Expedia.com Anchors Aweigh With Expedia.com’s New Cruise Section
Bellevue, WA, November 13, 2000—Taking a cruise is one of the hottest trends in travel, but for many travelers selecting the perfect route and ship can be a daunting task. Now that has changed. With the new Expedia.com® cruise section, travelers have the online travel industry's broadest selection of cruises and shopping choices at their fingertips. With 18 cruise lines and 113 ships, Expedia.com offers an experience sure to set travelers' spirits sailing.
The Expedia.com cruise experience is the ability to visit Expedia.com and instantly access ship layouts, cabin photos, route map comparisons, and expert cruise reviews that highlight the advantages and disadvantages of specific ships and itineraries. Plus, it's the convenience of being able to book a cruise directly online at www.expedia.com, by calling , or by requesting that an Expedia® cruise specialist contact you directly. Most importantly, it's having all the information and choices to make the right decision.
“Cruise travelers have individual needs to consider when selecting a cruise,” said Greg Slyngstad, senior vice president of lodging and destinations of Expedia, Inc. “We simplify their cruise shopping experience by offering easy access to the most comprehensive and relevant information.”
The Expedia.com cruise section gives travelers the luxury of shopping for a cruise by ship, cruise line, destination, port-of-call and duration of the trip. Cruise lines available include Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Renaissance Cruises, Princess Cruise Lines, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and more.
The Expedia.com cruise section is the product of a strategic relationship between Expedia, Inc. and National Leisure Group, Inc., a 15-year veteran and leader in the cruise industry.
Expedia.com Cruise Section Highlights
Ship Reviews from Cruise Expert Douglas Ward Ward reviews hundreds of ships providing an overall ship rating as well as scores for accommodations, food and service. He outlines ship specifics such as size, total crew, passenger capacity and the specific number and type of cabins offered on board. Best yet, Ward highlights “the good” and “the bad” as well as the audience best suited for specific ships and routes. Accessibility for the handicapped and elderly is also addressed.
Traveler Reviews After cruising, travelers are encouraged to rate a ship from one to six stars (six stars is the best) and include comments about their trip.
Cruise Route Comparison View maps of cruise itineraries side-by-side to compare the routes and ports-of-call.
Cabin Pinpointer This unique feature enables customers to choose their own cabin on each ship.
Cabin Details/Deck Plans View cabin descriptions, layouts and pictures. Customers can also click on a deck name to view that specific deck plan.
360° Virtual Tours These photos showcase everything from a ship's restaurants and theaters to pools and decks.
Cruise Community Perfect for travelers wishing to post a message or chat live with Expedia experts about cruise travel.
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) operates Expedia.com, a leading online Web site in the United States with localized versions for travelers in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. To help customers travel right, Expedia.com provides the best combination of air, car and hotel booking, vacation package and cruise offers, destination information, and point-to-point mapping. Industry experts agree. Expedia's quality and leadership was recognized through several awards, including Yahoo! Internet Life's “Best Overall Travel Site,” Gomez Advisors' “Number One Travel Site for Summer 2000” and PC World's “2000 World Class Award for Best Travel Site.”
Expedia.com customers are supported by a credit card guarantee (U.S. site only), an industry-leading privacy policy, and live agents via e-mail and an 800-number available 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Expedia.com is also available under Travel on the MSN™ network of Internet services.
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