Set Sail in Style: Expedia.com Adds New Luxury and River Cruise Options

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia.com, the world's leading online travel agency, today added a boutique selection of new luxury and river cruise booking options to the company's already industry-leading cruise portfolio. Expedia.com now offers eight award-winning luxury cruise brands and three top-ranked river cruise brands.

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"The cruise industry offers a remarkable range of options. The traditional 'Love Boat'-style cruise from our youth is a thing of the past," said Joe Megibow, vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. "Today, if you spend even just a moment looking, you will find a cruise option that is tailored to your specific interest, taste, region and budget. And we're proud that Expedia has become the preferred booking partner for savvy modern cruisers."

In addition to the benefits people have always enjoyed with cruising like seeing multiple destinations but only unpacking once, modern cruises are noteworthy for the range of amenities they offer to customers, including world-class entertainment, extensive dining options catering to a variety of palates, family activities and sumptuous spas with extensive exercise options.

The luxury cruise lines now offered by Expedia include:

• Azamara Club Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Paul Gaugin Cruises
• Regent Seven Sea Cruises
• Seabourn
• Silversea
• Windstar Cruises

Expedia.com's luxury cruise offerings now comprise 28 ships. The luxury lines offer cruises to destinations including the Mediterranean and Northern Europe in the summer and South America, the Arctic and the Caribbean in the winter. Cruisers can tour the globe, traverse the beaches of Tahiti and the tranquil waters of the South Pacific, or circle Africa and the Red Sea. The options are limitless.

River cruising is one of the fastest-growing cruise sectors. River cruise lines now offered by Expedia include:

• Avalon Waterways
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Viking River Cruises

Because most major cities grew to prominence because of their proximity to waterways, river cruising has become a popular way to experience many of the world's greatest cities and regions in Europe, Asia and Egypt. River cruisers can walk right off the ship and into the center of town. All of the brands Expedia now offers include shore excursions at each of the stops on the river cruise itinerary. Expedia's river cruise offerings now feature 55 ships.

With the addition of luxury and river cruises to the Expedia portfolio, Expedia is now the only online travel agency that gives customers the ability to shop exclusively for river and luxury cruises with one-click ease.  For more information on booking a cruise, please visit cruise.expedia.com.

About Expedia
Expedia.com is the world's leading online travel site, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.

Expedia and Expedia.com are trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. © 2011 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-50

SOURCE Expedia, Inc.