Pampering Is Included in Cruise Holidays 2005 'Platinum Collection'

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2005 "Platinum Collection" continues the tradition started five years ago of offering sophisticated, luxury cruises at exclusive Cruise Holidays pricing. The price, though, is just the start of the indulgence with this prestigious assortment specifically designed for the upscale traveler. The 2005 Platinum Collection is featured in Cruise Holidays quarterly magazine, Compass Digest, and is already in the homes of 140,000 Cruise Holidays' customers.

"What this collection has come to represent is an incomparable level of luxury, service and relaxation. In other words, prepare to be pampered," said Kevin Weisner, Cruise Holidays' Vice President and General Manager. "The Cruise Holidays 2005 Platinum Collections provides only the very finest of the world's high-end cruises. With Cruise Holidays' exclusive arrangements, combining incredible savings of up to 50% with extra perks like shipboard credits, the dream of a luxury cruise can become a reality."

Included in the 2005 Cruise Holidays Platinum Collection are (all fares listed are per person, double occupancy):

   -- Crystal Cruises' 12-day Mediterranean Cruise aboard Crystal Serenity,
      from Rome to Athens, available with a $100 shipboard credit and
      prepaid gratuities starting from $4,495.  The same applies to their
      11-day Barcelona to London sailing aboard Crystal Symphony starting at
      $3,595.

   -- Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' six-star luxury is available with an
      exclusive $50 shipboard credit and gratuities are included. An 11-
      night Tahiti sailing, roundtrip from Papeete, aboard the Paul Gauguin
      starts from $3,095. A 7-night Caribbean sailing aboard the Radisson
      Diamond, roundtrip from San Juan, starts at 1,998.

   -- SeaDream Yacht Club's 7-night voyages aboard the intimate SeaDream II
      include a $200 shipboard credit when booked by March 15, 2005.  Rates
      begin at $3,699 sailing from Nice to Civitavecchia, Monte Carlo to
      Venice or Venice to Civitavecchia.

   -- Silversea voyages include up to a $100 shipboard credit per suite
      along with savings up to 50% on their Mediterranean sailing.
      Selections include: the 10-day "Iberian Explorer" roundtrip from
      Barcelona starting at $2,897 and the 7-day "Canary Isles and Barbary
      Apes" sailing from Las Palmas to Lisbon from $2,517.

   -- Windstar Cruises' European voyages on the Wind Surf (eight days, Rome
      to Nice, featuring: Portovenere, Cannes and Monte Carlo) qualify for a
      $150 per person shipboard credit if booked by March 31, 2005.  Rates
      start from $1,995 for a deluxe oceanview stateroom.

   -- The Yachts of Seabourn's select Mediterranean cruises on the Seabourn
      Legend and Seabourn Spirit are available at up to a 50% savings with a
      $100 shipboard credit per suite when booked by March 17, 2005.  A
      7-day voyage on the Seabourn Spirit from Alexandria to Istanbul or
      Istanbul to Venice starts at $2,998.

"When our customers book one of these voyages, they are guaranteed to receive the highest level of service, the most elegant accommodations, a world-class dining experience night after night, all while visiting some of the most breathtaking ports of call," said Weisner. "Cruise Holidays' customers also know they can relax knowing they're receiving the utmost in thoughtful, careful service from us."

With stores throughout the United States and Canada, Cruise Holidays is North America's largest franchise network of cruise-specialty travel agencies. For more information on all of the "Platinum Collection" offerings, visit http://www.cruiseholidays.com/ to find the agency nearest you.

Cruise Holidays, which continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, is North America's largest cruise-specialty travel agency chain, with agencies in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays was acquired in 2001 by Carlson Travel Group, Inc., one of the world's largest and most respected travel franchisers. Carlson Travel Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc. Brands include: Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, Cruise Holidays, Results Travel, Carlson Leisure Travel Services and Carlson Destination Marketing Services.