BOSTON, Jan. 25 -- The Massachusetts Port Authority announced
today that a record 75 ship calls are expected at the Black Falcon Cruise
Terminal for the April through October 1999 cruise season.

"We've surpassed last year's 62 ship calls and nearly 106,000 passengers.
This record- 75 ship call schedule underscores Boston as a desirable cruise
venue -- whether embarking on a vacation of choice or visiting as a port of
call," said Massport's Executive Director and CEO Peter Blute.

This year, Massport estimates some 150,000 passengers will generate about a
$40 million economic impact. That figure doesn't land in Massport's bottom
line but it is spread throughout the region in a variety of industries from
longshoremen handling luggage and waterfront services to transportation and
truck drivers delivering stores to hospitality and retail businesses.

"The cruise industry means jobs for local people," continued Blute. "It is
an essential element in a working port. Massport is committed to expanding
and renovating CruisePort Boston to handle the new generation of ships and
passengers connected with this growing seagoing industry."

Massport's cruise terminal has undergone tremendous growth since 1986 when
only 13 ships visited.

Today, the Norwegian Majesty is home-ported in Boston during the summer
season and has 26 weekly cruises to St. George, Bermuda. The
Boston-to-Bermuda run is one of the most popular itineraries of the region.
This year the Majesty has a new profile. During the winter months, the vessel
underwent "stretching" in a German shipyard. She returns 112 feet longer and
has 203 new state rooms to accommodate an additional 400 passengers, bringing
the ship's capacity to 1,462.

An aggressive cruise marketing program is seeing the addition of new ships,
itineraries and embarkations out of the Black Falcon. For example, Seabourn
Pride will be here for the Ryder Cup and has scheduled a 10-day Boston-Toronto
itinerary and a 3-night New England Canada cruise. LeLevant, a 100 passenger,
luxury yacht-like vessel does two "American Coast and Nova Scotia", 8-day
sailings between Boston and St. Pierre.

Royal Caribbean's Splendor of the Seas, does four, 10-day embarkations to
New England and Canada. Another Norwegian ship, Sky, will depart Boston for
five sailings -- four 10-day trips through New England and Canadian waters;
and one 15-night cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean.

"To underscore Massport's commitment, we have several things in the works,"
said Michael Leone, Director of the Port. "We are investing in building a new
gangway for the expanded Majesty. That should be ready by Spring. We are
doing fender repairs -- to help protect Majesty, Royal Caribbean ships and
others."

Leone adds Massport has a study underway to examine the feasibility of
remodeling and expanding Black Falcon and to consider other possible sites.