Get Red Hot Deals on Cruises, Tours Despite Summer Heat, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla.--July 21, 2003--With the summer travel season in full swing, many people may find it odd to be thinking about scheduling a winter cruise. But savvy travelers know an important secret: This is one of the best times of the year to shop for discounts on cruises and tours.
    "If you're a bargain hunter, this a great time to be looking for deals on travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica and other popular destinations," said Sandra Hughes, vice president, AAA Travel. "Tours to Europe, Russia, Japan and other foreign destinations are also discounted heavily at this time of the year."
    Although February traditionally has been the month when travelers shop for cruises, Hughes said that's beginning to change because cruise lines and travel companies are offering attractive discounts for booking early.
    Travelers who haven't made up their minds about travel for this year or through spring of next year have many options and a variety of travel providers from which to choose.
    For example, AAA Travel and several cruise lines and tour operators are offering AAA members a variety of incentives when they use their AAA credit card to book travel between now and Sept. 30. Some of these incentives include:

--	Crystal Cruises is offering AAA members a $200 per person shipboard credit for any cruise sailing in 2003, except for the inaugural sailing of the Crystal Serenity.
--	AAA members can receive a two-category upgrade on outside staterooms or a shipboard credit of up to $100 per person in deluxe staterooms on selected sailings on Holland America.
--	Cruisers to the Caribbean on the Seven Seas Voyager can receive a one-category stateroom upgrade on selected sailings.

    To take advantage of these and other AAA travel incentives, members must book through a AAA Travel Agency and pay with a AAA credit card.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 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.

    --30--BL/

    CONTACT: AAA, Orlando
             Janie Graziani, 407/444-8004
             or
             Justin McNaull, 202/942-2079

    KEYWORD: FLORIDA
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TRANSPORTATION TRAVEL AUTOMOTIVE
ADVERTISING/MARKETING
    SOURCE: AAA

©2003