Our mission is to ensure you have all the tools
necessary to enjoy your vacation with us
We’ll give you all the information you need – from party themes to an entertainment preview – well before your vacation begins. In addition, we’ll engage with you throughout your pre- and post-vacation experience. You’ll help us design and implement our trip-specific charitable initiatives. And in Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style contests, you’ll also help write part of the script for your VACAYA cruise or resort vacation.
Approximately 120 Days Before Your Trip
We’ve been working for months pulling everything together for you and we can’t keep it in any longer! If you’re like us, we know you’re itching to start getting ready for your trip. So approximately four months before your vacation, we’ll announce our party themes for our big-ship and resort vacations.* We want to take the stress out of scrambling at the last minute to figure out what to wear, so you’ll have plenty of time to start thinking about and shopping for your fabulous individual and group costumes. Of course costumes are never required, but without question, they add to the fun!
Approximately 45 Days Before Your Trip
VACAYA Big-Ship Cruises: Approximately 45 days** before your cruise is when the countdown to your vacation really begins! We’ve submitted our final manifest to the cruise line and your official Booking Number will be generated and provided to you 45 days out. Your Booking Number is the key to pulling everything together in advance, including making spa appointments, reserving shore excursions, and finding just the right time to enjoy one of our fine dining specialty restaurants. And, of course, if you’re not a planner, you’ll have the opportunity to book many of these extras onboard. But remember… nearly everything is based on the first come, first served rule, so you’ll want to get ‘em while the gettin’ is good!
VACAYA Resorts & Tours: For our resort and tour programs (which don’t have a “Booking Number” equivalent), we’ll release program-specific information approximately 45 days prior to the vacation event.
VACAYA Small-Ship Cruises: For our small-ship programs (which vary greatly depending on the cruise line we’re working with), we’ll release program-specific information approximately 45 days before your vacation.
For a deeper understanding of the differences between our Big-Ship, Small-Ship, and Resorts & Tours experiences, EXPLORE HERE.
The Final Countdown
In the last 30 days before your trip is where we know you’ll begin to BURST with excitement as we share an Entertainment Preview and the activities that’ll bring your VACAYA experience roaring to life!
Be sure to keep a close eye on your Inbox during this period. We’ll be communicating important information to you via email that will most certainly enrich your trip. In addition, your trip’s Get Ready page (which you can access by clicking on your trip from the list below) is your go-to-source for all important information regarding your vacation. An Email Archive is also located on each Get Ready page. We store all of our service emails to guests in this archive. So, if you’re struggling to find an old email, you can always look here to get up-to-speed.
*An Important Note about VACAYA’s Signature Parties: The Heartbeat of Your Destination Experience!
Whether you’re sailing the high seas or exploring exotic resorts, at VACAYA, we believe our parties are the soul of your adventure. Each trip type has its own signature festivities, designed to bring everyone together, celebrate, and create unforgettable memories. Here’s a peek at what you can expect with each VACAYA trip type…
BIG-SHIP CRUISES: Set Sail for Celebration!
Night 1 – THIS IS ME
Kick off in style! Wear something that tells others who you are and where you’re from.
Day 2 – Our First V-Dance (afternoon party): STOPLIGHT PARTY
A colorful way to mingle! Single and ready to mingle? Go GREEN! Just here to chill and make platonic friends? Wear RED. Somewhere magically in between? YELLOW is your color to tell the tale.
On One Random Day or Evening – CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE PARTY
Our CYOA PARTY is YOUR chance to call the shots with the party’s theme. We take online submissions from everyone and then cruisers select the winning party theme from the V Team-determined list of finalists.
Night 5 – A “COLOR” PARTY
Historically, this has been a RED PARTY, but we’re moving on! So, on every 7-night VACAYA big-ship cruise, our biggest party of the week on Night 5 will explode with color as we invite Vacayans to dress to impress in a single hue, turning the entire ship into a sea of vibrant self-expression and connection. Blue could evoke oceanic cool and denim fantasy. Purple could channel royal glam and disco majesty. Or Orange could ignite fiery fun with tropical sunset vibes and bold retro flair. Your V Team will select the trip’s featured color and it’ll be announced 120 days before the sailing.
Day 7 – Final V-Dance: SHE’S A MESS!
Dress as a glorious mash-up of your week’s costumes, wearing one piece from each of your previous costumes. Be as playful and as goofy as you want as our favorite V-Dance of the week provides a perfect finale to your cruise!
Beyond these signature celebrations, other parties are inspired by happenings – from the Olympics to holiday celebrations – changing with each adventure. The remaining party themes are announced 120 days before the start of the cruise.
RESORTS: Your Home Away From Home’s Best Nightlife!
Night 1 – THIS IS ME
The same as on cruise ships… show off who you are with a fun outfit that sparks conversations.
Day 2 – STOPLIGHT PARTY
Same colors as the cruise – green for singles, red for friends, yellow for in-betweeners.
Usually Day 4 or Day 7 – LETTER V-DANCE
We pick a letter of the alphabet, and you and your friends rock costumes starting with that letter. Simple and silly!
All other party themes are determined by your V Team and published 120 days before the start of the event.
SMALL-SHIP CRUISES: Intimate & Playful
While the vibe here is more cocktail-party chic, we still love a touch of costume fun!
Night 1 – THIS IS ME
Personalize your look and introduce yourself in style.
Random Evening – BATHROBE NIGHT!
Snag the cozy robe from your stateroom, accessorize it with items from home, and wear it all evening long starting at 6pm. This night often ends with everyone dropping their robes and enjoying a cheeky UNDERWEAR PARTY.
In addition to these two nights, we usually introduce two or three decades-inspired music nights (for example, an 80s PARTY), as well.
TOURS: Explorations Without the Costume Chaos!
Most of our destination-focused tours are about discovery, far from party terrain. You might enjoy a group dinner or cocktails, but there’s no need to pack costumes. Just bring your sense of adventure!
No matter the trip type, VACAYA’s signature parties are your chance to connect, dance, giggle, and celebrate everything that makes your journey extraordinary. So, let’s make some unforgettable memories… one signature party at a time!
**Please Note:
VACAYA partners with all the major cruise lines and some do not open online registration until closer to the sail date. We will, of course, communicate this to you from the very start if that’s the case with a particular program. You’ll have a full understanding of the anticipated timeline from the moment you book with us.