Published on 01/06/09

As the New Year begins, the prospect of traveling in 2009 is increasingly positive with the U.S. dollar rising in value, and America’s Vacation Center customers are seeing the advantages that go along with the well-known saying, “The early bird gets the worm.” America's Vacation Center customers who book their 2009 Spring and Summer vacations now benefit from the best category cabins, current promotions, and choice of itineraries to the world’s most popular destinations!

Here are the top reasons why you should be the ‘early bird’ in booking your 2009 vacation:

Best Category Cabins

Cruise ships typically sell out from top to bottom, meaning the time slot to reserve the best cabins onboard is before the majority of passengers book their vacation. The location of your cabin on the ship is also crucial in the overall cruise experience. Plan ahead and choose a cabin to meet your desires and needs, whether that means its located close to the main dining room, near the pool, next to the spa, or high above with panoramic views of the ocean. America's Vacation Center’s Personal Vacation Planners can assist you with booking your next cruise before the average guest in order to reserve the cabin of your choice.

Families and Groups

Cruise lines are happy to accommodate large groups and families through interconnecting cabins, suites with multiple rooms, and cabins located directly next to each other. However, as these cabins sell out quickly, it is important for families and groups to plan in advance to ensure accommodations can be met.

Exclusive Promotions

The price of cabins are most often best at the beginning of the year as promotions during the months of January through March are offered to encourage passengers to book before the last minute. A few current promotions offered to America's Vacation Center customers for a limited time include:

• Crystal Cruises – Up to $3,000 Savings

• Uniworld River Cruises – Savings of up to $2,000

• MSC Cruises – Up to $150 Shipboard Credit when using your American Express Card and Kids Sail Free

Visit America's Vacation Center’s website to view more specials currently offered to America's Vacation Center customers booking early.

New and Exciting Ships

As 2009 brings the hype of several new ships, cruise lines are anticipating their new itineraries to sell out quickly. Now is the time to book your vacation on brand-new ships including the MSC Splendida, the Seabourn Odyssey, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Spirit, the Celebrity Equinox, the Carnival Dream, and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.

Ideal Destinations and Itineraries

As the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen in comparison to other currencies, itineraries to popular destinations such as Europe are expected to sell quickly. The average person takes about 4 to 6 months to plan a cruise vacation, according to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), and with sailings through Europe, passengers will also need to book air and reserve hotels pre- and post- cruise.

Don’t make the mistake of postponing your trip-planning this year! Instead, save from current promotions available for a limited time, and let your America's Vacation Center Personal Vacation Planner guide you through all the details of preparing your cruise vacation.

For more information, call 1-888-447-8459 and mention Discount Code 9094# to speak with an AVC Personal Vacation Planner today!