Launches Upgraded Website and New Television Show, as Ship Personnel Fan Out

Across U.S. to Share Entertaining Stories About Cruising

NEW YORK, Feb. 1 -- This February marks the 10th anniversary of
National Cruise Vacation Month, and Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) is pulling out all the stops to make this year's event as memorable as
the first one.

Among the planned festivities are a nationwide media tour, during which six
shipboard personnel share entertaining stories about life at sea; an upgraded
website for consumers who wish to learn about cruise vacations and
destinations; and a 30-minute television show, narrated from the perspective
of a first-time cruiser, highlighting cruising's many charms.

CLIA-affiliated travel agencies across the nation will also celebrate
National Cruise Vacation Month with locally hosted Cruise Nights and open
houses and by decorating their offices with colorful posters, free information
and festive "I Cruise" buttons as giveaways to customers.

"People who are curious about cruising will find that February is the
perfect time to learn about vacations at sea," says James G. Godsman,
president of CLIA. "If the past is any indication, CLIA-affiliated agencies
will go to town decorating their offices and inviting the public to stop by or
phone in. We may even see some store windows specially painted with cruise
murals. And, many agencies have told us they plan to extend their office
hours to accommodate the anticipated increase in customer traffic."

During the media tour, which will be held the weeks of Feb. 7 and 14, cruise
line personnel -- cruise directors, hotel managers and ship captains -- will
fan out across the U.S. to visit Atlanta, Bakersfield, Baton Rouge,
Birmingham, Boston, Charleston (W.V.), Chattanooga, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth,
Fresno, Ft. Wayne, Jackson (Miss.), Jacksonville, Knoxville, Little Rock, Los
Angeles, Monterey/Salinas, New York, Omaha, Peoria/Bloomington, Philadelphia,
Portland (Maine), Reno, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockford, Savannah, South
Bend/Elkhart, Springfield/Holyoke, and Topeka. Participating cruise lines are
Holland America Line, First European Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises, Regal Cruises and Windstar Cruises.

Anyone who catches a radio or television program featuring a cruise industry
spokesperson can expect to learn a lot about cruise vacations. In the past,
interviews have covered a wide array of cruise topics, among them dining
options, hot destinations, why cruises are a good value, who's cruising, and
ship and shore activities.

"The answers to some of these questions might surprise people, since many
still believe that cruising is a luxury to be enjoyed only by the wealthy and
elderly," says Godsman. "That is no longer the case. More than half of
today's cruisers have household incomes of under $60,000, are between the ages
of 25 and 60, and are likely to take their kids on cruise. That's who's
cruising today, and that's the message we're going to get out."

In addition to the media tour and the new television show, CLIA will mark
National Cruise Vacation Month with an extensively upgraded website
(http://www.cruising.org). Some of the new enhancements include: a way to
search for Accredited and Master Cruise Counsellors at local agencies; an
online version of the popular Cruise Vacation Planner, with stories about
value, shopping, activities, destinations and cuisine; consumer surveys and
polls; and more links to cruise lines, destinations, tourism bureaus and
travel agencies.

Anyone interested in learning more about cruises or National Cruise Vacation
Month may visit a CLIA-affiliated agency anywhere in North America. To find
one, look for the blue, white and gold CLIA seal displayed at the agency, or
visit CLIA's website at
http://www.cruising.org.

Cruise Lines International Association is a North American-based marketing
and training organization representing 25 of the leading cruise lines and
21,000 affiliated travel agencies.