To Whom It May Concern:
We received this information/press release from the trades/Travelocity and
thought it may be of interest to this newsgroup as well. And yes, just for
reference, Travelocity is indeed one of our competitions. However, if we
felt we could not compete on price and service, we certainly would not be
talking about them.
Happy sailing...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com
Cruising May Prove to Be the Bargain of the Year, Saving Consumers Hundreds
When Traveling by Sea
Bringing Relief to the Value Hungry, Travelocity Launches 10th Annual Cruise
Super Sale with Exclusive Offerings, New Cost-Saving Search Tools
SOUTHLAKE, Texas-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- On the heels of last year's outbreak
of high gas prices, airline fees and capacity cuts, things are looking up
for the budget weary, as falling prices offer the potential to save hundreds
of dollars. Adding to the steep savings afforded by choosing to travel by
sea versus land, Travelocity is taking the concept of "discount packaging"
to the next level, offering some of its best deals ever for the 2009 cruise
wave season.
In addition to releasing its exclusive annual cruise discounts, Travelocity
members now have access to a slew of new search features to help calculate
the total potential savings of cruising and steer them towards the most
economical cruise options near their city.
"Despite economic uncertainty, most consumers are still going to take that
vacation this year but will demand a trip that gives them the most bang for
their buck," said Alex Goldman, vice president of cruises for Travelocity.
"Travelocity's research shows that travelers save an average of $1,000 by
taking a cruise versus a land vacation, making it the perfect solution for
the cost-conscious traveler."
Travelocity's 10th annual Cruise Super Sale, valid through February 5, 2009,
features limited-time savings and value-added offers for sailings departing
between March and August 2009 on every available cruise line to all
destinations. In addition to rates starting at $199 and most cruise lines
offering additional onboard credit, Travelocity is making cruising even more
affordable with an exclusive bonus offer. During the sale, customers who
book a qualifying cruise can receive anywhere from $25 to $300 onboard
credit from Travelocity based on the length of the cruise and stateroom
purchased.
Length of Cruise Onboard Credit Amounts*
Oceanview Balcony & Suite
3 to 5-Night $25 $50
6 to 9-Night $75 $125
10-Night + $150 $300
*Offers are per stateroom, not per person. For more information on these
exclusive offers, including a list of qualifying sailings, log onto
http://www.travelocity.com/supersale.
"This year Travelocity is basically putting money in consumers' pockets to
spend on their vacation," said Goldman. "Whether travelers are looking to
set sail at some point in 2009 or have been holding out for a good bargain
and are ready to go, the time to buy is now with some of the best offers
they'll find all year."
The Cruise Super Sale is backed by Travelocity's Low Price Guarantee, which
promises to refund the difference between the price paid on Travelocity and
any qualifying lower rate found within 24 hours of purchase for the same
date, ship, and cabin category. See http://www.travelocity.com/guarantee for
complete terms and conditions of the Guarantee.
New Cruise Features
Although cruising has already proven to be one of the best bargains in
travel due to its unique, all-inclusive design, Travelocity has developed
two new, easy-to-use features to better educate travelers on the financial
benefits of a cruise vacation.
Cruise Savings Calculation Feature
(http://www.travelocity.com/cruisesaving): Allows travelers to easily
compare the cost of a traditional vacation to a cruise getaway. The savings
message breaks out the difference between a seven-night Caribbean cruise
versus a seven-night Caribbean land vacation when comparing the cost of the
cruise stateroom / hotel room, air, shore excursions / tours,
transportation, meals / food and entertainment. Total Average Savings of
Cruise vs. Land Vacation: $1,000.
Home Port Cruising Tool (http://www.travelocity.com/homeportcruising): Helps
travelers cruise by port location with an interactive map that shows which
ports are the closest and may be within driving distance. Travelers can
choose from more than 20 departure ports in the U.S. or Canada, as well as
discover exotic destinations to visit for less.
According to Goldman, home port cruising will be even bigger this year than
last as it allows travelers to eliminate the cost of a flight altogether.
Now a growing number of travelers can actually take advantage of cruising
close to home due to the significant expansion of U.S. port locations over
the last few years and the increased capacity in ships sailing from these
ports.
About Travelocity Global
Travelocity® is committed to being the traveler's champion -- before, during
and after the trip - and provides the most comprehensive and proactive
guarantee in the industry (http://www.travelocity.com/guarantee). This
customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, competitive prices
and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity one of the largest
travel companies in the world with annual gross bookings of more than U.S.
$10 billion. Travelocity also owns and operates: Travelocity Business® for
corporate travel; igougo.com, a leading online travel community;
lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel; and ZUJI, a leader in
Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings
Corporation, a world leader in travel marketing and distribution.
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