NYT: Web Research, Stem to Stern

With five out of six cruise purchasers finding and considering their trip options online, sites have sprung up to help buyers through this process. This illustrates an increasing trend with high-ticket and high-consideration purchases, where the decisive information and feedback that go into consumer decision making come from online resources, regardless of where the ultimate purchase takes place. And, like automotive and real estate sites before them, these helper sites are becoming sought-after advertising vehicles.