Another Priceline Travel Tip - Try A Cruise Or An All-Inclusive Resort To Stretch Those Vacation Dollars
NORWALK, Conn.--(Business Wire)--
Consumers who want to make their vacation dollars go further this
year should consider a cruise, or stay at an all-inclusive resort,
according to priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN). The two options have long
been value favorites among budget-conscious travelers because they
include all the basics of a vacation in one bargain price.
This year is no different. Priceline said it has cruises currently
available for as little as $47 a night, per person, based on double
occupancy. The price of a cruise includes stateroom, unlimited food in
the main dining areas, entertainment and most onboard activities.
Visits to local ports are also free. Expect to pay extra for alcoholic
drinks, spa treatments, shore tours and excursions, tips, reservations
at a ship's gourmet restaurants and, of course, casino wagering.
Cruise lines also have trimmed the cost of a cruise by expanding
to 22 departure ports along the U.S. coast, putting millions of
Americans within easy driving distance of the pier. Now, instead of
paying for a flight, cruisers can drive or even take public
transportation to the ship.
The best way to select the right cruise is to visit Priceline
Cruises at www.pricelinecruiseoutlet.com to browse the cruises, and
then have a conversation with a Priceline Cruise specialist at
1-800-735-8000. "Different cruise lines and even different cruises
tend to attract specific age groups, singles, families with kids and
retirees," said Tom Trotta, Priceline's Senior Vice President,
Vacation Packages and Cruises. Trotta is a veteran of the cruise and
all-inclusive resort industries. "Since on-board entertainment and
activities are centered around these target groups, it pays to choose
a cruise where you know you're going to have a good time. Bottom line,
there is a cruise to satisfy every type of traveler."
Priceline Cruise customers can choose from a broad range of
cruises at great prices covering the Bahamas, the Caribbean, coastal
Canada, Europe, Mexico, the South Pacific, South and Central America,
Hawaii and Alaska. Cruise lengths can be 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, or 12
nights or more.
Priceline Cruise customers can research their ideal cruise
according to several criteria. They can browse the featured best-deal
cruises offered on that day. They can enter a particular month and see
all the available cruises and destinations for that time frame. They
can pick a departure port or destination and see all the cruises being
offered. Or they can pick their favorite cruise line and see its
offerings and prices. For each cruise line, customers can see
individual ship statistics, deck plans, cabin layouts and descriptions
of the ship's public areas and attractions.
For each cruise, customers can view sailing times, itineraries,
off-ship activities and sightseeing suggestions and maps of the
cruise.
Here are some examples of cruises available at Priceline Cruises
www.pricelinecruiseoutlet.com 1-800-735-8000:
-- Cruise from New York
7 night Canada/New England from $549 per person aboard Carnival
Cruise Lines Carnival Victory. $78 per person per day - 67% savings.
Bonus: Ask about FREE upgrades.
-- Cruise from Miami
4 night Western Caribbean from $189 per person aboard Carnival
Cruise Lines Carnival Imagination. $47 per person per day - 78%
savings.
Bonus: Ask about FREE upgrades on select sailings.
-- Cruise from Port Canaveral
7 night Eastern Caribbean from $549 per person aboard Royal
Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas. $78 per person per day.
Bonus: Ask about FREE upgrades. $100 Free Onboard Spending on
select holiday sailings.
-- Cruise from San Diego
5 night Baja Mexico Cruise from $239 per person aboard Carnival
Cruise Lines Carnival Elation. $48 per person per day - 76% savings.
Bonus: Ask about FREE upgrades on select sailings.
For vacationers who like to set down roots and stay put for a long
weekend, or a week, all-inclusive resorts offer another
budget-friendly vacation alternative. All-inclusives are most common
in Mexico and the Caribbean. All-inclusive resorts typically provide
accommodations, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,
entertainment and sports equipment (including non-motorized
watercraft) in their per-night price.
"Like cruises, all-inclusive resorts come in many sizes and cater
to specific groups and activities, so it's important to learn about
the resort before booking," said Trotta. "Some welcome families with
children of all ages. Others require that children be at least
teenagers. And some are strictly adults-only. Some offer a variety of
sports activities, while the main attraction at others is the
nightlife or the opportunity to stretch out on the beach and do
absolutely nothing."
Trotta pointed out that, while there may be a price difference
between a cruise and an all-inclusive resort, both represent solid
vacation values. "The price of an all-inclusive vacation package will
run higher than a cruise," he said.
"Both options include accommodations, food and entertainment. But
unlike a cruise, an all-inclusive vacation will also include airfare,
beverages, tips and more activities in the price. Both options have a
high level of customer satisfaction and help manage your vacation
dollars."
Priceline.com is currently offering specially priced all-inclusive
vacation packages. Customers who purchase a four- to six-night package
will receive $50 off per package. Customers who book seven or more
nights will receive $100 to $150 off per package. To qualify for the
special offer, packages must be booked by July 31, 2008 and travel
must be completed by December 15, 2008.
Here is a sampling of the all-inclusive package specials. To see
full details of these packages or browse prices from other cities,
click on the accompanying link. NOTE: Some browsers may require
pasting of the link.
-- Jamaica. Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Montego Bay. $533 per
person. Includes round-trip airfare from Miami and 4 nights at
the 3-star all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1599304&DID=7550&DNAME=Jamaica&DAC=MBJ&DEST=Y
-- Cancun. Oasis Palm Beach. $592 per person. Includes round-trip
airfare from Dallas and 4 nights at the 3-star all-inclusive
resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1675503&DID=3240&DNAME=Cancun&DAC=CUN&DEST=Y
-- Punta Cana. Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort. $665 per person.
Includes round-trip airfare from New York and 5 nights at the
3-star all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1324005&DID=3150&DNAME=PuntaCana,D.R.&DAC=PUJ&DEST=Y
-- Bahamas. Breezes Bahamas. $759 per person. Includes round-trip
airfare from Fort Lauderdale and 4 nights at the 3-star
all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1851603&DID=7570&DNAME=Bahamas(Nassau)&DAC=NAS&DEST=Y
-- Cabo San Lucas. Royal Solaris Los Cabos. $805 per person.
Includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles and 5 nights at
the 3-star all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1891603&DID=3230&DNAME=CaboSanLucas&DAC=SJD&DEST=Y
-- Puerto Plata. Riu Bachata. $847 per person. Includes
round-trip airfare from Kansas City and 5 nights at the 3-star
all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=8144505&DID=3190&DNAME=
PuertoPlata,D.R.&DAC=POP&DEST=Y
-- Cancun. GR Solaris Cancun. $880 per person. Includes
round-trip airfare from Chicago and 5 nights at the 4.5 star
all-inclusive resort.
www.priceline.com/vacations/lang/en-us/featuredHotel.asp?
FT=Y&HID=1634505&DID=3240&DNAME=Cancun&DAC=CUN&DEST=Y
Prices and availability are subject to change at any time. Quoted
prices include all taxes and fees.
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About Priceline.com(R) Incorporated
Priceline.com Incorporated (Nasdaq: PCLN) www.priceline.com
provides online travel services in 21 languages in over 60 countries
in Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Included
in the priceline.com family of companies is Booking.com, a leading
international online hotel reservation service, priceline.com, a
leading U.S. online travel service for value-conscious leisure
travelers, and Agoda.com, an Asian online hotel reservation service.
Priceline.com believes that Booking.com is Europe's largest and
fastest growing hotel reservation service, with a network of
affiliated Web sites. Booking.com operates in over 60 countries in 17
languages and offers its customers access to over 45,000 participating
hotels worldwide.
In the U.S., priceline.com gives customers more ways to save on
their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and
cruises than any other Internet travel service. In addition to getting
great published prices, leisure travelers can narrow their searches
using priceline.com's TripFilter advanced search technology, customize
their search activity through priceline.com's Inside Track features,
create packages to save even more money, and take advantage of
priceline.com's famous Name Your Own Price(R) service, which can
deliver the lowest prices available.
Priceline.com also operates the following travel websites:
Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, RentalCars.com and BreezeNet.com.
Priceline.com also has a personal finance service that offers home
mortgages, refinancing and home equity loans through an independent
licensee. Priceline.com licenses its business model to independent
licensees, including priceline mortgage and certain international
licensees.
Priceline.com
Press information:
Brian Ek, 203-299-8167
brian.ek@priceline.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
