PriceTravel Becomes First Travel Agency in Latin America to Offer Cruise Travel Online Directly from its E-Commerce Site

PriceTravel establishes itself as a pioneer in the cruise travel industry, reinforcing the company’s leadership and innovation within the tourism industry.

PriceTravel, Mexico’s most innovative online and wholesale travel agency, today becomes the first agency in Latin America to offer cruise travel directly through its website and more than 100 retail travel kiosks located in major shopping centers and department stores throughout Mexico. The addition of cruise travel is part of PriceTravel’s continued growth plans and conquest of the Latin American market, including the company’s recent entry into Colombia.

Initially, PriceTravel established an alliance with Royal Caribbean International, who recently announced plans to expand in Mexico’s cruise market. As a result of this partnership, PriceTravel has become the only online travel agency in Latinamerica that allows customers to book all routes offered by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises Club cruise lines directly from its website. PriceTravel plans to offer all major cruise lines, as well as cruise packages including the hotel + flight portion of the trip by the end of 2012.

"Our venture into selling cruise travel is the result of a long evaluation and preparation process. We work closely with cruise lines and understand that although currently viewed as a premium product in Mexico, there are many opportunities for growth in the market’s cruise segment. We are confident that we have the formula to reposition the product and reach a wider range of customers who perhaps previously viewed cruise travel as an unaffordable luxury. Providing detailed descriptions and content, and easing the purchasing and payment process is essential to change our customers’ and the travel industry’s current perception,” said Oliver Reinhart, CEO of PriceTravel.

One of the many advantages for PriceTravel customers in Mexico is that the cruise offerings are available through an innovative reservation system developed especially by PriceTravel, which allows customers to compare cruise line offers, routes and prices; book up to four cabins per transaction; and have access to information and images with the ease that characterizes PriceTravel, all in real time.

“There are many advantages of booking cruise travel through PriceTravel. Aside from ease of use, having access to the personal service of PriceTravel’s 500 travel professionals is especially important for those who have never traveled by cruise. The wide variety of payment options we have for all of our products - including cash; debit and credit cards with up to 12 interest-free months; and layaway - make a difference for our customers,” added Diego Del Vecchio, Marketing Director of PriceTravel.

"Through this partnership, both Royal Caribbean and PriceTravel will offer Mexican travelers a quick and easy option to purchase cruise travel online," added Jose Ceciliano, Director of Sales for Royal Caribbean Mexico. "Royal Caribbean guarantees PriceTravel customers the best vacation aboard the spectacular ships of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. This partnership will provide our mutual customers with a comprehensive service, featuring the professionalism and quality that both companies are known for."

About PriceTravel
PriceTravel, Mexico’s most innovative online and wholesale travel agency, specializes in vacation offerings to help consumers plan and purchase travel in Mexico, South America, the United States, the Caribbean and Spain. The company has unique partnerships with airlines, car rental companies, more than 3,000 hotels, bus lines and ground operators, in more than 350 cities around the world, to offer customers the best vacation deals through a secure website and at one of its more than 100 staffed kiosks located in major shopping centers and department stores throughout Mexico and Colombia. PriceTravel also offers a variety of payment options to make trip planning easy and affordable.

Media Contact:
Luisa Yen
PriceTravel
Huachinango No. 88, SM3 M4
Cancun, Quintana Roo
77500, Mexico
1 (800) 231-9820