***[I BOOKED MY FLIGHTS TODAY (8-5-25)--SEE INFO BELOW.
[AWESOME RATE DROP, UPDATE AS OF 6-20-25! We have NO idea how long these just-reduced rates will last, but they are even MUCH lower than on a Carnival cruise, on a MUCH higher caliber of ship and cruising experience! As of today (based on double occupancy), you can book an INSIDE cabin starting at just $612 per person, OCEANVIEW starting at $717pp and BALCONY starting at $743pp--UNHEARD OF! Call our cruise rep Joshua Wright NOW at 800-514-9986. Wait for the prompt, then enter extension 7308. (Reference our important Group Number: 7122091 for all our great group perks.)]
Now read on for full details! (Disregard pricing listed below.)
COME CRUISING for our 18th Annual Winter Cruise with an all-new opportunity, great rates and group perks! For our first time ever (and for a MUCH more elevated experience than we're accustomed to on Carnival), we’ll be cruising CELEBRITY on their stellar Silhouette ship. With 85% of its staterooms featuring balconies with amazing views, this ship also features the open-air Lawn Club (with real grass, grills and sports), a luxurious spa, lively casino, exclusive “eXhale” bedding in each stateroom (with our own cushy bathrobes), the i-Lounge (for complementary access to Apple devices, printers, Apple tech classes and products for sale), tennis, pickleball, bowling, mini-golf, basketball, and even an ICE SKATING RINK! With a dozen restaurant options and almost as many bars/lounges, you’ll never go hungry or thirsty!
Onboard-fun classes include Mixology 101, Martini Flight Tastings, a Food & Wine Pairing Workshop, Jack Daniel’s Tasting Class, a World Wine Tour, and more. Live entertainment daily includes bands and music throughout the ship, specialty acts with aerial and circus-style performers, a pop-art light and music concert, Quasar Nightclub for dancing the night away, the adults-only Solarium pool deck with sparkling waterfalls and the best ocean views, and quiet, classy spaces as well to just relax and converse.
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Now for the exciting details:
• This 7-day/6-night cruise departs SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1st and returns SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7th. Although rates can vary depending on how long you wait to book, pricing now is much lower than expected (all per person, based on double occupancy; call Joshua** below for single cabin rates). These rates can vary if you choose specific cabin locations, but for most of us, we don’t care where they put us, as we spend very little time in the room. SEE OUR FABULOUS ITINERARY AT BOTTOM taking us to Key West (aka “Party Central”), Grand Cayman, and a loooong stop in Cozumel, Mexico, where we can actually enjoy some nightlife, as we don’t have to be back onboard until 9pm!
• These SPECIAL GROUP RATES also get us A CUSTOM-RESERVED DINING TIME of 7:45pm (rather than the 2 set choices of 6pm or 8:30pm), a ONE-HOUR COCKTAIL PARTY WITH HORS d’OEUVRES, plus a BOTTLE OF WINE in each cabin! To be included in our dining tables and these other group perks, it is ESSENTIAL you book through our stellar Vacations-To-Go cruise rep **Joshua Wright at 800-514-9986. Wait for the prompt, then enter extension 7308. (Reference our important Group Number: 7122091.) Joshua is great at returning calls ASAP M-F 8-5 CST. Here is our special GROUP WEB LINK with trip details and also showing who has booked! https://secure.vacationstogo.com/group/index.cfm?u=B95A1D2F-9EF7-2E31-A3F7BCFB7C7DE31E
• GROUP HOTEL INFO: Like last year, most of us will fly in a day earlier (January 31) to relax in Fort Lauderdale, and be super close to the Port, so we can be among the first to board. After checking out dozens of hotels (looking for good reviews, a good rate, an outdoor pool, an included breakfast AND in a hub for walking to restaurants, bars and shopping), here is what I am recommending we ALL book, AND I have arranged a block of rooms held at a special, lower rate for our group:
HAMPTON INN FT. LAUDERDALE--PLANTATION: https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/hampton-inn-ft-lauderdale-plantation.html .
This hotel has all the perks mentioned above (including a jacuzzi), and is walking distance to a shopping mall, Target, and a dozen restaurants; 18 minutes from the airport and 10 miles to the ship's port! Our rate is REFUNDABLE until January 26, which I highly recommend getting a refundable rate this far out, as anything could happen. The hotel also offers shuttle service which we will NOT be using, as there are 128 rooms (potentially 250 people), and reviews state looooong, confusing waits to use it. Our goal is to get to the ship early, efficiently and together, rather than being all split up. Instead I'll arrange our own private coach bus to take us all to Port Everglades together, so we can check in together too. Our reduced GROUP HOTEL RATES, with all taxes and fees, are: $178 for king bed, $188 for 2 Queens. Call 954-382-4500, press 2 for GROUP RESERVATIONS; give GROUP CODE: 500 and GROUP NAME: SF 2026 CRUISE.
If you are with me, I will arrange and offer transfers from the airport to hotel, hotel to port, and port back to the airport on February 7. For NOW, JUST BOOK THE CRUISE TO LOCK IN THESE RATES, as they WILL go up! [Note: If you have hotel suggestions, give me a call.]
***FLIGHTS INFO (what I booked):
I've been watching these flights for months now and they are not fluctuating much...but in checking seating, our outgoing flight is still pretty open--BUT the ideal return flight is much more full, so I booked just NOW (8/5). You may of course use any airline, dates, times, layovers, etc. that you want, but if you'd like to fly together (and possibly transfer to O'Hare and back together from my home in Volo) here's what I booked:
UNITED NONSTOPS BOTH WAYS TO FORT LAUDERDALE.
### Chicago ORD to Fort Lauderdale FLL
Jan 31, UA2684, dep. Saturday, January 31, dep10:35 am to 2:59 pm Nonstop (1 hour time change forward)
### Fort Lauderdale FLL to Chicago ORD
Feb 7, UA1755, dep. 12 noon to 2:21pm Nonstop (1 hour time change backward)
You can choose Basic Economy (see restrictions on United.com) or Economy (see pluses there also, I chose this one). If you can get by with a carry-on bag, it's no extra fees in Economy, or pay $40 each way to check a bag. If you put this on your United Explorer credit card, you get a free bag checked for you and a friend...just sayin'.
Since I am not arranging group flights for us this year, I will have NO IDEA if you are traveling with me or not. In a few weeks I'll do a shout-out to see if you are; then I can see how many to arrange coach bus transfers for in Florida, from airport to hotel, hotel to port, and port back to airport. Once again, you are free to do your own thing, but all going with me will prepay soon after I arrange these.
• As always, I can try to match you up with a good roommate if you call me at 847-971-7895.
You’ll also be invited to a fun Meet-and-Greet here at home a few weeks before we leave, to meet your fellow travelers, learn important cruising and packing tips, explore day excursions and much more!
This is the best deal I think we've ever had, especially on a ship of this caliber. Don't miss the boat...come sail away with us!
Patty
847-971-7895
ITINERARY:
Sunday, February 1: Depart Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 4pm
Monday, February 2: Visit Key West, Florida, 8am-5pm
Tuesday, February 3: At Sea
Wednesday, February 4: Visit Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, 7am-4pm
Thursday, February 5: Visit Cozumel, Mexico, 11am-9pm
Friday, February 6: At Sea
Saturday, February 7: Arrive Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 7am
