Press Release

SURFING THE WEB IS OUT AND CRUISING THE WEB IS IN WITH CRUISE WEST’S VIRTUAL CRUISE NIGHTS

Guests Get a Sneak-Peak of Alaska Itineraries with Just One “Click”

Jul 29 2005 12:00AM

Guests who choose Cruise West for their Alaska experience are a different breed than the average traveler – they are people who are explorers by nature and hungry for the type of up-close, new experience from which others shy away. Now Cruise West is offering a different type of interactive, innovative Internet experience for those shopping for an Alaska cruise – one that takes them beyond the average Web experience – through Virtual Cruise Nights.

Visitors to www.cruisewest.com can preview, from the comfort of their own home, the largest American-owned cruise line’s extraordinary Alaska itineraries for the 2006 season and sign up for live, one-hour, free sessions hosted by a Cruise West destination expert.

The Cruise West host takes site guests on a virtual tour of the destination, enhanced by stunning images of scenery and wildlife that help make the Cruise West experience so distinctive, while getting a “sneak-peak” of the destination and excursions as part of the specified itinerary. Virtual Cruise Night participants have the opportunity to join in at any point during the session and ask questions or offer comments throughout.

To register and view the schedule of Virtual Cruise Night events, guests click the icon for “Attend Live Online Presentations” and then “View Schedule,” where they enroll for the presentation of their choosing. All that’s needed is an Internet connection and a separate phone line (which can be a cell phone for those with dial-up Internet service). Cruise West will send helpful reminder emails in advance of the chosen Virtual Cruise Night.

Upcoming Virtual Cruise Nights for August include August 9 at 6:00 p.m. and again at 9:00 p.m. during which guests will learn about Cruise West’s Alaska 2006 Experience. On August 16, guests can conduct a virtual exploration of Alaska’s Inside Passage at 7:00 p.m. and again at 9:00 p.m. Guests will have another opportunity to get a virtual Alaska 2006 Experience on August 24 at 6:00 p.m. and again at 9:00 p.m. All times are Eastern Daylight Time.

Cruise West is the longest-running cruise line traveling Alaska, and with their new, unprecedented permit for 92 entries into the Glacier Bay – the most entries allowed for one line – guests have more opportunities than ever to get an experience of a lifetime in an informal, small ship setting.

Cruise West offers additional opportunities for Virtual Cruise Nights dedicated to many other itineraries and guests can register online for a schedule of all upcoming Internet experiences, which are offered year round.

~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~

Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned company – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – eight in all – hold between 70-120 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike.

To make reservations or request a brochure, visit www.cruisewest.com or call (800) 203-8306.

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Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business based in Seattle – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – nine in all – hold between 78-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. The experience is personally enriching through expert Exploration Leaders providing onboard narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel. All have forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. All vessels are also equipped with inflatable landing boats for close-up exploration of remote areas and shore landings.

Destinations served include: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia & Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Costa Rica & Panama, Japan, the South Pacific, and the Kuril Islands.