Cruise Holidays Unveils Completely New Web Site Design

Studies have shown that a majority of travelers interested in cruising will research online, but only a very small percentage actually complete their cruise transaction online. So in a major re-design, the focus and intent is for the site to be predominantly informational – though robust online booking capabilities will be available – and then allow consumers to contact a local Cruise Holidays expert to navigate the complexities of choosing the perfect cruise vacation.  Details on the Web site re-design were announced today during the 2007 Cruise Holidays Annual Convention which is being held aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Mercury, September 23-28, 2007.

“We have invested extensive time and considerable resources in exploring how consumers research and purchase their cruise vacations.  In order to ensure that we’re providing what our customers and potential customers want, it was imperative that CruiseHolidays.com be substantially updated,” said Peter D. Thomson, Vice President and COO of Cruise Holidays.  “The upgraded Web site helps us improve the overall customer experience and how we interact with each of them.”

The new CruiseHolidays.com will include:

• Extensive destination information, beginning with an interactive world map that will allow visitors to choose and explore one of the top ten cruise destinations in the world. From there, copious amounts of destination information will help educate the consumer on the wide range of choices.
• A sub-section on “cruise planning” which includes information for novice cruisers on: Why Cruise, Choosing a Cruise, Pricing and Booking, Preparing and Packing, Check-in and Boarding, Life Aboard a Ship, and Going Home.
• Online booking capabilities for a cruise, airfare, car and/or hotel.

In addition, each Cruise Holidays store will have the opportunity to have an individual sub-site nearly identical to CruiseHolidays.com.  It will include all of the destination information and booking capabilities of the main site, along customization features that will allow stores to include content specific to their region and clientele.

“Most importantly, it will be extremely easy for individuals to locate the closest Cruise Holidays expert who can counsel on all aspects of planning and purchasing every type of cruise vacation,” added Thomson.  “For those who feel comfortable in booking online, they will still have the added peace of mind knowing that their transaction will be routed to the closest Cruise Holidays expert to handle all of the follow-up, questions and details pertaining to this vacation.  It will be the best of both worlds, a planning and destination site that has an element of self-service, if desired, combined with a real, live, cruise expert to handle the unexpected through each client’s trip and beyond.”

With stores throughout the United States and Canada, Cruise Holidays is North America’s largest Franchise network of cruise-specialty travel agencies. 

About Cruise Holidays
Cruise Holidays is the oldest and largest cruise-specialty Retail franchise in North America, with stores in both the United States and Canada. Cruise Holidays is also a distinguished provider of land tour vacation packages.  Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays was acquired in 2001 by Carlson Travel Network Associates, Inc., one of the world’s largest and most respected travel franchisers and a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson.  Carlson is a global leader in the travel and hospitality industry.  In addition to Cruise Holidays, the Carlson family of businesses includes Regent ® International Hotels, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, T.G.I. Friday’s®, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and more.