CruisePricesCompared.com - Open Thread

It's going be a bit light on the blogging front today, so here's an open discussion for the new Cruisepricescompared.com site, which launches today.

The site has been created, according to Travel Weekly, so that travel agents can list their cruise deals direct to consumers. It's free for agents to list the deals and is a simple referral system (a bit like Cheapflights at a basic level).

So what do people think of the concept, and of the site itself?

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Second Life works...sometimes

Shock, horror! Hold the front page!

More than ten people in the same place in Second Life at any one time!

STA Travel held a party last week in conjunction with Australian mobile provider Big Pond at the Ayers Rock replica in SL.

The Outback Bush Party apparently attracted some 60 people.

Some evidence:

More pictures.

The popularity of the event hardly disputes Wired's scathing analysis on the commercial benefits of Second Life but at least there is hope for those willing to be imaginative enough.

Clearly STA Travel came up with something innovative to attract trendy avatars to what was essentially just one of many events featuring pixelated people dancing about in a silly manner club nights in Second Life.

But what of the long-term prospects for this kind of thing? Answers via the comments section please...

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: second life sta travel outback ayers rock

Learning to dance in Second Life

Okay. Curiosity got the better of Travolution last night, so we decided go into Second Life for the first time in months to take a look at the new ship belonging to Costa Cruises.

The virtual version Costa Serena, which was launched yesterday at the same time as its counterpart in a real dock in Marseille, is moored alongside a passenger terminal on one of the many islands.

[It is easy to find: type "Costa" into the Search tool and the site currently appears in third position]

See below for some screen grabs from our little adventure, which culiminated with a bit of a boogie - courtesy of a very accommodating fellow Second Lifer who patched us some of the best moves - in the ship's discotheque.

We were also on the receiving end of a rather cold shoulder from one of the Costa crew members, who didn't take kindly to being asked some questions about the ship.

Altogether, a rather bizarre experience...

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

I name this ship...Virtual Costa Serena

Anyone kicking about in Second Life today can bear witness to the first ever launch of a cruise ship in a virtual world.

Costa Cruises will simultaneously smash the champagne against the hull of its newest ship, the Costa Serena, in the French port of Marseille and in Second Life.

[Costa Cruises microsite]

After the SL ceremony there will be various bits of entertaintment including a treasure hunt, live DJs and fireworks, as well as the opportunity to stroll around the entire ship.

Nice idea. We'll check with Costa next week to find out how many people actually turned up.

Costa is the latest travel-related brand to enter Second Life. Travel technology provider Comtec has showcased its new Travel.co.uk travel comparison engine in Second Life. Starwood Hotels also built a prototype hotel there last summer.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: second life maiden voyage