BOSTON, Feb. 6 -- The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
announced today a record-breaking schedule of 62 ship calls at the Black
Falcon Cruise Terminal during the April-to-October 1997 cruise season, with an
estimated economic impact of $30 million for the region.

Announcement of the schedule, which is open to additional ship calls as
Massport continues to market Boston and the terminal to cruise lines, is
linked to the industry's annual celebration of February as National Cruise
Vacation Month.

"Massport aggressively markets our cruiseport because of its increasingly
positive economic impact for the region. Last year, the conservative estimate
was $27 million in impact on the hospitality industry -- which includes
hotels, transportation, retail and restaurants -- and on local businesses that
supply the cruise ships with everything from fresh fish to flowers," said
Peter Blute, Massport's executive director and CEO.

The 1997 schedule includes 26 regular cruises between Boston and Bermuda
beginning April 28 by Majesty Cruise Line, now into its fourth year of a
10-year contract with Massport. The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, located in
South Boston, will welcome visits by several brand new ships including Royal
Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas, which has two embarkations inaugurating
the New Atlantic Frontier itinerary to New England and Canadian ports. Ships
new to Boston include the Norwegian Line's Dreamward, scheduled for six port
of call visits and Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony, with four visits
scheduled for 1997.

The QE2 returns on July 4 to help the former colonies celebrate
independence, and again on October 8. Holland America's Westerdam visits
eight times while Princess Line's Royal Princess visits seven times. Each is
making three extra calls over last year.

Boston's historic, shopping and dining attractions make it a favorite port
of call for cruise ships. The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, with its close
proximity to downtown Boston's retail and historic sites, allows port of call
passengers with more time onshore. The terminal is easily accessible by car,
air and train for passengers embarking on cruises. Until Massport built the
cruise terminal, cruise business was all but nonexistent in Massachusetts.
Since 1985, there's been a 369 percent increase in ship calls from 13 to 48 in
1996; and a 57.5 percent increase in passengers from 11,723 to 67,413 last
year at the terminal.

"The Port of Boston's reputation in the cruise area continues to be enhanced
by our innovative marketing programs such as the Rail/Sail initiative and our
continually upgraded passenger amenities at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal,"
said Ralph Cox, Port Director.

The Rail/Sail program, initiated last year by Massport, Majesty Cruise Line
and Amtrak, continues offering Bermuda bound passengers from New Jersey, New
York and Connecticut seamless travel by train from New York's Penn Station to
Boston's South Station. A limo transfers passengers and luggage to the
terminal.

According to the latest figures compiled by the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA), passenger growth rose 6.6 percent for the first three
quarters of 1996 compared to the same period in 1995.

Last year, Cruiseport Boston surpassed CLIA'S growth and had an 11.3 percent
increase in cruise passengers with 67,413 compared to 59,627 in 1995. The
visits generated $27 million in economic impact on the city's hospitality,
retail, restaurant, transportation, food, produce and service industries.