CruiseCompare.co.uk
CruiseCompare.co.uk is a cruise ship Travel website launched in 2011 by Cruise Compare Ltd. It does not sell cruise ships or holidays bookings directly but allows users to compare cruise deals, and provides information for them to book directly with the cruise operator or agency offering the cruise deal.
History
CruiseCompare.co.uk was founded in 2011 by Tom Fotheringham, a former DFDS Seaways online marketing manager. The website is owned by Cruise Compare Ltd. Danielle Fear is the managing director.
In October 2011, Lee Hayhurst wrote in Travolution, a UK quarterly print publication on the travel market, that CruiseCompare.co.uk has over 45,000 Facebook fans then, and "claims to have over 40,000 ACTIVE users and published over 10,000 deals from cruise lines each day."
Features
Users can search for cruise deals on the CruiseCompare website based on destination, cruise line or operator, departure date, duration and cost. The results are displayed, with travel agent prices for each cruise deal. Information on the cruise ship, operator, and booking details are provided.
The website features cruise ships and travel news, traveller reviews, weekly top 10 cruise deals, and provide a social networking platform for its registered users to meet and share photos. Cruise ships, operators and agents featured includes: P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise118, Iglu Cruising and Ideal Cruising.
Financing
In 2011, NorthStar Equity Investors Limited (trading as Northstar Ventures), an independent fund management company—through the Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund—invested £100,000 in CruiseCompare.co.uk.
Association
MSC Cruises partnered with CruiseCompare.co.uk in 2011 to offer one person the opportunity to win a luxury 7 night Mediterranean cruise voyage of their choice. It was done through a competition on the Facebook page of CruiseCompare.co.uk. Cheapflights and CruiseCompare.co.uk also partnered in 2011 to launch a Groupon-style cruise flash sales on the CruiseCompare website.
Recognition
Cruise ships and holidays related advice and pools conducted by CruiseCompare.co.uk have been featured in print media like The Sun (United Kingdom).
See also
- Cruiseferry