CruiseWise, an online travel agency, announced today the launch of a new cruise booking website. Designed to bring wisdom and simplicity to the online cruise booking process, CruiseWise.com is a powerful search engine that allows users to compare prices and itineraries across multiple cruise lines, visually select their cabin on the ship, and book entirely online using a streamlined checkout process.

CruiseWise delivers a rich search experience by combining innovative technology with a comprehensive knowledgebase of cruise information assembled by an in-house team of experts. Users can take advantage of powerful new comparison tools and narrow search results using a wide range of criteria never available before. View cruises going through specific ports, explore ship routes with an integrated map feature, and use interactive deck plans to pick the perfect cabin. The cruise exploration and booking process is enhanced with in-depth port guides, extensive photo galleries, and at-a-glance information about each ship’s amenities.

More than 14 million people per year choose cruising as their preferred way to travel, contributing more than $30 billion to the booming cruise industry. But unlike most other travel sectors that have embraced online booking, cruising falls well behind—more than 90% of cruises are still booked in person or on the phone through traditional travel agents.

“Right now it’s incredibly difficult to research and book a cruise online—the landscape is saturated with constantly shifting deals from dozens of cruise lines and travel agents,” says CruiseWise COO and co-founder Steve Davis. “Combine this with a complicated online booking process that doesn’t allow people to customize their travel preferences, and it’s no wonder the majority of cruises are booked over the phone.”

CruiseWise CEO and co-founder Amit Aharoni echoes these frustrations. “Technologically, cruise booking is stuck in 1998. We think cruisers deserve better. 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.”

CruiseWise also introduces pricing transparency to online cruise booking. Users now have the opportunity to see cruise prices up front with or without tax included and the option to view the price per traveler or the price for all travelers. Not only does this feature make vacation planning for groups and families much easier, it also reflects the CruiseWise commitment to always showing users the best prices along with the most comprehensive search results.