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CRUISECOMPETE CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
WITH 79 PERCENT INCREASE IN ULTRA-LUXURY CRUISE BOOKINGS

DES MOINES, Iowa, September 15, 2008 - CruiseCompete.com, celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, today reported ultra-luxury cruises costing up to $100,000 are growing rapidly in popularity among the Web site's members. CruiseCompete allows consumers to select a cruise, then receive multiple, competing quotes from different travel agents. These cruise specialists have provided more than four million cruise quotes to consumers looking for the best deals on cruise vacations.

According to CruiseCompete.com CEO Bob Levinstein, the number of members who have booked ultra-luxury cruises has increased 79 percent. Many are choosing ship suites and penthouses as their accommodation of choice. Among the most popular destinations for such ultra-luxury cruises are Africa, the Mediterranean, Australia and New Zealand, Northern Europe and South America, as well as Antarctica and world cruises. Some particularly popular itineraries include:

• Africa/India & Southeast Asia Capetown Singapore (32 nights)
• British Isles & Ireland Roundtrip London (12 nights)
• Grand World Voyage, Los Angeles to Hong Kong (45 nights)
• Grand Transatlantic Adventure, Copenhagen to Ft. Lauderdale (28 nights)
• South America and Antarctica Explorer (20 nights)
• Australia, Great Barrier Reef & Orient (65 nights)
• Celtic Kingdoms and Top of the World (35 nights)
• Grand Pacific, Australia and New Zealand (67 nights) World Cruise (107 nights)

"The popularity of CruiseCompete among seasoned travelers has increased immensely since our launch in 2003," Levinstein said. "These consumers typically have large disposable incomes and are discerning travelers who are also cautious with luxury purchases. Their favorite luxury lines tend to be Crystal Cruises, Cunard LTD, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Seabourn Cruise Line. "They want to be pampered on vacation and see the world in style. These luxury cruises provide this, but are still a great value, especially when the cost is broken down on a per-day basis."

The ultra-luxury cruise experience is marked by exclusivity. These ships are significantly smaller than mainstream cruise ships. Because of their size, ultra-luxury cruise ships can travel to more exotic destinations and provide a more intimate experience. The luxury accommodations may include multiple bedrooms, entertainment areas, leather furniture, marble baths, wall-mounted plasma televisions, high-end bedding, complimentary butler services and more. Personal villas, private pools and verandahs are also common.

"Many of the people who enjoy ultra-luxury cruises can vacation virtually anywhere in the world," Levinstein said. "They choose to sail on these ships because it's truly a unique travel experience for the most discerning of consumers. They use CruiseCompete for booking due to the expertise of our agents and the many special amenities they are able to offer."

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CruiseCompete.com saves consumers time by finding the agent with the best deal for them. Consumers secure quotes for cruise deals from multiple travel agencies without having to contact each one separately. Since its launch in 2003, More than 1,000 cruise specialists have provided four million-plus customized cruise quotes in response to requests from over 425,000 registered users. CruiseCompete, LLC, is an independent company not owned by or affiliated with any travel agency. For more information, visit www.cruisecompete.com.

CruiseCompeteGroups.com helps those planning any type of group travel event to obtain the best deal for their gathering.

What a Site: CruiseCompete.com listed on "36 Web Addresses You Should Know"
The Washington Post, November 2006

CruiseCompete.com ranked among "25 Best Travel Value Sites"
Kiplinger's Personal Finance, October 2006