MIAMI, Nov. 29, 2002 -- Celebrity Galaxy makes its first sailing from the Port of Charleston today. Galaxy is the first Celebrity Cruises ship to sail from the historic South Carolina seaport, and continues the industry's growth in home port cruising.

The 77,713-ton, 1,870-guest Galaxy will dock at the Port of Charleston at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The ship will make 10 sailings from Charleston through March 7, 2003, consisting of 9-, 10-, and 11-night Caribbean cruises.

"We are very excited to be sailing from Charleston for the first time," said Steve Hancock, senior vice president of Marketing for Celebrity Cruises. "Charleston is a fantastic and historic city and an ideal location for guests throughout the east coast to board Galaxy for a rejuvenating, enriching, and luxurious Caribbean vacation."

Galaxy will make five 10-night cruises, four 11-night cruises, and one 9- night cruise, all with a variety of ports of call throughout the Caribbean.

The 10-nights sailings depart on Tuesdays and Fridays (December 3 and 13, 2002; January 3 and 24; and February 14, 2003) with two different itineraries. Four of the sailings will make port calls in Nassau, Bahamas; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Key West Florida. The fifth sailing will make port calls in Nassau, Bahamas; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and San Juan Puerto Rico.

The four 11-night sailings, departing on Mondays, will make port calls in Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The 9-night sailing, departing on a Friday, will make port calls in Nassau, Bahamas; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Cayman Islands.

Galaxy arrives in Charleston at the completion of an extended summer season of sailings from Baltimore, Maryland. Upon its completion of Charleston cruises, the ship will return to Baltimore.

Bookings for all Charleston sailings are currently available, from $1,100 for the 10-night sailings, per-person, double occupancy; from $1,239, for the 11-night sailings, per-person, double occupancy; and from $1,174, for the 9- night sailing, per-person, double occupancy.

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the industry, Celebrity Cruises' nine-ship fleet is the youngest of any major cruise line. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Panama Canal and South America. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111, or visit the Celebrity web site at www.celebrity.com.