BOSTON, Feb. 19 -- The Massachusetts Port Authority announced
today that ship calls expected at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal have
reached 60 for the April through October 1998 cruise season.

The announcement of the Cruiseport schedule is linked to the cruise
industry's celebration of February as National Cruise Vacation Month.

"Sixty ship calls and counting," said Massport Executive Director and CEO
Peter Blute. "Massport's marketing team continues to aggressively sell the
Port and the city of Boston as one of the most attractive vacation
destinations. Last year, we broke all records. We closed the season with 62
ship calls, 106,977 passengers, and more than $30 million in economic impact
to the region. We certainly expect to match those figures this season."

Royal Caribbean's newest vessel, the 78,000 ton Vision of the Seas, set to
enter service in May, will visit in September. Vision will make Boston its
homeport for three 10-night cruises on a "Route of the Vikings" itinerary
through New England and Canada during the Fall foliage season. And there's
more -- Vision will embark on a special eight-night Boston-San Juan
repositioning cruise stopping in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and St.
Croix with departure schedule for Oct. 20.

Officially, Boston's cruise schedule begins on April 20 and runs through
October 30. The Norwegian Majesty, formerly MV Royal Majesty, launches its
fifth season of Boston to Bermuda sailings. The Majesty increased the number
of weekly seven-day cruises to Bermuda to 26, and it has added a cruise to New
England/Canada in the Fall. Another member of the fleet, the Norwegian Crown
will make six port of call visits.

The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal will be busy with Port of Call activity
including 10 visits by Holland America Line's the Veendam, six visits by the
Royal Princess, three visits by the Hanseatic, and one stop by Hapag Llyod's
Columbus, New to Boston, the Clipper Adventurer, a small expedition-type
vessel holding 122 passengers, will visit on September 18.

Cruise lines have reported record bookings by passengers. Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA), the industry trade organization, projects
that 5.5 million North Americans will cruise this year.

"Boston as a cruiseport has grown from 21,000 passengers in 1987 to nearly
107,000 last year. The potential for continued growth is obvious as cruising
becomes the vacation of choice for millions. And as cruising continues to
grow as the vacation of choice, Boston continues to grow as the destination of
choice," said Blute.