KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia---Jan. 13, 2000--Star Cruises PLC
today commenced its previously-announced offers to purchase all outstanding
ordinary shares of NCL Holding ASA and all outstanding NCL Holding American
Depositary Shares (each representing four ordinary shares) not owned by Star
Cruises and related companies (the Star Group) at a price of 35 Norwegian
kronor (NOK) per share (140 NOK per American Depositary Share).

The offers -- which involve a concurrent international offer for ordinary
shares held by non-U.S. persons and U.S. offer for ordinary shares held by
U.S. persons and American Depositary Shares -- are being made through Star
Cruises' subsidiary, Arrasas Limited, pursuant to the mandatory offer
requirements of Norwegian law.

The offer price of 35 NOK per share is equal to the highest price the Star
Group has previously paid to acquire any shares. It also represents a premium
of over 40% to the 24.90 NOK closing share price on the Oslo Stock Exchange on
December 1, 1999, the last trading day before Carnival Corporation's public
announcement that it intended to make a takeover offer for NCL shares and a
premium of over 16.0% to the 30 NOK per share price in Carnival Corporation's
now-lapsed offer.

The offers are not subject to any conditions and will remain open for
acceptance through February 10, 2000 (unless extended).

The Star Group currently owns approximately 49.9% of NCL's outstanding
shares.

At Star Cruises' request, the Board of NCL Holding has announced it will
convene an extraordinary general meeting of NCL shareholders on February 4,
2000 to elect a new board of directors.

Notes for Editors: 1. Star Cruises PLC is listed in Luxembourg and traded in
Singapore. 2. NCL Holding ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and its
ADS's

are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.