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In The News

Recent News Articles and Press Releases about our company.


     

Los Angeles Times Dallas Morning News
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Washington Post

Seven Tips for Saving Money on a European Vacation This Summer
Peter Greenberg.com Travel News - Studio City,CA,USA
Cruisedirectonline.com is a must-click for searching for the best deals.
"Travel agents who specialize in cruises can use their special relationships with particular cruise companies to offer their clients special deals including free airfare or complimentary shore excursions.... Cruisedirectonline.com is a must-click for searching for the best deals.

Peter Greenberg is the preeminent expert on travel. He is the Travel Editor for NBC’s Today show, a contributing editor for Men’s Health and Best Life, travel editor-at-large for AARP, publisher of PeterGreenberg.com, and his national weekly radio show is heard on more than 140 stations, XM satellite radio and Armed Forces Radio Network. In those rare moments when he is not traveling, he lives in New York, Los Angeles and Bangkok.

Pick A Cruise, Any Cruise

Posted by Jim Gullo CBS News

 
Want to join me for some armchair cruise fantasizing? (And no, that’s not ALL I ever do). Then click over to Cruise Direct Online and start imagining where you’d like to go. The site monitors the offerings and prices from twenty big cruise operators, including heavy hitters like Cunard and Holland America, and allows you to book cruises on a moment’s notice. There are also links for special deals, reviews on cruise lines and itineraries, and tips on getting the most out of your cruise.

For example, I’m going to Hawaii in three weeks on Holland America’s ms Zaandam, on a 15-day cruise from San Diego (sorry, my sailing is sold out, so if you’re going, we’ll have to be like two ships passing in the night). If you want to jump on a ship to the Aloha State, click on Hawaii and Cruise Direct pulls up 77 options for sailing to the islands in the coming months. Want to visit the Mediterranean? Click that region and 89 options come up, enough for a whole afternoon of frittering away your time reviewing options (I speak from experience here). Should we go to Nice first, and then Greece, or the other way around?

That’s all fine, you say, but I want to go cruising NOW, and I want to pay very little for it. What you need, my friend, is the site’s cruise deal of the day, which is updated daily and discounts upcoming cruises. The one that I saw offered good prices on 11-day sailings in the Caribbean with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a high-end ship on which I’d happily travel again. So I guess I’ll see you in St. John. See you on board, and happy sailing.
 
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/02/19/travelguru/entry3847759.shtml

Promo Codes The Key To Cruise Savings

Cruise Traveler Magazine

 
Are cruise lines saving their best deals for their best customers? 
Can you get a good deal, even if you've never cruised before?

As the economy show signs of slowing down the cruise business, most cruise lines in recent weeks are out to win over past guests, and to maintain brand loyalty in the face of huge discounts by the competition, they have given past guests special promotion or discount codes. These codes, not available to the general public, offer cruise fares as much as 2 for 1 savings, onboard spending credits, free upgrades, coupon books, bottles of wine and more. They require you to mention a short sequence of letters and/or numbers when booking, and in many cases they're the key to unlocking rock-bottom cruise fares.

How do you get a promo code? There are three types of promotion campaigns going on:

• Available online for anyone to use, and promoted at the cruise lines web site and/or through mass e-mail campaigns

• Individually generated deals specifically targeted to registered past guests or prospects via e-mail

• Exclusive promotions advertised only through travel agents.

Recent deals have included Princess Cruises Alaska promo code sale. 2 for 1 deals on cruise tours. That's right ... half off. In other cases, promo fares signify a specific reduction that can range from $25 to $300 less per person. And in some cases, the cruise lines will allow you to use your personalized code if you bring along relatives or friends in a separate cabin..

Do you have to be a Past Guest To Get These Deals?

Not necessarily. Some cruise lines use their prospect list for e-mail and direct mail promotions. A personalized code is given and if used, offer savings or amenities similar to past guest offers. The trick is to get on their list. It's easy. Visit the cruise lines official web site and register. That's it. In a few weeks you will receive all the e-mails and direct mail promotions you could ever want.

When it comes to realizing the savings of promo fares, there's a real catch: finding them. They generally will not appear on that travel search site you visited. One place to start, your travel agent. One online travel provider that has access to these codes and specializes in discount cruises and cruise tours is Cruise Direct Online. "We're seeing more and more of these cruise promo fares," says Marty Trencher, managing director. "In particular, Princess cruises has been very, very aggressive lately"

Promo code fares are difficult to find. A travel agent's job is to do the extra work and keep up with cruise line promo fares. Travel agents sign up for cruise deal alerts and everyday their inbox fill up with the last cruise line offers.

A Word Of Advice

Be sure to comparison-shop for a cruise on travel search sites and travel agency sites. For the cruise lines, it's all about driving guests back to their own brand. So, register and check your e-mail often. Then call your Travel Agent, promo code in hand. The savings can make your dream cruise come true for less.

 

Time to get in on 2009 "off-season" Alaska cruise deals.

Cruise rates for 2009 are low,  cruise lines are looking to fill cabins now. So you can land a cheap deal. It sounds unreal, but one expert says now you could pick up some good cruise deals if you act fast. 

Marty Trencher of Cruise Traveler Magazine says the industry is trying to fill as many cabins as possible for May and September of 2009 now. As early indications show a possible slow down in cruise travel, cruise lines are getting very aggressive in the Alaska market to avoid a weak summer. He says the cruise lines don't want to take a major hit next summer so they're offering lower-than-normal prices to create excitement about the destination by offering great early booking incentives for next year.

"All the cruiselines are offering specials to try and get bookings, as their advanced bookings may not be what they want them to be."

He says the Alaska cruisetour market remains pricey, but good deals can be found if you know where to look. Alaska Cruise tours range from 10-17 nights and include your 7-night Alaska cruise. Most cruisetours feature an inclusive tour into Denali National Park, a 6.3 million acre park, home to Mt. McKinley and one of the largest wildlife habitats in the world. Alaska Cruise Tours accommodate every lifestyle, from mild to wild.

One hotspot to find good deals is www.alaskacruisetoursonline.com

"Alaska cruise tours online is offering a 7 night Alaska cruise, for as low as $569 per person." He says there is a catch. "You will have to pay a fuel surcharge of $126.00, plus government taxes but that's still a good deal."  ( Editors note: fuel surcharge update. No longer in effect as of 1/1/09 )

Trencher says don't expect low prices for very long though, once the new year around you may have to spend a few hundred's dollars more than what you would pay right now.

Travel scene: ALASKA The view is nothing but gorgeous

Rochester Post-Bulletin - Minnesota

Bob Retzlaff travel editor of the Post-Bulletin.

March 14, 2008

Alaska cruising continues to grow as a popular option for summer travel, but apparently at a slower pace than in the past several years.

Cruises to the Last Frontier -- particularly through the scenic Inland Passage region along Alaska's southeastern coast -- have nearly quadrupled from 1990 to 2007, with double-digit growth the rule rather than the exception.

This season, or so it appears, will find growth only in the 1 percent to 3 percent range, said officials of the Alaska Travel Industry Association in an interview in Travel Weekly.

Local travel agents -- representing Bursch Travel and AAA Travel -- agree with this trend despite the fact that more than a dozen large and small cruise lines will ply Alaska's waters in 2008, and more itineraries and port stops are being offered than ever before.

The number of cruisers who sailed to Alaska last year was just over a million, as compared to 235,000 in 1990, and that level of increase has been unmatched by any cruising region in the world.

Donna Hoehne, an agent with Rochester AAA Travel, said that while cruise sales to Alaska are "not as high as usual," business overall for summer trips remains "very high."

Group travel for Alaska cruises is "about normal," she said, with AAA's sponsored trip in August likely to attract some 30 to 40 persons, as usual. "Individual bookings are not as high as usual, though," she said.

Similar results were noted by B.J. Peterson, manager of Bursch Travel here. "While some persons are booking cruises to Alaska, many others seem to be traveling elsewhere," she noted.

Many of the large and small cruise lines that will be cruising in Alaskan waters this summer will offer combination land and sea options -- which are our favorites. We've cruised to Alaska four times and are convinced that the best ways to enjoy the landscapes and wilderness are to see them from both ship and shore.

Giant Holland America and Princess lines together attract 90 percent of all passengers to Alaska and offer the majority of cruises and tours there.

There are enough options with other lines to make your head spin, notes an article in the Chicago Tribune. All told, there are a handful of ships with capacities of less than 100 passengers, including a paddlewheeler, while dozens of vessels carry well over 2,000.

The larger ships offer a host of amenities, dining options and entertainment, while smaller vessels go places where the bigger ships can't.

"Smaller ships get closer to the glaciers and the wildlife," said Marty Trencher, owner of Travel Direct and Alaska Cruisetours, a 9-year-old national firm specializing in vacations to Alaska, to the Tribune.

Depending on the cruise line, the itinerary and the shore excursions you choose, you can explore any one of 14 national parks and wilderness areas, the most noteworthy of which is Denali National Park, between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

There are several unusual shore excursions or land trips that can be found only in Alaska, such as fishing off a seaplane from Ketchikan or Juneau, river rafting on the Haines or Skeena Rivers, joining a back-country safari or visiting massive Denali and towering Mt. McKinley.

Our favorite off-beat trips include a helicopter ride to a glacier with a champagne toast on arrival and another helicopter trip to a dog-training camp, again to a glacier miles in the interior.

Some travel experts point out that there is a downside to Alaska's popularity -- pricing. "There are no real bargains in Alaska as there are in the Caribbean," Trencher told the Chicago Tribune. On average, he said, a 13-day cruise tour in a balcony cabin on a larger ship will run about $2,700 per-person in the shoulder season (May or September) to about $3,000 in peak season. Pricing doesn't include air fares.

In this writer's opinion, the cost is well worth it. We'll likely be sponsoring another Alaska cruise ourselves in the future -- not this summer, though -- since that region has a lot to offer.

Book Alaska cruises early, ships are crowded

Passengers think first of the last frontier

Alaska cruises gaining in popularity

Tourism sizzles on the "Last Frontier"

Passengers, cruise lines love Alaska

Alaska cruises are heating up

BY ARLINE BLEECKER AND SAM BLEECKER

January 20, 2008

  Newsday

  Pittsburgh Post- Gazette

  Wichita Eagle

  Kentucky Star

  Alaska Magazine

  Winnipeg Free Press

February 10, 2008

  Chicago Tribune

March 01, 2008

  Orange Country Register ( California )

  Hartford Courant

March 02, 2008

   Sydney Morning Herald

   South Florida Sun Sentinel

   Orlando Sentinel

May 17, 2008

    Arkansas Democrat

    The Buffalo News

____________________________

 

Alaska is hot.

If that sounds counterintuitive, hang onto your mittens!

As a tourist destination, the last frontier sizzles and, consequently, space aboard the flotilla of ships that call the 49th state home from May through September fill quickly.

In the 17 years from 1990 to 2007, for example, the number of cruisers who've sailed there has nearly quadrupled from 235,000 to a tad more than a million, says Marty Trencher, owner and managing director of Travel Direct and Alaska Cruisetours Online, a 9-year-old firm specializing in vacations to the "Last Frontier."

In total, a dozen large and small cruise lines will ply Alaska's waters in 2008 -- Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Cruise West, American Safari Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Majestic America Line, and Silversea Cruises.

According to Trencher, Holland America and Princess together attract 90 percent of all passengers to Alaska and offer the majority of cruises and tours to this wilderness landscape.

But there's more to Alaska cruising than just these two lines.

Alaska is awash with "so many possibilities, so many ways to travel," Trencher says, that any vacation "requires research, research and more research," he advises.

In fact, there are enough options to make your head spin. You can narrow your options by choosing from a handful of ships with less than a hundred passengers, including a paddlewheeler, to dozens of vessels that carry well over 2,000.

The players sometimes change and a few lines occasionally play musical chairs with their vessels. Princess, for instance, adds the 2,600-passenger Star Princess to its Alaska flotilla this year as well as introduces its 670-passenger Tahiti Princess to the region, proving that even mass-market lines can have a small-ship offering. Silversea Cruises' 382-passenger Silver Shadow returns to the 49th state and Cruise West's 102-passenger Spirit of Nantucket (renamed the Spirit of Glacier Bay) joins the line's Alaska lineup.

The larger ships offer a host of amenities, dining options, entertainments and "the excitement of crowds, which is impossible on smaller vessels," Trencher notes. On the other hand, "small ships go places where big ships can't. They get closer to the glaciers and the wildlife," he adds.

Keep in mind, too, that you're not really seeing Alaska unless you step off the ship and get up close and personal with the wilderness.

Here the possibilities seem endless.

Most cruise ships not only sail Alaska's Inside Passage, featuring sailing in either Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier, but also visit quaint ports teeming with people (although many of those people will be cruise passengers pouring off of cruise ships) such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell and Skaway, and lesser known stops like Petersburg. Essentially, these ports are gateways to snow-capped mountains and glacier riddled bays and to wilderness adventures that include whale watching, bear sighting, and bald eagle spotting.

Depending on the cruise line, the itinerary and the shore excursions you choose, you also can explore any one of 14 national parks and wilderness areas, including Kenai Fjords, Gates of the Arctic, Klondike (Skagway), Wrangell-St. Elias and Sitka national parks, plus the Klondike Historic Site (Dawson City), Yukon Charley National Preserve, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Misty Fjords National Monument and Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.

To capitalize on the majesty of the state, many lines also offer cruisetours, which let you augment your cruise with a land stay. Holland America, for instance, offers vacation packages combining 3- or 4-night cruises with 6-, 8-, or 9-day land tours. In all, Holland America has 29 distinct cruisetours ranging from 10 to 20 days and Princess offers 24 ranging from 10 to 16. Celebrity, Regent and Royal Caribbean also offer escorted land tours, Trencher notes.

According to Trencher the most unusual shore excursions are fishing off a float plane from Ketchikan or Juneau, river rafting on the Haines or Skeena Rivers, a backcountry safari and a visit to Denali Park, dog sledding without snow and on wheels in Whittier, and heli hiking, where passengers are flown by helicopter to a mountain top around Mt. McKinley and then hike down.

The list doesn't end there, however. You can trek glaciers, take a mile-long zipline-canopy tour at Icy Strait Point, Klondike rock climb or rappel in Skagway, canoe or kayak almost anywhere, and even go underwater in semi-submersibles. In Campbell River, Regent passengers can accompany an authentic Alaskan mail floatplane making deliveries.

There is a downside to popularity, however. Because of the state's allure, Trencher warns "There are no real bargains in Alaska as there are in the Caribbean."

"Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and high priced," he says. On average a 13-day cruise tour in a balcony cabin on a larger ship will run around $2,700 per person without airfare on the season's shoulders (May or September) and about $3,000 in peak season.

But book early and some deals emerge. For example, Norwegian sails three ships (Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun) at published fares ranging from $729 to $1,399 per person, based on double occupancy, for an inside stateroom. Prices drop dramatically if you book early and range from $599 to $699 for lower category accommodations. An early booking special from Holland America will take you on a 7-day Glacier Discovery cruise for $549. Carnival's 7-day Glacier Bay cruises start at $879.

Of course, luxury comes at a price. Step up the gangway on Regent's Seven Seas Mariner and you'll lighten your wallet by $4,195 to $16,750 for 7-, 8- or 11-day cruises sailing between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, B.C.

 

  MSNBC

6 essential sites for planning a family cruise
Web resources to help you put together a trip designed for your clan
Dec. 11, 2007

It’s been said that planning a cruise can be more confusing than filing your own income taxes. That’s mainly because there are just so many darn decisions to make.

Consider that there are nearly 200 different ships, belonging to over two dozen cruise lines. Some of those ships have over 20 different stateroom categories, and the largest ships can have as many as 15 decks. Then there are choices about itinerary, onboard activities, and onshore excursions. Some cruise lines are better for younger kids, while others are geared to older kids and adults.

While you’re sifting through all the options, you may start wondering if you’ll be able to find something within your budget.

Never fear. We’ve tracked down six essential sites to help you research and plan a family cruise. As for your taxes — sorry, but you’re on your own with those.

Dive in
Cruisemates.com

Best for: Getting your feet wet

Narrow down the options
CruiseCritic.com

Best for: News and reviews

Find comfortable digs
Cruise Deckplans

Best for: Choosing a cabin

Plan some fun
ShoreTrips

Best for: Shore excursions.

Snag a steal
CruiseCompete

Best for: Finding an agent with a great deal

Cruise Direct Online

Best for: Nabbing a discount

This cruise booking supersite is chock-a-block with cruise discounts, shipboard credit, and other great deals — especially if your dates or destinations are flexible. The site is impressively intuitive, letting you search the deals database by cruise line, destination, or port.

WeJustGotBack.com is an authoritative online guide to family trip-planning. The site features reviews of kid-friendly hotels and resorts, expert planning advice, readers' travel tips, destination insider guides, vacation deals, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about resort specials and exclusive, money-saving offers.

Read the entire article: URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22201905/


Heard us on the Radio?

 

 

WGN Radio 720 - Chicago
Heard in 38 States and worldwide on the Internet.

The Tom Petersen Show is a news and travel show that airs on Sunday evenings and aims to get
the weekend traveler up-to-date on the latest news. The show features travel segments from around
the country.


This is the time of year when many Chicagoans take winter cruises and plan summer adventures.
Marty talked about what cruises are popular, where the bargains are, how to find them and
how this year's prices compare to previous years, etc. This was a live, 5-8 minute informational
interview this Sunday, December 3 at 6:20pm CDT with host Tom Petersen. In case you're not
familiar with WGN, it's heard in 38 states and online.

 
You can also hear the interview on the Internet. WGN Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day on the
Internet

___________________

CRUISE DISCOUNTS FOR TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS,

POLICE OFFICERS AND MILITARY

Washington Post March 19, 2007

Attention teachers, firefighters, police officers and active duty military personnel. Travel Direct Corp. has a " Salute to America's Finest" discount on more than 150 Holland America cruises. For example, a seven-night Caribbean cruise on the Westerdam departing Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Oct. 22 starts at $499 per person double (plus $71 taxes); rate usually starts at $673. Book at 800-365-1445. 

eMediaWire Newswire, March 14, 2007

Travel Direct Corporation, today announced their 3rd Annual "Salute To America's Finest" promotion. Travel Direct's cruise travel consumer web site www.cruisedirectonline.com is offering over 150 special Community Appreciation Fares with cruise vacations priced from as low as $179.00 for Teachers, Firefighters, Police Officers and Active Military. (including US Coast Guards, Merchant Marines, National Guard & Reservists). The promotion is valid for selected cruises booked between March 15, 2007 - May 15, 2007.

These special fares are offered for over 150 select sailings of Holland America Line to the Alaska, Amazon & Southern Caribbean, Asia, South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand, Canada & New England, Caribbean, Southern Caribbean & Panama Canal, West Africa & South America, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, and South America, There are also a series of "coastal" cruises from San Diego to Vancouver starting at $179 per person for a 3 day cruise. Other cruises vary in length from 7 to 22 days.

Here is an example of how much Teachers, Firefighters, Police Officers and Active Military personnel can save:

October 22 - Westerdam - 7 Night Western Caribbean was $649. Community Appreciation Fare: $499 Brochure price $1,544.Saving was up to 58%, now up to 68% off brochure price.

Last year the offers were such a huge success that Cruise Direct Online has nearly tripled the number of sailings, ships and destinations offered. Plus, new for this year, are a series of 40 Alaska & Yukon Cruise Tours. Alaska Cruise tours range from 10-17 nights and include your 7-night Alaska cruise. Most cruisetours feature an inclusive tour into Denali National Park, a 6.3 million acre park home to Mt. McKinley and one of the largest wildlife habitats in the world.

Reservations are available by calling the company at 800.365.1445.

To qualify for the Community Appreciation Fares guests must show proof of employment as a teacher by supplying Teacher's Certification, union card or letter from principal on school letterhead with deposit. Firefighters, Police Officers and all branches of active military (including US Coast Guards, Merchant Marines, National Guard & Reservists) must show proof of eligibility by faxing a copy of official ID. Must be able to show ID at pier upon request.

The Travel Mom, August 13, 2006

Trip Bits: Cruisin' Along

Cruise ships are another natural place to have a family reunion. They can accommodate even the largest families, and most of the bigger cruise lines offer reunion planning staffs to help coordinate a memorable trip. In addition, there are a variety of trip prices and lengths to meet your budget.

The biggest draw for families is that all of the major cruise lines -- Carnival , Princess and Norwegian Cruise Lines -- offer age appropriate activities for even the youngest passengers. So while you and your cousins are getting reacquainted (or just relaxing in the sun), your toddlers, kids and tweens have a wealth of activities to keep them happy.

Finally, if you need help planning your cruise, go to Family Cruises Online (www.cruisedirectonline.com/familycruises.htm).

Seattle Times Tuesday, June 29, 2006

Travel Q&A

What is the best cruise liner, for your money, out of Miami, Florida? David McBroom, Redmond, WA.

C.P.: Much depends on where you want to go and how much you want to spend. A good place to start is with a Web site that rates the various lines and ships. See www.cruisecritic.com and www.cruisedirectonline.com, two sites that list reviews of cruise lines by individuals, travel magazines and experts. Ratings are broken down into useful categories such as "Best overall service,'' "Best computer service,'' "Best ships for kids,'' etc.

 

CNBC-MSN Money - Travel For Less

May 30, 2004

DollarWise

4 ways to find a hassle-free vacation

DollarWise digs up no-stress getaways that don't require any arrangements or decisions except what's next on the fun list.

 By Jennifer Mulrean

Somewhere in our quest to do more, vacations morphed into “extreme adventure.” Traditional all-inclusive vacation packages were dissed as unimaginative and unadventurous -- the default territory of blue hairs and honeymooners.

But the do-it-yourself approach to vacationing, complete with jam-packed itineraries, can leave you needing a vacation to recover from your vacation. Why not sign up for a trip where your every need is anticipated and catered to; where the goal is to settle in for the duration and -- gasp -- actually relax?

All-inclusive vacations are “popping up all over,” says Kathy Sudeikis, travel agent and national vice-president of American Society of Travel Agents. “It’s really a way to get your arms around the pricing,” she says. “Usually they’re a good value -- they may not be cheap, but they’re a good value.”

While many of these vacations still fall into the traditional categories of cruises and Caribbean beach resorts, I also spotted caving trips in Belize, cooking schools in Italy and dude ranches all over the United Sates. Turns out that “hassle-free” need not mean “adventure-free” after all.

To be sure, “all-inclusive” means different things to different tour operators, Sudeikis warns, so read the fine print and ask questions about what you’ll be expected to pay for out of pocket. On cruises, you can generally expect to pay for drinks and shore excursions, for example, while some resorts include even the tips for hotel staff.

Hassle-free vacations seem to fall into one of four general categories, and we've included some resources to help you start your research. In most cases, all you really have to do is show up.

Cruises, reinvented
The original all-inclusive, cruises are sometimes disparaged as nothing more than floating buffets and extra-long shuffleboard tables. But the cruising industry has worked hard to reinvent itself as a venue for active, adventurous trips suitable to families and thrill-seeking young adults.

On Royal Caribbean’s cruises you can climb an onboard rock wall, work on your golf swing or become certified in scuba diving. Disney’s Cruise Line includes “Mouseketeer Training,” an underwater playground and various other Disney-themed activities for children, along with spas, wine tastings and cooking demonstrations for the adults.

And if you’re looking to surround yourself with likeminded travelers, cruises offer plenty of smaller niche-market sails, including those for gays and lesbians, adults-only trips and the kids-focused programs a la Disney and Carnival’s Paradise.....

No matter which cruise you pick, travel experts generally agree you shouldn’t pay full price for your passage.

“It’s a perishable product,” Sudeikis says. “Hotels can have guests arriving any night, but once a cruise sets sail, that’s it.”

This means cruise companies have a greater incentive to wheel and deal. Many of them offer “kids cruise free” deals, for example. Try sites such as Cruise Direct {Online}, which boasts a searchable database of 12,000 cruise deals and discounts. The site also posts cruise reviews, ship ratings and photos of cabins.... To read the entire article, click here...

_________________________________________

Savings Set Sail  ( MSNBC.COM )

A shipload of cruise bargains for fall travel—plan ahead and save

By Jason Cochran

July 24, 2003 —  With kids back in school but hurricanes a minor worry, Caribbean cruises that cost $1,100 in July go for $500 by October. Here’s our selection of several outstanding autumn bargains at sea, all from the cruise brokers named for each offer (and only from them), including all port charges, per person double occupancy in inside cabins (outside cabins add about $100 more).

( Editors note: among several listings was this mention of us )

$727 FOR SEVEN NIGHTS IN HAWAII

After recent convulsions in the industry (including the bankruptcy of American Hawaii Cruises), the big Norwegian Cruise Lines makes Aloha State cruises affordable again with weeklong romps on the Star through the Hawaiian islands (the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu), plus a stop in Kiribati and a day at sea. She’s the largest cruise ship to sail Hawaii thus far and does it every Sunday in November (that’s five departures) from Honolulu. Get this deal, which mixes well with a few days’ stay on Waikiki Beach, from Cruise Direct Online (800/365-1445, www.cruisedirectonline.com)

-----------------------------------------------

ARTHUR FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL MAGAZINE

December/January Edition — From the cruise brokers named for each item below come these bonanzas in boating, all of them for sailings in January, February, and March 2003. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy in inside cabins, and unless stated otherwise do not include airfare.

Checklist!  ( Jan/Feb 2003 edition )

( Editors note: among several listings were these mention of us )
 

FROM LOS ANGELES FOR $551 You enjoy a seven-night Mexican sail for $78 a day, plus $164 in port charges and taxes, when you buy this cruise from Cruise Direct Online (800/365-1445, www.cruisedirectonline.com). Your ship: Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas, heading down the Pacific Coast to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. Departures are Sundays, January through March 2.

 
FROM TAMPA FOR $595 Departing Saturdays, Holland America’s Veendam sails to Key West, Belize City, Santo Tomás de Castilla (Guatemala), and Cozumel, and spends three more days simply at sea, for a total of seven nights in the watery Tropics. Add $80.26 in government fees and port charges of $119 to the $595 price, which is valid for the sailings of January 18, February 1, March 1 and 29, and April 12. Cruise Direct Online (800/365-1445, www.cruisedirectonline.com) gets you the $595 price.

 
FROM FORT LAUDERDALE FOR $1271 Enjoy a seven-night cruise of the eastern Caribbean aboard the Millennium, a recent addition to the Celebrity Cruises fleet, visiting San Juan, Casa de Campo (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas, and Nassau. Sailing dates: Sundays from January 5 to February 16. Source of rate: Cruise Direct Online (800/365-1445, www.cruisedirectonline.com ). Add $30.65 in government fees and port charges of $139 to the discount price of $1271.
 

Cruise Direct Online celebrates best year on the net, sets record for 2002.

 
Summary: Year-end Business Report. Revenue: Up 259% Year-to-date, Passengers sailed Up 188% year-to-date, as reported from two of twenty four cruise lines the company represents. According to the company, fourth quarter sales were brisk, due to aggressive holiday pricing.
 
January 9, 2003 – Travel Direct Corporation today announced Revenues up 234% for 2002, Passengers sailed up 165%, as reported from two of twenty four cruise lines the company represents.
 
“Results for 2002 were exceptionally strong, exceeding our expectations. During this period, we saw increased customer adoption of our online booking systems as well as customers recognizing the value of our cruise offerings. Due to robust sales growth year-to-date for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, along with increased Princess and Carnival Cruise Line offerings, the fourth quarter outlook looks promising.” According to Marty Trencher, president of Travel Direct Corporation, the parent company of Cruise Direct Online.
 
The companies sales growth coincides with the Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) announcement that it will likely meet its target of a record 7.4 million North American passengers in 2002.
 
For the year, Cruise Direct Online saw significant revenue growth driven by strong 7 day or longer cruise sales with higher price points despite the cruise industries heavy discounting of stateroom inventory to fill an ever increasing stateroom capacity due to new ship builds.
 
Over the next few months, Cruise Direct Online will be expanding it's offerings from 22 departure ports in the United States and Canada. The companies "Cruises Close To Home" program further broaden their retail offerings. Guests choosing to drive rather than fly to a departure port can sail round trip from Baltimore,  Boston, Charleston, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, New York City, Norfolk, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Galveston, Houston, Mobile, New Orleans, Seward, Honolulu, Maui, Montreal, or Vancouver, Canada.

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Suburban Chicago's Information Source

 

Site allows you to book a discounted cruise online
Sunday Travel Section

 April 21, 2002

Cruise Direct Online, www.cruisedirectonline.com, has enhanced its Web site with direct online cruise booking capability. You can book online or have a Cruise Travel Adviser contact you about your choice, and any time - 24/7 - you can get instant price quotes and availability.

Offerings include cruises from two days to 65 days on more than 96 cruise ships representing nine top cruise-line brands: Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Windstar Cruises.

You can select from more than 12,000 sailings for 2002-03, departing from more than 80 ports of embarkation, including 17 within driving distance of most residents of the United States and Canada.

You also can see cabin photos and deck plans on the site. The site provides a double discount: first from the cruise line (up to 70 percent off brochure rates), and then an additional 5 percent to 10 percent extra from Cruise Direct Online.

• Online/ in print, by free-lance writer Judy Babcock Wylie, appears Sundays in Going Places.

Travel & Lifestyle


Up-To-The Moment Cruise Choices
Feb 15, 2002, 3:50pm

 
 

Cruise Direct Online has expanded it's online booking system to nine (9) cruise lines.

In addition to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, Crystal, Holland America, Windstar, Disney and Princess Cruises are now available providing guest's with direct access to cruise vacations and pricing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can book, place a deposit, or pay in full for their cruise vacation right from our website. If desired, guests do not have to pay online and instead have ability to request a Cruise Travel Advisor contact them for more information about the cruise of their interest.

The system offers the most extensive content cruise database on the Internet. Over 12,000 cruises. 2,500 ships, the best up-to-the moment cabin selection, and deck plan images, as well as a detailed and informative Port Guide with over 250 ports of call.

Key Features:

Access to 9 cruise lines
Real-time cabin category availability
Best available cabin displays
Deck plan layouts, cabin configurations and photos
Dining/seating options
Port of call information
Immediate confirmation from the cruise line
Book It Live- Real Time Bookings-Pick Your Own Cabin

Consumers can easily search for ships and itineraries based on travel date, destinations, etc. Instant confirmation with the ability for the consumer to book and pay
for their cruise online and receive bonus savings not otherwise offered. Double discounts. Fisrt from the cruise line off published fares and then a second discount ranging from 5-10% extra off the discounted cruise line price.
 

February 4, 2001

Savings at Sea