Online travel agency, CruiseWise has announced the launch of a ¡°revolutionary¡± cruise booking website aimed at streamlining and simplifying the online booking process for cruise vacations.

As well as allowing users to compare prices and itineraries across various cruise lines, CruiseWise.com will enable customers to ¡°visually¡± select their cabin and book their trip entirely online.

The overall process is enhanced by the website¡¯s port-guides, interactive deck plans, photo galleries and service and amenities information.

CruiseWise chief executive and co-founder Amit Aharoni said the new website was a long overdue addition to the options available for those looking to book cruises online.

¡°Technologically, cruise booking is stuck in 1998,¡± Mr Aharoni remarked. 

¡°CruiseWise is designed to give users a simple, accessible place to compare cruise deals and explore ships.

¡°Rather than be tied to a single travel agent on the phone with a limited perspective, CruiseWise frees you up to view and compare all of your travel options in a single place.¡±

As part of its claim that it introduces ¡°pricing transparency¡± to online cruise bookings, CruiseWise.com gives consumers the opportunity to see up-front prices, with or without taxes.? ?

According to CruiseWise, more than 90 per cent of cruises are still booked through traditional travel agents.