Choose Your Path Forward

Over the past several years, we have worked closely with business consultants, financial professionals, and legal counsel to create the most responsible and realistic path forward for our valued clients. Every part of this program has been carefully designed so we can serve you fairly, consistently, and with integrity. Below are four simple options. Please select the one that best fits your situation.Once you choose, you will be guided to the appropriate next step.

  • If you select Option 1, 2, or 3, you will be directed to the Emerald Club Membership page to begin the transition process.

  • Clients who wish to travel will receive enhanced vacation credits, benefits, and concierge services through the Classic, Preferred, Premium, or Elite plans.

  • If you are unsure whether to travel or request a refund, simply choose the Classic plan to keep all options open.

  • If you are certain you want a refund, choose the Classic plan as well. Even clients requesting a full refund will receive lifetime Emerald Club benefits with zero ongoing fees

A Message to Our First Class Vacations Family

Our Path Forward — Together

First and foremost, we want to be very clear about one important point:

after the complete government-mandated shutdown of the cruise industry during COVID-19, First Class Vacations received no industry-specific relief or recovery funding, and yet we made a conscious decision not to walk away from the clients who had trusted us for so many years.

First Class Vacations was founded in 2004 and grew into a multi-million-dollar travel company with more than 40 employees, serving over 40,000 clients and fulfilling more than 50,000 vacations over the past two decades. Our success was built on relationships, trust, expertise, and highly personal service.

Then COVID-19 struck at the worst possible moment, just as we were entering a new period of transition and growth. The cruise industry was effectively shut down by government order for more than a year, and unlike many other sectors, did not receive any relief or recovery support. As a result, First Class Vacations has not been able to recover in the way we all hoped for or worked toward despite our continued efforts, commitment, and determination.

But one thing never changed: Our commitment to our clients.

I Know I Want to Travel

This option is for clients ready to begin planning their vacation.By selecting an Emerald Club plan, you will:

  • Begin vacation planning with our team as early as April 2026

  • Receive additional travel credits and benefits

  • Enjoy full concierge and trip planning support

I’m Not Sure Yet (Keep My Options Open)

If you are undecided between travel, a refund, or a combination of both, this option keeps your flexibility intact.By choosing the Classic Emerald Club plan, you will:

  • Keep your account active

  • Preserve all options

  • Decide later whether to travel, request a refund, or do both

I Know I Want a Refund

If you prefer a refund, select the Classic Emerald Club plan to begin the refund process.

  • Refunds will be paid in installments starting July 2026

  • A full financial audit will ensure credit for every dollar paid

    Estimated timeframes:

  • Investments $5,000 or less: 6–12 months

  • Investments over $5,000: 12–18 months

    You will:

  • Submit a refund request

  • Have your account reviewed and processed

  • Receive updates throughout the process

I Choose Not to Participate in the Recovery Path

If you choose not to participate, your account will remain inactive and no planning or refund activity will occur. Should First Class Vacations receive delayed COVID relief funding in the future, we will notify you and reopen your account.

A Note About First Class Vacations Funding

At this time, there is no confirmed funding source for First Class Vacations as a standalone company. Traditional investors are generally not investing in conventional travel agencies, and government funding has not been secured.

Fan Cruise was created with a new business model centered on large-scale experiential events and a private travel club, which has enabled it to attract capital and partners. For this reason, Fan Cruise and the Emerald Club represent the only active path forward today.

I Know I Want to Travel

This option is for clients ready to begin planning their vacation.By selecting an Emerald Club plan, you will:

  • Begin vacation planning with our team as early as April 2026

  • Receive additional travel credits and benefits

  • Enjoy full concierge and trip planning support

I’m Not Sure Yet (Keep My Options Open)

If you are undecided between travel, a refund, or a combination of both, this option keeps your flexibility intact.By choosing the Classic Emerald Club plan, you will:

  • Keep your account active

  • Preserve all options

  • Decide later whether to travel, request a refund, or do both

I Know I Want a Refund

If you prefer a refund, select the Classic Emerald Club plan to begin the refund process.

  • Refunds will be paid in installments starting July 2026

  • A full financial audit will ensure credit for every dollar paid

    Estimated timeframes:

  • Investments $5,000 or less: 6–12 months

  • Investments over $5,000: 12–18 months

    You will:

  • Submit a refund request

  • Have your account reviewed and processed

  • Receive updates throughout the process

I Choose Not to Participate in the Recovery Path

If you choose not to participate, your account will remain inactive and no planning or refund activity will occur. Should First Class Vacations receive delayed COVID relief funding in the future, we will notify you and reopen your account.

A Note About First Class Vacations Funding

At this time, there is no confirmed funding source for First Class Vacations as a standalone company. Traditional investors are generally not investing in conventional travel agencies, and government funding has not been secured.

Fan Cruise was created with a new business model centered on large-scale experiential events and a private travel club, which has enabled it to attract capital and partners. For this reason, Fan Cruise and the Emerald Club represent the only active path forward today.

Why Fan Cruise Was Created

After years of pursuing every traditional option, including government financing that continues to be delayed, we realized that we could not afford to simply wait.

That realization led Dalilah Santini, who has been with First Class Vacations since 2013, and me to found Fan Cruise.

Fan Cruise is an entirely new company built around a revolutionary model: the creation of large-scale, full-ship themed cruises in partnership with major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean. This model allows us to deliver extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences while generating the scale of revenue and impact that traditional travel agencies simply cannot achieve.

This model has allowed FanCruise to attract significant investment capital and grow quickly. In only a few short months FanCruise has reached a valuation of over $25 million. Industry analysts project that following our first major sailing, the Legends of Boxing FanCruise, partnered with the World Boxing Council, Royal Caribbean and featuring over 50 world champions the company’s value may easily grow 10-20 times beyond that. With many more major themed cruise events on the horizon the company’s success is almost unlimited.

This success is what allows us to create a responsible, structured, and realistic path forward for our First Class Vacations clients.

Why FanCruise Was Created

After years of pursuing every traditional option, including government financing that continues to be delayed, we realized that we could not afford to simply wait.

That realization led Dalilah Santini, who has been with First Class Vacations since 2013, and me to found Fan Cruise.

Fan Cruise is an entirely new company built around a revolutionary model: the creation of large-scale, full-ship themed cruises in partnership with major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean. This model allows us to deliver extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences while generating the scale of revenue and impact that traditional travel agencies simply cannot achieve.

This model has allowed FanCruise to attract significant investment capital and grow quickly. In only a few short months FanCruise has reached a valuation of over $25 million. Industry analysts project that following our first major sailing, the Legends of Boxing FanCruise, partnered with the World Boxing Council, Royal Caribbean and featuring over 50 world champions the company’s value may easily grow 10-20 times beyond that. With many more major themed cruise events on the horizon the company’s success is almost unlimited.

This success is what allows us to create a responsible, structured, and realistic path forward for our First Class Vacations clients.

Introducing the Emerald Club

Because of our loyal client base and the many new travelers soon to join FanCruise, we created a private, invitation-only travel and concierge club called The Emerald Club.

The Emerald Club is available for First Class Vacation clients for one reason: To provide our First Class Vacations clients with the highest level of service, care, and expertise and to responsibly carry forward your vacation value or provide refunds when travel is no longer possible.

Through the Emerald Club, FanCruise will work to fulfill existing First Class Vacations luxury cruise packages over the coming years and to provide refund options for those who are unable to travel due to age, health, or personal circumstances.

Introducing the Emerald Club

Because of our loyal client base and the many new travelers soon to join FanCruise, we created a private, invitation-only travel and concierge club called The Emerald Club.

The Emerald Club is available for First Class Vacation clients for one reason: To provide our First Class Vacations clients with the highest level of service, care, and expertise and to responsibly carry forward your vacation value or provide refunds when travel is no longer possible.

Through the Emerald Club, FanCruise will work to fulfill existing First Class Vacations luxury cruise packages over the coming years and to provide refund options for those who are unable to travel due to age, health, or personal circumstances.

Your Emerald Club Membership & Next Steps

To responsibly manage accounts, protect inventory, coordinate bookings, and deliver personalized concierge services, First Class Vacations clients will be exclusively handled through Fan Cruise’s Elite Emerald Club membership program.

The standard Emerald Club membership is $5,000. However, for First Class Vacations clients, it is being offered at a substantially reduced transition amount of $945, which is either added to your account as $1,200 in travel credit or refunded to you in full. Therefore, it effectively costs you nothing.

You may choose to have your $945:

  • Converted into $1,200 in travel credit, or

  • Applied toward your refund balance, or

  • Refunded to you in full if your vacation is already paid and you do not need additional credits.

In addition, a limited number of enhanced membership options are available that include increased travel value, additional credits, and special benefits as a thank-you for your patience and loyalty.

Our goal is to make this transition simple, fair, and beneficial while continuing to provide you with the level of service and care you deserve.

In essence, this program is designed to cost our clients ZERO unless you choose upgrades or enhancements.

We were told repeatedly by consultants that this structure would not be possible. We were told it would require much higher fees that could not be added as a credit or refunded. We kept pushing anyway because our goal was never to extract more from our clients, but to protect what you already invested.

An Opportunity to Participate in Fan Cruise’s Growth

In addition to creating a path forward for your vacations, we also want to offer our clients a brief opportunity to participate in Fan Cruise’s growth through our Regulation CF crowdfunding campaign. Although we have already completed a successful founders round and could have increased our valuation, we intentionally chose to keep our share price at $1 per share for a limited time, because many of our clients were not aware of the opportunity to participate at such an early stage. We have established a secure funding portal where clients may, if they wish, purchase shares at this original $1 price with minimums as low as only $300. This is entirely optional and is simply a way for those who believe in what we are building to show their support and to participate in the company’s journey from its earliest stage. We see this as a thank-you to our community and a way for you to be part of this new chapter if it feels right for you.

Special Charter Investor round

For those who are interested in a larger level of participation, we are also offering a special Charter Investor round for clients considering investments of $3,000 or more. This round includes additional, exclusive benefits and is available on a limited basis. Clients who qualify for the Charter Investor program will have the opportunity to meet personally with Dalilah and Jeff during a one-on-one Zoom call, where we will walk through the details step by step and answer any questions you may have. This is simply an additional option for those who feel aligned and wish to participate at a deeper level.

What Happens Next

We are now entering the execution phase of this process.

  • Clients in their 80s and 90s will be given priority scheduling and assistance. All other clients will be able to start onboarding in late February.

  • You can get the process started by clicking here to visit our forms page.

  • You can schedule a meeting with our V.P. of Client Relations to discuss your account and choose the option that works best for you.

  • Travel groups and a private community (including social travel options for single travelers) are being created.

This is a process, not a single event and we are committed to walking through it with you personally.

From Our Heart to Yours

You are not just clients.

You are the people who built First Class Vacations.

You trusted us. You traveled with us. You became part of our family.

We will not abandon that responsibility.

Dalilah, Joan, Stephanie, John, Dimitrios and the rest of our team, and I have worked

tirelessly for years to find a path forward and we finally have one.

Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for your loyalty.

Thank you for your trust.

We look forward to continuing this journey with you and giving you the vacations you dreamed of and deserve. Or, a full refund if you are unable to travel anymore.

With gratitude,

Jeff Nahom

Founder & CEO, First Class Vacations

Co-Founder & President, Fan Cruise

Dalilah Santini

V.P. Sales, First Class Vacations

Co-Founder & CEO, Fan Cruise

Joan Schwartz

V.P Client Relations, First Class Vacations

Concierge Director, Fan Cruise

Stephanie Klein

V.P. Concierge Services, First Class Vacations

Director of Fundraising, Fan Cruise Cares (Non-Profit)

Dimitrios Katsaitis

Chief Technical Officer, First Class Vacations

Co-Founder & CTO, Fan Cruise

John Papais

Sr. Account Mgr., First Class Vacations

Sr. Fundraising advisor, Fan Cruise Cares (Non-Profit)

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