Priceline.com Says A Cruise May Be One Of This Fall's Best Travel Values; Increased Use of...

NORWALK, Conn. -- Is your fall vacation on hold because of gasoline and airline ticket prices? Then this might be the year to take a cruise.

Increasingly, major cruise lines have brought their product to their customers by departing from over 20 major seaports around the U.S., including

For large segments of the nation's population, getting to the cruise ship is as easy as taking a bus, cab, train or even subway. No long drives to the port. And no airline tickets and schedules to match up with ship departure and arrival. By eliminating most of their travel costs, cruise buyers can take a cruise vacation for as little as $55 per person per day - including stateroom and food.

The increased number of departure ports also gives cruisers more choices in destinations. Along with cruise mainstays like the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska, there are now foliage cruises to New England and Canada, Mediterranean cruises, cruises around the Hawaiian Islands, and cruises to South and Central America. Also during the fall, travelers can take advantage of cruising's biggest bargain - the repositioning cruise. For example, ships that sail to Alaska in the summer will shift to Hawaii and Mexico for the winter months. Travelers who "go along for the ride" during the repositioning often enjoy deep discounts for the same services and food.

Here are priceline.com's recommended picks for low-cost, high-value fall cruises:*

--10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from New York City, aboard NCL's Norwegian Dawn, starting at $549 per person, which equals $54.90 per day.

--7-night Bermuda cruise from Boston aboard NCL's Norwegian Majesty, starting at $529 per person, which equals $75.57 per day.

--7-night New England/Canada cruise from New York aboard Carnival's Triumph, starting at $699 per person, which equals $99.85 per day.

--12-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Cape Liberty, NJ, aboard Celebrity's Constellation, starting at $900 per person, which equals $75.00 per day.

--4-night Mexican Baja cruise from San Diego aboard Celebrity's Infinity, starting at $340 per person, which equals $85.00 per day.

--7-night Alaska cruise (from Whittier, AK, to Vancouver) aboard the Dawn Princess, starting at $599 per person, which equals $85.57 per day.

--11-night Fall Transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, starting at $699 per person, which equals $63.55 per day.

--10-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles aboard Celebrity's Summit, starting at $850 per person, which equals $85 per day. Price includes complimentary Celebrity beach set and onboard savings booklet.

* Quoted prices were available through www.priceline.com on September 6, 2005, are for inside cabins only, and do not include applicable taxes and fees. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time.

About priceline.com

Priceline.com is a travel service that offers leisure airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. Priceline.com recently expanded its services so customers now have a choice: they can pick from a broad selection of published flights, hotels, rental cars and packages at published prices or, for deeper savings, they can use priceline.com's Name Your Own Price service for their travel needs. Priceline.com also has a personal finance service that offers home mortgages, refinancing and home equity loans through an independent licensee.

Priceline.com operates one of Europe's fastest growing hotel reservation services through Activehotels.com, Activereservations.com, Bookings.net and priceline.co.uk. The company also operates the following travel sites: Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, RentalCars.com and BreezeNet.com. Priceline.com licenses its business model to independent licensees, including priceline mortgage and certain international licensees.