NEW YORK, Jan. 14 -- With nine new ships entering service in
1999, including an existing ship that is being lengthened, it's no wonder that
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is projecting a record 11
percent increase in the number of cruise passengers that will take to the seas
this year. From yacht-like ships to mega-liners, the new vessels will
accommodate from 490 to 3,100 guests.

According to James G. Godsman, president of the 23-member cruise line
association, the industry has enjoyed an average year-over-year annual growth
of almost 8 percent since 1980, when 1.4 million people took a cruise.

"Year-end figures for 1998 are yet to be tallied," he says, "however,
third-quarter statistics indicate that the industry will be right on target
for reaching its projected 5.4 million cruise vacationers. CLIA projects that
figure will increase to 6 million for 1999."

Additionally, in response to extensive consumer research that reveals
today's cruise prospects are younger, active, adventurous and tend to travel
with children, CLIA-member lines are investing in unprecedented cruise ship
design: the first ice rink, cabins overlooking a soaring indoor atrium,
extensive youth facilities and lavish health spas, to name a few.

And, to keep experienced cruisers coming back, cruise companies are seeking
new ports and exotic destinations, enhancing shore programs by offering more
in-depth experiences and providing more sports and adventuresome options for
the active traveler.

New Ships Join CLIA Fleet

Carnival Cruise Lines will introduce the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph in
July when it will begin a series of cruises from New York to Canada. In
October, the ship will operate year-round seven-day cruises to the Eastern and
Western Caribbean.

Disney Cruise Line introduces the 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder on August 15
sailing from Port Canaveral on three- or four-day cruises to the Bahamas and
Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, following a three- or four-day stay at
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

First European Cruises will introduce the 1,200-passenger Mistral in July on
seven-night Greek Island cruises from Venice. Upon completing its inaugural
season in October, Mistral begins the company's first Caribbean season sailing
roundtrip from Guadeloupe.

Holland America Line is scheduled to take delivery in July of the new
63,000-ton Volendam which will operate a series of Canada/New England cruises
followed by a series of 10-day Southern Caribbean cruises beginning in
October.

Norwegian Cruise Line's new 2,002-guest Norwegian Sky, which debuts in
August, will feature 12 spacious decks that surround a glass-domed mid-ship
atrium. In the spring, the Norwegian Majesty receives a new 112-foot
midsection that increases the ship's capacity from 1,056 to 1,462 guests.

Princess Cruises launches the 77,000-ton Sea Princess, which features 410
staterooms with private balconies, on its first Caribbean season this winter.
Following its seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries, the new ship will be
repositioned to Alaska.

Radisson Seven Seas will introduce its first all-suite ship, the deluxe
490-guest Seven Seas Navigator, scheduled to sail a 12-night maiden voyage
from Nice to Venice on August 16, 1999, followed by a series of inaugural
cruises in Europe.

Royal Caribbean International will launch on November 14 the largest cruise
ship in the world, the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas, that will sail
seven-night Western Caribbean cruises. Among the recreational facilities
onboard will be an ice skating rink and an outdoor sports deck featuring a
20-foot-high rock-climbing wall and an in-line skating track.

New Ports, Itineraries Provide Myriad Options

Celebrity Cruises enters the European cruise market for the first time with
the deployment of the 1,750-guest Century sailing April through October. It
will offer a series of inaugural visits to 33 ports in the Mediterranean,
Russia, the Baltic Sea and Western Europe.

Due to popular demand, Commodore Cruise Line has scheduled four additional
Maya Explorer Cruises. The Enchanted Isle will change course from its regular
Caribbean route and head for the natural wonders and ancient ruins of Mexico
and Honduras in Central America.

Crystal Cruises will be making over a dozen maiden calls to ports such as
Florianopolis, Santa Catarina Island, Brazil; Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt; Djibouti
Africa; Brest, France; and St. Kitts, West Indies. It will also operate a new
cruise through the Suez Canal and Red and Arabian seas.

Mediterranean Shipping Cruises will for the first time position its entire
fleet of four vessels in the Mediterranean with ships based in Genoa and
Venice. On June 12, the Symphony will start its inaugural season of
seven-night cruises from Venice to Katokolon, Kusadasi, Rhodes and Dubrovnik.

In April, Orient Lines will operate a commemorative voyage that retraces
Marco Polo's 13,000-mile journey. Passengers will sail from Singapore to
Istanbul aboard the Marco Polo, namesake of the legendary explorer. Guest
lecturer will be explorer Harry Rutstein, the first person in history to
retrace the fabled course traveled in 1299.

Regal Cruises has added Savannah, Ga., and Port Canaveral as embarkation
ports for three new 12-night cruises to the Caribbean and a partial transit of
the Panama Canal. New cruises from New York to Canada will include calls at
Martha's Vineyard, Boston, Portland, and St. John.

Royal Olympic Cruises introduces a new cruise/tour -- the 11-day
Mediterranean Odyssey -- showcasing the Greek Isles and Turkey. It includes a
seven-day cruise to seven fabled Aegean ports, international air, plus two
free hotel nights in Athens with sightseeing.

Seabourn Cruise Line is adding a unique line-up of destinations to include
El Nido, Palawan, Manila and the island of Corregidor in the Philippines;
Sanary-Sur-Mer and Le Lavandou in France; Antwerp; Jersey in the Channel
Islands; Portland, Me.; Toronto; Krakatoa Island, Indonesia; Puerto Quetzal,
Guatemala; and Keelung, Taiwan.

For the first time in years, Windstar Cruises will position the Wind Star in
the Caribbean sailing seven-day cruises from Barbados throughout the summer.
It will then join its sister ship, Wind Song, in Costa Rica, nearly doubling
the sailings of the Panama Canal passage.

New Programs, New Names, Enhancements Introduced

American Hawaii Cruises has expanded its Big Band theme cruise program and
now offers 14 Big Band vacations featuring some of America's most famous
orchestras, dance contests and sociable dance hosts.

Bergen Line's Norwegian Coastal Voyage will offer a 12-day Norwegian Art and
Culture cruise from March 26 to April 6 aboard the Richard With, which departs
from Bergen and sails as far north as Kirkenes, above the Arctic Circle.

Costa Cruises introduces London and Nice/Monte Carlo to its free two-night
European package, available after most sailings, which include hotel/pier or
pier/hotel transfer, accommodations for two at a four-star hotel, continental
breakfast, hotel porterage and half-day sightseeing tour.

Cunard will move the Royal Viking Sun and Sea Goddess I and II to the
Seabourn fleet in the fourth quarter of 1999, renaming them the Seabourn Sun,
Seabourn Goddess I and Seabourn Goddess II, respectively. Also, the
Vistafjord will be renamed Caronia in November following a major
refurbishment.

Premier Cruises is launching a new gentlemen host program that will enable
women traveling independently to enjoy a charming dinner companion or dance
partner. The hosts will be on every seven-night sailing and on three- and
four-night cruises in season aboard the Big Red Boat.

Silversea Cruises is expanding its Silver Links golf program to feature 19
voyages, allowing guests an opportunity to play full rounds of championship
golf at some of the most prestigious courses in the world.

To learn more about cruises offered by CLIA-member lines, contact a
CLIA-affiliated travel agency near you. To find one, check the yellow pages
or visit CLIA's web site at
www.cruising.org. Also, a free Cruise Vacation
Planner is available by calling 1-888-YCRUISE.