The Service Member
Veterans can use a vacation for personal reflection
as well as some well-deserved rest
By Jennifer Davoren
Franck Charel/Atout France
"The eyes of the world are upon you." Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's message to troops arrived shortly before the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. The battle meant both strategic victory and heavy personal losses for the Allies, and their sacrifice still is honored more than seven decades later.
The 13-day "WWI & WWII Battlefields" from escorted tour provider Trafalgar makes time for memorials in England, France and the Netherlands as well as sightseeing in London, Paris and Amsterdam. Departures are available through August 2015, with per-person prices from $3,272 before airfare; each includes a Normandy beach visit, but the June 2 trip arrives on the 71st anniversary of D-Day.
Unwind on the waves
Though eligibility requirements vary, 16 major cruise lines offer military discounts and other perks that can add up to big savings.
Some deals at press time: Active, reserve and retired military receive $260 off balcony cabins aboard a Royal Caribbean International ship, the Rhapsody of the Seas, as it sails the Greek Isles starting Sept. 15. Active personnel receive an additional $200 off the already discounted rates for balcony and suite accommodations on a South American sojourn aboard the Statendam from Holland America Line, departing San Diego on March 15. Discounts extend to all occupants in the cabin, at least doubling the deduction on your fare. And check into shipboard credits, including those offered by Princess Cruises and Cunard Line, for a more value-added vacation.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2015.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858 for current rates and details.
