Cruise Expert Launches Watchdog Holiday Website

FORMER travel industry PR man Shaun Robinson believes it's more fun telling the 'unvarnished' truth about cruise destinations. Robinson, whose previous employers have included leading travel companies, has just set up a watchdog style cruise website www.holidayinsiders.com to reveal what he believes the cruise industry and agents really don't want us to know.

(PRWEB) November 10, 2008 -- Former travel industry PR man Shaun Robinson believes it's more fun telling the 'unvarnished' truth about cruise destinations.

Robinson, whose previous employers have included leading travel companies, has just set up a watchdog style cruise website http://www.holidayinsiders.com to reveal what he believes the cruise industry and agents really don't want us to know.

People are the best critics of all describing their cruise holiday experiences and the information can be invaluable.

Robinson has signed a long term partnership deal with the US based http://www.cruisecompete.com a cruise pricing Web Site to provide the search and booking engine for www.holidayinsiders.com.

Pricing is not http://www.holidayinsiders.com only focus. In addition to 'insider' info, the site also includes special offers, breaking travel news, and cruise features.

The site carries the strapline "hard hitting, straight talking."

Robinson said: " I've done this because I was becoming frustrated at the number of companies that were being swallowed up by big travel conglomerates which then push their products and services with a great deal of advertising and marketing firepower.

"There needs to be more independent voices out there telling cruise customers exactly what to expect.

"The site is not making money right now but not losing money either. We have a long term business plan that will see the site become financially successful through our third party partners.

"People are the best critics of all describing their cruise holiday experiences and the information can be invaluable."

Partner cruisecompete.com will enable Holidayinsiders.com to offer an array of service to its online cruise Users, including some of the most sophisticated cruise search tools anywhere on the Internet. For example, a user can type in a desired port or country and then sell all of the cruise sailings that visit that location. Once a particular sailing is selected, customers can quickly and easily submit a quoted request on the cruise to multiple specialist cruise travel agencies.

http://www.holidayinsiders.com will also focus on consumer issues and ensure its Users have information to make the right choices - by providing totally independent advice they can trust.
Robinson added: "We have the consumer's interests at heart. We're also planning to campaign to protect holidaymakers rights, and get fairer deals for consumers.

"Our team of Insider Experts will travel the high seas reviewing products and offering their independent advice on what they find".

Holidayinsiders.com is striving to offer reviews and money saving tips whatever cruise traveler's interests, on a wide range of products and services.

Robinson said: "Once our cruise Users choose a sailing off Holidayinsiders.com, they provide us with brief information online, including the number of passengers and the types of cabins they are interested in, and then submit a quote request.

"Each request is immediately accessible to more than 300 CruiseCompete member agents. Live agents view the consumer request and respond with quotes in the system. Users are notified via e-mail each time a new quote is submitted and provided with a link to their account to view the responses.

"All responses are displayed on the same screen and are shown with all taxes, charges, and included bonus extras - making comparisons easy. Most Users will receive between 4-6 responses from agents, along with agent contact information, agency background and consumer ratings of the agencies past performance.

"Consumers remain anonymous until they choose to contact a specific agency via phone or e-mail to ask questions or to book their cruise holiday".

Soon Holidayinsiders.com will add Cruise Whispers to their home page. This unique cruise form, with CruiseCompete's support will let travelers air their views and advice - consumers will become the 'real life critics'.

In addition, CruiseCompete is recommended by a number of cruise guidebooks, such as Econoguide Cruises, The Unofficial Guide to Cruises and Fodor's Caribbean Cruises.

Both http://www.holidayinsiders.com and http://www.cruisecompete.com are independent they are not owned or affiliated with any travel or cruise agency.

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