve learned to cut costs in one area to be able to afford another. Perhaps I’ll eliminate spa treatments to be able to splurge on a golf package at a terrific course on the itinerary. If you decide to cut back on shore excursions research the options of planning your own activities when the ship is in port.

6. In terms of family vacations, it's nearly impossible to top a cruise in terms of affordability. Cruise lines don't charge for wonderful, fully-staffed children's programs that will keep the kids entertained throughout the day.

7. I know it’s fun to buy new clothes for a cruise, but you probably don’t need them (although if the answer is “yes”, head for Ebay or your favorite discount store). Of course you want to be dressed up for formal nights. Take a pair of black pants or evening skirt, add a tunic or blouse and add accessories like dressy scarves and jewelry. Borrow from a friend or pick up things at a flea market if you don’t want to buy.
Now go and have a terrific cruise, made even better by all the money you’ve saved!


By Anne Campbell

3 Day Sale- Big Discounts

Ring In '09 With Big Savings On Top-Brand Sailings!

• Save Up To 80% Aboard Our Most POPULAR Cruise Lines
• Fuel Surcharges Eliminated / Suspended – Up To Hundreds In ADDITIONAL Savings
• Bonus Offers Include FREE Onboard Spending, FREE Upgrades & More

Treat yourself to the cruise vacation you deserve at a price you can afford! We've got the industry's very best rates and bonus offers on sailings departing in 2009 – you simply won't find lower fares anywhere else (it's guaranteed). Book now and save up to 80%! We'll also treat you to valuable extras including free onboard spending or free stateroom upgrades when you book qualifying cruises.

Additional offers include reduced booking deposits on upcoming Holland America departures and "kids-sail-free" deals when you book select Disney Cruise Line voyages. Don't miss out – all prices and offers are available for a limited time only!

Sail-a-bration ends January 4th.