North American vacationers will have a one-time opportunity to buy cruises at incredible values during "The World's Largest Cruise Sale" Oct. 17-23 while travel agents will gain new sales and marketing opportunities. Sponsored by the 25 cruise line members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) the week long promotion will involve over 5,000 travel agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada who will team up for National Cruise Vacation Week (NCVW) with world wide cruise destinations on sale.
For the public this means potential savings of $100 to $5,000 or more in some cases, credits for shipboard spending valued at $50 to over $300, upgrades to suite accommodations, or other incentives such as complimentary shore excursions, deposit waivers and more, CLIA reports.
Among the outstanding offers cited by CLIA: Three to five day Caribbean cruises starting at $249, six to eight day sailings starting at $429; $2,000 savings per couple on a river cruise through Burgundy and Provence; and two-for-one fares with free airfare plus up to $5,000 in bonus savings on sailings in Europe or the Pacific.
"There's never been anything like National Cruise Vacation Week. For a very limited time, vacationers have the chance to purchase the cruise of their dreams on any of more than 200 ships sailing in every part of the world," said Bob Sharak, CLIA's executive vice president of marketing and distribution. "Cruising has always been the best value in vacationing but National Cruise Vacation Week is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
All of CLIA's cruise line members are participating in NCVW, CLIA says. Incentives can be found across all cruise categories – from the major cruise brands to ultra-luxury companies to niche market and adventure cruise lines, including river cruises in Europe and Asia. The special offers will be available during National Cruise Vacation Week events hosted by local CLIA member travel agencies in partnership with cruise lines and, in some cases, other local business partners.
Participating CLIA member cruise lines include: AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Louis Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Windstar Cruises.
In addition, thousands of agents will participate with online, or "Virtual NCVW" events. Shoppers anywhere in the country can visit these NCVW online microsites, browse through cruise line videos, collect information about special values and book their cruises. The Virtual NCVW events will run throughout the month of October, giving vacationers ample time to find the perfect voyage.
Visit www.cruising.com
