GUYS AND CRUISES: A MATCH MADE AT SEA

CruiseCompete.com lists top reasons more men are enjoying cruise vacations

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 26, 2008 - Contrary to popular belief, guys and
cruise travel do go together. Convincing one's husband, father or a male
friend to take a vacation at sea may have been a challenge in the past, but
cruises today offer men of all ages plenty to do - with or without the women
in their lives in tow.

"Men are hardly bored on today's cruise vacations," said Bob Levinstein, CEO
of Cruise Compete, LLC. "At sea or in port, there's plenty to keep them busy
all day long or, if they choose, they can simply relax by the pool or on the
beach. It's easier than ever to get a man on a cruise because they are
virtually guaranteed to have an unforgettable vacation."

A number of industry reports indicate men now account for about 45 percent
of all cruise guests. The following summarizes many of the most popular
reasons why:

Great Food 24/7- The kitchen is always open on a cruise ship. Day or night,
men can always find a meal, snack or treat to feed their appetites. In
addition to a ship's main dining room, most cruises offer additional eating
alternatives, including casual buffets, bistro-style cafes that offer light menu
items and reservations-only specialty restaurants. Virtually all ships feature
24-hour pizzeria services and room service. The cruise lines also offer
expansive menus for persons with special dietary restrictions. In many
eateries, casual attire is welcome.

Beer Tasting Parties and Tours - There is no shortage of bars on most cruise
ships and beer aficionados lick their lips upon boarding. International brewers
showcase signature and specialty beers on the major cruise lines and sponsor
special onboard beer-tasting parties for those of drinking age. For more
sophisticated types, wine-tasting opportunities abound. Many cruise ships
also feature cigar bars with an expansive assortment of stogies to choose
from any time of day. In port, travelers are invited on special excursions to
visit local pubs and brewers. Carnival guests visiting Saint John, New
Brunswick, for example, can sample their favorite Moosehead beer products
and other specialty beers only available in Atlantic Canada.

Teeing It Up - Men who prefer to hit the links rather than the pool or beach
can enjoy the game at sea. In addition to amazingly real, on-board
computerized golf simulators, many cruise lines have expanded their stops at
some of the world's most picturesque and challenging golf courses. Some
have even created special itineraries that visit a different course each day.
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises, for example, has expanded its "Silver Links" golf
program to 12 cruises in 2008, featuring 35 world-class courses in 16
countries and islands. Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new Golf
Bermuda program; the popular cruise stop features more golf courses per
square mile than anywhere else in the world.

Exciting Adventure Travel - Cruise travel is ideal for men looking for
adventure. A number of cruise lines offer port excursions to fulfill active
lifestyles and raise everyone's adrenaline. Carnival Cruise Lines take travelers
to Belize on an unforgettable cave tubing and rain forest exploration tour.
Those traveling with Celebrity Cruises to Alaska have the opportunity to
experience a thrilling rain forest canopy and zip line adventure. Cruisers who
like it hot may enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line's mesmerizing helicopter ride over
Kilauea, the Earth's most active volcano. Crystal Cruises puts travelers who
enjoy speed behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race car in Monaco, with both
on- and off-course instruction.

Fun in the Sun - Not everyone likes to sunbath all day, so the cruise lines
have turned themselves into floating entertainment centers. The newest
innovations include bowling alleys and Flowrider surfing pools. Virtually all of
the major cruise ships already feature winding water slides, challenging rock-
climbing walls, giant trampolines and ice skating rinks (sans hockey sticks and
pucks), among other recreation amenities. The private islands many ships
visit include beach and water sports, snorkeling, boat and kayak rentals,
hiking and sightseeing opportunities and other fun. Port excursions include
jungle and rain forest tours, horseback riding, bike tours, guided historical
tours and other unforgettable experiences.

Games of Chance - For men who like to gamble, virtually all ocean cruise
ships feature floating casinos, with the exception of Disney Cruise Lines.
Popular games, such as blackjack, roulette, poker, craps and slot machines
test one's luck while passing the time by. The casinos only operate when the
ship is at sea, or when local laws allow gaming in port. If the on-board
casino is not enough, many cruise ports feature land-based casinos. Insiders
say Royal Caribbean's newest ships feature the largest gaming areas.

Invigorating Spa Treatments - In the past, the health spas found on many
cruise ships were filled almost exclusively with female guests. Times have
changed, however, as more men are enjoying the luxurious pampering and
ultimate relaxation afforded spa visitors. Renowned Steiner of London, the
largest spa provider in the world, operates many of the spas at sea, which
now rival the very best land-based spas. It is not uncommon to see men
enjoying massages, facials and pedicures. Additional services include
aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy (seawater-based
treatments). Herbal and seaweed wraps also are common among many spa
guests.

Breathtaking Shows - There are no sappy lounge acts aboard today's cruise
ships. From Carnival's Fiesta Latina and Far from Over: The 80s musical
reviews, to Royal Caribbean's Invitation to Dance, based on the popular
Dancing with the Stars television show, the cruise lines are producing lavish
new, multi-million dollar, special effects- laden entertainment
extravaganzas. These Las Vegas-style productions are sure to please even
the most discerning cruise travelers - and men with short attention spans.

"From a guy's perspective, maybe the best thing about a cruise is the all-
inclusive nature of the vacation, which makes it a great, yet affordable, gift
to give a special woman," Levinstein added. "The cruise lines are offering a
number of great deals this year on a variety of sailings to destinations near
and far. Your cruise fare includes accommodations, great food all day and
night, white-sand beaches, world-class golf, relaxing spas, gambling,
adventure and quality entertainment and shows. There's no better value out
there."

# # #

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 experts 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.


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