NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 10 -- American Classic Voyages Co. (Nasdaq: AMCV), America's largest cruise company, will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 16, 2001, commemorating the start of construction on the building that will house its new corporate headquarters in Sunrise, Fla.

The cruise company will be the lead tenant in a six-story, 240,000-square- foot-building to be built at the corner of NW 136th Avenue and NW 8th Street in the Sawgrass Commerce Center.

AMCV's decision to move to South Florida followed the offer of an economic incentive package of more than $4.2 million from the State of Florida, Broward County and the City of Sunrise. The relocation of its present New Orleans operational offices and Chicago corporate headquarters will create approximately 725 new jobs in Sunrise.

"I want to welcome the prestigious American Classic Voyages to its new home in Broward County," said Governor Jeb Bush. "Florida is a natural fit for American Classic Voyages. We also welcome the cruise line's creation of 725 new jobs and look forward to the continued growth of our newest corporate resident."

John Anderson, president and chief operating officer of Enterprise Florida, the economic development organization for the State of Florida, said, "We welcome American Classic Voyages to Florida. This is the largest relocation from out of state in the past several years and is the result of close teamwork on the local, county and state level."

Philip C. Calian, chief executive officer, AMCV, said, "We look forward to our new base in South Florida. It is recognized as the world's center of operations for the cruise industry and will provide us the opportunity to grow our business and build our family of American cruise lines."

The landlord for the new building will be Duke-Weeks Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Duke-Weeks Realty Corporation, an Indianapolis-based integrated real estate corporation. Codina Realty Services, a division of Codina Group, Inc., acted as agent for the landlord. The national commercial real estate firm Julien J. Studley, Inc., represented AMCV in the lease negotiations, and the Fort Lauderdale office of law firm Greenberg Traurig negotiated the incentive package for AMCV.

American Classic Voyages Co. is the largest owner and operator of U.S.- flag, U.S.-crewed passenger vessels. Its cruise lines explore the inland rivers and coastal regions of North America, and sail throughout the Hawaiian Islands.