NEW YORK, Jan. 2 -- A flotilla of new ships, cruises geared to
vacationers' special interests and exotic new ports of call top the list of
the hottest trends in cruising this year, according to Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA).

For the second year in a row, glitzy new ships will grab headlines as they
are launched by CLIA-member lines -- part of a building boom that is expected
to last until the end of the century. Ranging in size from yacht-like to
megaliner, these ships accommodate 320 to 2,000 guests and feature facilities
geared to attract new cruisers, especially baby-boomers and families. This
year's lineup includes the following vessels:

-- Bergen Line - Norwegian Coastal Voyage's Nordnorge makes its maiden
voyage in April 1997.

-- Princess Cruises - Dawn Princess, May 1997.

-- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - Rhapsody of the Seas, May 1997 and
Enchantment of the Seas, September 1997.

-- Holland America Line - Rotterdam VI, October 1997.

-- Radisson Seven Seas Cruises - Paul Gauguin, October 1997.

-- Celebrity Cruises - Mercury, November 1997.

And another line, Majesty Cruise Line, will expand its fleet with the
charter of Cunard Line's Crown Dynasty, renaming it the Crown Majesty.

Also making news in 1997 will be what the industry calls "theme" cruises --
sailings that are particularly geared to special interests and activities.
This year passengers will be able to immerse themselves in geography, sports,
Italian culture, fitness, Big Band music and a variety of other pursuits.

According to CLIA President James G. Godsman, theme cruises are a result of
people's changing lifestyles. "Free time is at such a premium these days that
people expect their vacations to touch all bases: rest, excitement and value.
Theme cruises do just that," he says.

In addition to new ships and theme cruises, new ports -- especially in
Central and South America -- will attract passengers this year. Such exotic
locales as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, the Straits of Magellan, Costa Rica,
South Africa, northern Europe, the Mediterranean and even the Kanawha and
Illinois rivers of the U.S. Midwest will welcome cruise vessels this year.

Information about cruises is available from any of the 22,000 CLIA-
affiliated travel agencies in North America or through CLIA's web site at
http://www.cruising.org.

/NOTE TO EDITOR: For a more detailed version of CLIA's overview of this
year's new cruise offerings, please call Bernadette Suski Harding at 201-605-
2121, or fax your request to 201-605-2330./