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Cruise Line Bookings Peak During Industry's `Wave Season'
NORWALK, CONN. - Jan. 30, 2007 - January through March is the cruise industry's "Wave Season," when the vast majority of cruise bookings for the year are made. Getting the best staterooms and itineraries means booking early and being aware of how availability will be affected by this year's trends and destination popularity.
Among the hottest tickets in 2007 are those for cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. Offering exotic locales on even the briefest itineraries, Caribbean cruises remain the most popular in the world - as much for their tropical itineraries as for their affordable prices. A number of cruise lines depart almost daily from ports all along the Gulf Coast for voyages ranging in length from three to 10 days. Even with the wealth of cruises available, ships fill up rapidly, with outside cabins - especially those with balconies - going first. Seven-night Caribbean cruises can often be found for well under $1,000, even at the oceanview level. Carnival Cruise Lines' 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing aboard Carnival Destiny offers oceanview staterooms for only $799*. And Holland America Line's 7-night Eastern Caribbean aboard Zuiderdam features oceanview pricing from $649*. For lodging, meals, ocean transportation and visits to exotic islands like Barbados, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico, such 7-night cruises are a great bargain - especially compared to weeklong stays at land-based resorts, which are far less comprehensive.
Travelers Advantage is adding another reason to jump into Wave Season by offering a complimentary digital camcorder for oceanview category or higher stateroom bookings on select 7-night sailings**.
"The trends for 2007 are pointing towards hot beach destinations in the Caribbean and Hawaii, popular treks to Alaska and voyages to Europe," said Leslie Downey, director of communication for Travelers Advantage and Travelersadvantage.com. "If you are considering a cruise to these luxurious locales, it's time to jump on the wave and book your spring and summer cruises now."
Outside cabins and balconies are also at a premium on cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, where the spectacular scenery almost demands a cabin with a view. Unlike Hawaii, where cruises run year-round, Alaska has a cruising season limited to the summer months - late May through September - so premium cabin availability is decidedly limited. Many Alaskan travelers book "cruisetours," an increasingly popular travel option from cruise lines that combines a cruise with a land expedition.
A variety of itineraries available during wave season include Celebrity Cruises' Mercury cruises to Alaska in the spring and offers oceanview staterooms from $899*. And Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America is one of the most popular 7-night Hawaiian sailings. Its oceanview staterooms start at $949*. These are two examples of how to see America's most exotic vacation destinations for a wonderfully low price.
Cruisetours in Europe are also proving to be a cost-efficient means of seeing the continent as the American dollar continues to weaken against the Euro and the English pound. A cruise's fixed all-inclusive price for food, lodging and entertainment make it a particularly good value. First-time visitors to Europe also find cruisetours especially helpful in making sure they don't miss any destination highlights. See Europe's infinite treasures on Royal Caribbean's 7-night Greece & Turkey cruise aboard Splendour of the Seas sailing from Venice starting from $649*.
With more than 184 cruise ships sailing to 1,800 destinations around the world, options are virtually unlimited. Unfortunately, point out the travel experts, availability is not, so the best bet is to book early and avoid missing the boat.
About Travelers Advantage
Members of Travelers Advantage (http://www.travelersadvantage.com or 1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn five percent cash back on eligible travel booked with preferred providers through the service. Membership in Travelers Advantage can be enjoyed during the first month for only $1. The trial membership can be canceled at any time during the one-month trial period by calling toll free and owing nothing further. Unless the member calls to cancel during the trial, the membership will be extended automatically for an entire year at the $99.99 annual fee and automatically renewed annually upon expiration at the then-current annual fee, billed to a credit card account, without the member having to do anything further. Additionally, members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a pro-rata refund of their then current membership fee. Travelers Advantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group
Affinion Group is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 13 countries across Europe.
*All rates are cruise only, in U.S. dollars per person based on double occupancy of select stateroom categories on select sailings, valid for new individual bookings only, and include non-commissionable fares; rates do not include government taxes and fees or airfare. Carnival Cruise Line registry: Bahamas & Panama; Holland America Line registry: Bahamas & The Netherlands; Celebrity Cruise Line registry: Bahamas & Ecuador; Royal Caribbean Cruise Line registry: Bahamas; Norwegian Cruise Line registry: Bahamas. Rates and availability are subject to change and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply. Travel services are provided by Travelers Advantage Services, Inc. State seller of travel registration numbers for Travelers Advantage Services, Inc.: California 20791-50 (registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by California. Travelers Advantage is not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund); Florida: ST-36197; Hawaii: TAR-6223; Iowa: 800; NEVADA: 2005-0034; Washington 602 493 651.
** Free camcorder offer is only valid on new individual bookings made between 1/1/07 and 5/1/07 for oceanview category staterooms or higher on 7-night sailings and longer, departing between 3/30/07 and 12/31/07. Offer is one digital camcorder per stateroom, which will be shipped within two weeks of departure.
About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.Safe Harbor Statement Under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release may contain statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, discussions regarding industry outlook, Affinion's expectations regarding the performance of its business, its liquidity and capital resources, its guidance for 2011, the consummation of the acquisition of Prospectiv and the impact to Affinion's business and the other non-historical statements in the discussion and analysis. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "continues," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs only as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks related to general economic and business conditions and international and geopolitical events, a downturn in the credit card industry or changes in the techniques of credit card issuers, industry trends, foreign currency exchange rates, the effects of a decline in travel on the Company's travel fulfillment business, termination or expiration of one or more agreements with its marketing partners or a reduction of the marketing of its services by one or more of its marketing partners, the Company's substantial leverage, restrictions contained in its debt agreements, its inability to compete effectively, and other risks identified and discussed from time to time in Affinion's reports filed with the SEC, including Affinion's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are strongly encouraged to review carefully the full cautionary statements described in these reports. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.