Cruise Deals Abound as Lines Cut Prices to Bring Vacationers Aboard, says AAA
ORLANDO, Fla.--April 30, 2003--Vacationers will find great deals on cruises between now and the start of summer as cruise lines cut prices to make up for lost business during the U.S.-Iraq war, according to AAA."Cruise lines are vying to fill empty cabins during May and June and many are using discounted prices to woo vacationers," said Sandra Hughes, vice president of AAA Travel. "People's concerns about the economy and the Iraq war simply kept many from booking cruises and other vacations."
Continued expansion by the cruise industry -- adding more and bigger ships -- has created additional capacity that, in many cases, remains unfilled.
Interest in cruise vacations has begun to recover from the war, according to the weekly AAA National Travel Barometer. Its most recent report showed that AAA travel agency cruise bookings increased 4 percent during the week of April 14 -- the first increase after four straight weekly declines.
"Empty cabins represent lost money to cruise lines, prompting good deals for people who can travel during the next couple of weeks," said Hughes. "Some cruise lines have even extended their offers well into June -- a period not generally known for bargains."
Among the deals available now:
| -- | A 7-night Alaska cruise on Holland America's Maasdam departing Vancouver on June 26 from $669; |
| -- | A 10-day European cruise on Princess Europe's Regal Princess departing Copenhagen on May 30 from $999; |
| -- | A 4-night Mexico cruise on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas departing Los Angeles on June 30 from $349. |
Many cruise lines have also discounted cruises for the fall, creating bargains for people who are looking beyond summer.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news