MIAMI, May 20, 2010 – Royal Caribbean International is providing guests with more options than ever before to explore European destinations across 55 ports in 22 countries.  Just in time for summer travels, the global cruise line is touting new shore excursion opportunities that feature the ability to make private tour arrangements as well as exclusive family-friendly tour options. Royal Caribbean also will be expanding its existing shore excursion services by nearly doubling the number of “Easy” tours for accessible sight-seeing throughout the 57 unique itineraries currently available – soon to be 109 unique itineraries when a record setting 11 Royal Caribbean ships will be deployed in Europe in 2011.  Dedicated to providing unique travel experiences, Royal Caribbean’s enhanced offerings will empower guests to create European cruise vacations that meet their individual styles, needs and preferences. 
            For those guests that enjoy more flexible vacation schedules Royal Caribbean is introducing new customizable half- or full-day private shore excursions. Each of the excursions offers guests the opportunity to travel in private vehicles on their own or with an English-speaking guide to provide tour commentary and local insight.  Featuring the same convenience and peace of mind that comes with booking Royal Caribbean’s group shore excursions, guests can enjoy the private tours in 13 ports-of-call throughout Egypt, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Sweden and Turkey, in addition to previously introduced private tours offered in Russia.  For those travelers who do not want to be limited by a schedule, Royal Caribbean excursion specialists will create custom arrangements to fit individual styles and interests, or simply provide a private vehicle for an existing tour.  Both private and custom arrangements accommodate up to 10 people and can be initiated online. 
            As the leader in family travel, Royal Caribbean continues to cater to guests of all ages by introducing new hands-on activities that are fun for children, parents and grandparents alike.  To accommodate multigenerational travels, the global cruise line is debuting new half-day excursions designed specifically with families in mind.  Examples include gastronomic experiences such as “Pizza Making for Families” in Sorrento, Italy,  featuring a city tour followed by a pizza making class and lunch to enjoy the family’s culinary creations, as well as “Sea Kayaking” in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where guests can explore the outdoors and admire the historical city walls from a unique perspective, a kayak at sea level. 
            Royal Caribbean continues to pioneer accessible cruise travel by introducing 14 new additional “easy” tours for a total of 33. Featuring vehicles adapted with access ramps or lifts when available, new and existing “easy” shore excursions cater to individuals who have difficulty walking or standing for extended periods, or who use wheel chairs full time.  European sightseeing is extended to new bounds for these guests with engaging activities, such as exploring the quaint town of Trogir from Split, Croatia, wine tastings in Sardinia, and coach tours highlighting historical landmarks and local artistry, such as Florence’s famed Michelangelo Square and leather factories.
            In addition to enhancing new experiences for guests, the global cruise line is adding to its contribution to its destination partners.  Royal Caribbean is pre-purchasing Chorus Pass tickets from the Venetian Chorus Association, a non-profit entity tasked with safeguarding, conserving and restoring the architectural and artistic heritage of churches in the city of Venice, to invest in maintaining the cultural heritage represented in more than 1,000 pieces of art.  Guests onboard Brilliance of the Seas will receive a complimentary Chorus Pass ticket ($13 value), providing access to 16 of most important churches in Venice, with the purchase of each Shuttle Bus Pass. 
            Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour land packages in Alaska, Dubai, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and South America.

Princess Cruises Announces Largest Europe Program Ever for 2011
Season Includes Most Princess Ships to Sail in Europe, 42 Unique Itineraries and 135 Ports
More Than Half of Ports Include Opportunity to Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.  — Princess Cruises has unveiled its most extensive Europe season ever for 2011, with more ships, departure choices and itinerary options than in previous years. In total, seven vessels will offer 42 itinerary choices, including seven new routes, with calls at more than 135 ports.

More than half of these ports feature access to notable attractions designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These remarkable places that make up the planet’s cultural and natural heritage range from Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg to the birthplace of Apollo on the island of Delos (from Mykonos) and the 16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque (in Istanbul).

In addition, Princess has enhanced overnight offerings to give passengers extra time in fascinating ports throughout Europe, such as Venice, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Alexandria, Dublin and Edinburgh on various routes.

The line’s 2011 program includes seven new itineraries, offering fresh vacation opportunities in each major cruise region. Among the new routes are an expanded 11-day Scandinavia & Russia itinerary featuring calls in ports such as Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm and a two-day stay in St. Petersburg. The season also features new seven-day Interlude voyages that can be combined for longer sailings, visiting boutique ports in the Mediterranean.

“As a leader in Europe cruises we constantly aim to design an intriguing range of vacation choices, but next year our lineup may really challenge passengers to choose among some outstanding options,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Whether they want the amenities of a large ship or the intimate experience of a smaller vessel; a short, seven-day getaway or an extended adventure over several weeks, there’s a Princess cruise to match.”

The 2011 Europe program ships and routes:

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced its 2010-2011 winter deployment which includes a continued year-round commitment to Europe with Norwegian Jade sailing from Barcelona and the addition of Norwegian Jewel, joining Norwegian Gem, sailing from New York, giving guests the opportunity to choose from among NCL’s newest ships, purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising.

NCL will continue its popular sailings to the Caribbean from New Orleans on the newly refurbished Norwegian Spirit and to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles on Norwegian Star. In addition, NCL has also released its 2010-2011 repositioning voyages which include the Panama Canal, Pacific Coastal and Transatlantic. These cruises go on sale January 22, 2009.

“Having Norwegian Jade homeported in Barcelona for the winter gives guests another option for exploring the many different ports in Europe, during a time of the year when it is less crowded and the weather is mild,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s president and CEO. “By bringing Norwegian Jewel to New York, along with our newest ship, Norwegian Gem, we are giving guests more choice and more ways to escape the cold Northeast winters without the hassle of air travel.”

In Europe year-round, the 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade will sail alternating 12- and nine-day cruises from its homeport of Barcelona, Spain. The 12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings include the following ports of call: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. The nine-day Canary Islands & Morocco sailings include stops in Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: Funchal, Madeira; and Granada (Málaga), Spain. Since there is no port repetition between the two itineraries, they can be easily combined to create a port-rich 21-day European tour.

The 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel homeports for the first time in New York, along with the 2,380-passenger Norwegian Gem; both ships will sail a series of 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises with stops in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Spirit, which underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2008, returns to New Orleans sailing a series of 24 seven-day Exotic Western Caribbean cruises. Ports of call include: Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; and Belize City, Belize. Norwegian Star sails back to Los Angeles for a series of 24 seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Repositioning cruises in the 2010-2011 deployment include:

• On April 10 (New York to Venice) and October 30 (Venice to New York), 2010, Norwegian Gem sails a 14-day Transatlantic with stops in Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Seville (Cádiz) and Granada (Málaga), Spain.
• On April 10, 2010, Norwegian Pearl will sail a 14-day Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles. Ports of call include: Cartagena, Columbia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Huatulco, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and a daylight transit through the Panama Canal.
• On April 11, 2010, Norwegian Jewel sails a 15-day Transatlantic from Miami to London (Dover), England. Ports of call include: Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon Portugal; Vigo and La Coruña, Spain; Waterford, Ireland; and Guernsey, Channel Islands.
• On April 11, 2010, Norwegian Spirit embarks on a 12-day Caribbean Escape from New Orleans to Boston. Ports of call include: Costa Maya, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstand, Curacao; and Hamilton, Bermuda.
• On April 24, 2010, Norwegian Pearl  sails from Los Angeles to Vancouver with stops in San Francisco, California; Astoria, Oregon; Victoria and Campbell River, British Columbia.
• On May 1, 2010, Norwegian Star repositions on a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia with stops in Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska through the Inside Passage.
• On September 8, 2010, Norwegian Jewel sails from London (Dover), England, to New York. Ports of call include: Lerwick, Shetland Islands; Thorshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; St. John, Newfoundland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• On October 2, 2010, Norwegian Star sails on a seven-day British Colombia and U.S. West Coast cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Ports of call include: Campbell River and Victoria, British Columbia; Astoria, Oregon; and San Francisco, California.
• On October 10, 2010, Norwegian Dawn departs from New York to Miami on a 12-day Caribbean Escape with stops in Samana, Dominican Republic; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize.
• On October 23, 2010, Norwegian Spirit  sails a 15-day Caribbean Escape from Boston to New Orleans. Ports of call include: Samaná, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
• On September 19, 2010, Norwegian Pearl  sails a five-day Pacific Coastal from Vancouver to Los Angeles with stops in Astoria, Oregon and San Francisco, California.
• Norwegian Star  will sail four 14-day Panama Canal sailings from Miami to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Miami on November 20 and December 4, 2010 and January 1 and January 15, 2011. Ports of call include: Cartagena, Columbia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Huatulco, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and a daylight transit through the Panama Canal.

To book one of these new itineraries, guests should contact us at 877 325-7522. Further information can be found online at www.chtravel.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the innovator in cruise travel with a 42-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, NCL has the youngest fleet in the industry with 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

NCL is presently building a new third generation Freestyle Cruising ship known as F3, for delivery in 2010.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will play a key role at “Seatrade Med 2008″ and will confirm its increasing commitment to Europe and the Mediterranean.

With an unprecedented 22 ships sailing in Europe in 2009, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will offer cruisers more choices than ever before.

“The international markets show the greatest growth potential, with Europe and the Mediterranean representing the ideal center,” said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Bayley made his comments during his opening address at the Seatrade Med convention, being held in Venice, Italy, this week. “Extending our deployments and our seasons in Europe and the Mediterranean reflects our commitment to, and the importance of, the region as an integral part of our international growth strategy. We see strong development opportunities in Europe and the Mediterranean as a destination, as well as a source market, and we are making the necessary investments to further grow our market share in these key regions.”

Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to deploy a record eight ships to the region for summer and fall of 2009. Vacationers can select from four- to 14-nights itineraries aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean International will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings.

In May 2008, Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas began sailing year-round in the Mediterranean, a first for the brand. Departing from Barcelona, Spain, the ship offers an array of cruise options and destinations.

With its largest European deployment ever slated, in 2009, Celebrity Cruises will be offering guests the opportunity to take the ideal cruise on a premium brand. For the first time in the line’s history, five ships will visit the region in a single European season. They will include the brand’s two newest ships, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Joining them will be Celebrity Constellation, built in 2002; Celebrity Summit, launched in 2001; and Celebrity Century, which underwent a $55 million revitalization in 2006. The line will visit 76 ports in 29 countries, five of which are new to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity’s ships will sail from six different homeports, and spend overnight port calls in eight different ports.

Azamara Cruises will offer deluxe cruise experiences onboard both their ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, in the Mediterranean between April and December 2009. No other deluxe brand offers the number of ports that Azamara Cruises’ ships will visit next year, nor matches the breadth of distinct itineraries. Azamara’s seven- to 15-night Europe itineraries will visit 91 ports in 36 countries, and depart from five different homeports. Overnight calls will be offered in seven ports and late-night departures (10 p.m. or after) will be offered in 10 ports, allowing guests to capture more of the flavor of each locale’s nightlife and a more immersive destination experience.

Additionally, all six Pullmantur Cruises’ ships and CDF Croisieres de France’s Bleu de France – both Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands – will operate in the Mediterranean in 2009. 

“With 22 ships deployed in Europe, 20 of which are in the Med, in 2009, we are clearly demonstrating our commitment to the region,” Bayley added. “We are not only dedicating more ships, but some of our newest and the most innovative ships to Europe and the Mediterranean. We are also focusing on enhanced products and onboard options that will further increase the satisfaction of our growing number of international guests. These factors increase our confidence that the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands will continue to grow their market share in Europe and the Mediterranean in 2009.” Participation in Seatrade Med 2008: In addition to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will also be represented at Seatrade Med by:

Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president, Maritime, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., speaking on A Grand Design

Princess Adds 110 New Shore Excursion Options in Europe This Summer
New Choices Feature Personalized Experiences and Self-Guided Walking Tours; Plus Fresh Adventures Such as Exploring the Rooftops of Stockholm or Going on a Treasure Hunt

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 10, 2008) – This summer Princess passengers in Europe have 110 new ways to enjoy their ports of call, whether they explore Stockholm by rooftop for the ultimate bird’s eye view, go on a treasure hunt through the ruins of Herculaneum or streets of Dubrovnik, take an overnight train to Moscow, or explore on their own with the help of an iPod.

These new options add to Princess’ extensive lineup of 849 Adventures Ashore? throughout Europe — including sailings in Scandinavia and Russia, where they can go aboard a Finish icebreaker; the Mediterranean, which serves up experiences such as a three-course pasta party; and Northern Europe and the British Isles where passengers can explore one of the Concords from the era of supersonic flight. The line also introduces new iPod-guided walking tours in a number of cities, plus begins offering a series of Personalized Experience tours featuring smaller group sizes.

“We are always on the lookout for new and intriguing experiences for our passengers throughout the world, and this summer’s European season is no exception,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “There are some exciting new choices, with fun options for so many kinds of passengers, whether they’re active travelers, explorers, sports fans, kids or gourmets.”

Some selected highlights of the new tour options include:

New Ways to Tour – For passengers who want to set their own pace or those who enjoy a more personalized tour, two new tour options are available in several ports:

Grab an iPod and Go -The convenience of a do-it-yourself day combined with the expertise of a recorded guide. These walking tours offer the use of a pre-loaded iPod for the day as well as a customized map. Travelers can set their own pace as they listen to a detailed narration about the area’s most important points of interest, and can follow a suggested walk route or create their own adventure. Walking tours are available in Amalfi, Athens, Barcelona, Cannes, Capri, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Florence, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Pisa, Portofino, Rhodes, Rome, and Sorrento.

Personalized Experiences – Visitors to Berlin, Florence/Pisa, Naples or Rome can opt for a more intimate shore excursion option with a new Personalized Experience tour, featuring smaller tour groups and the opportunity for more personal interaction with the tour’s guide. Personalized Experience tours feature Berlin of the 20th Century; Florence & Pisa; Amalfi Coastal Drive & Pompeii; and Rome, The Eternal City

Grand Overland -Overland tours offer the opportunity to go further afield to visit cities and attractions away from the port area. This new choice adds a Moscow option to select Scandinavia and Russia voyages:

Travel to Moscow (Helsinki, Finland to St. Petersburg, Russia) – PRINCESS EXCLUSIVE – This new Grand Overland Tour to Helsinki, Moscow and St. Petersburg offers the opportunity to visit three cities in one tour, including a unique chance to visit the heart of Russia in Moscow. Visitors will tour Helsinki before traveling overnight by train to Moscow, where they will spend a full day and attend a ballet performance. Another overnight train takes them meet back up with their ship in St. Petersburg with time to visit the city’s spectacular palaces and museums.

Other Grand Overland Adventures – In addition to the new Moscow trip, there are a variety of other opportunities to travel overland for a day or two to see parts of Europe and the Holy Land further away from the port. Other Grand Overland tours are available to experience Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Galilee as well as the pyramids and antiquities of Egypt.

Distinctive Options – From treasure hunting and climbing rooftops to tours through some remarkable forms of transportation, Princess carries a variety of unusual tours:

Exploring Stockholm by Rooftop (Stockholm, Sweden) – For a view of Stockholm like no other, passengers can set out on a rooftop tour to see the city from 140 feet above street level. Participants are buckled into safety harnesses before they step out onto the roof of the city’s Old Parliament Building, where they will navigate the narrow, iron-railed path of the rooftop as a guide narrates stories of Stockholm and points out the views.

Hunt for Treasure (Dubrovnik, Croatia; Naples, Italy) – Travelers in Dubrovnik and Naples can add a new twist to their touring by participating in a treasure hunt. Passengers can search for hidden treasure through the streets of Dubrovnik or the ruins of Herculaneum. Teams are given tasks in the search of clues and points that will take them to some of the area’s most famous landmarks and sights. At the end, the most successful team will win a prize.

Finnish Icebreakers (Helsinki, Finland) – PRINCESS EXCLUSIVE – Ice breakers are a neccessity to keep Finish ports open in the winter. Passengers can go behind the scenes of these unique vessels with a guided tour of one of two icebreakers – “Urho” or “Sisu.” A senior fleet officer will guide visitors through the bridge, engine room, mess hall and crews’ quarters.

The Concorde Experience (Edinburgh, Scotland) – Supersonic Concorde aircraft may no longer cross the Atlantic in record time, but passengers can still experience one of these rare planes with a visit to Scotland’s National Museum of Flight. Here, the ‘Concorde Experience’ includes exhibits and multimedia presentations that trace the history of commercial supersonic flight and chronicle the 1960s’ race to build the first SST, culminating in a tour of G-BOAA – the first British Airways Concorde to fly commercially … at over 1350 mph.

Culinary Tours — For passengers who want to experience a true taste of their destination, the following tours are perfect for traveling gourmets:

A Taste of Bornholm (Bornholm, Denmark) – Passengers can discover why Bornholm is home to the popular TV series “New Scandinavian Cooking” with this tour of the best of the region’s food and drink. Visitors will travel to Lille Gadegaard Vineyard to sample their sparkling fruit wines. Passengers will then visit Hallegard, an 80-acre working farm noted for its fine, organic gourmet sausages. For beer lovers, a visit to Svaneke, a village brewery, offers the opportunity to try their award-winning beer that has won top honors in Denmark. To top off the day, the Siemsens Gaard Hotel offers a tasting of St. Clemens, and award-winning blue.

Bracciano Lake & Pasta Party (Rome, Italy) – Hungry passengers travel to Lake Bracciano in the heart of Etruscan Italy to explore the quaint lakeside resort of Anguillara, and then a special destination in the Tuscia wine country for a pasta-making demonstration followed by a five-course lunch (three courses of pasta!) accompanied by Tuscian wines. Participants can join in or observe as the hosts demonstrate three types of traditional Tuscian pasta – one made solely with flour and water, an egg pasta, and a potato pasta. After the demonstration participants sit down to a five-course gourmet lunch that features the three pastas accompanied by Tuscian wines.

A Taste of Cadiz – (Seville, Spain) – An opportunity to learn the secrets of sherry production at an exclusive bodega. Passnengers will view a demonstration of the blender’s art and sample a range of sherry from fino to amontillado or oloroso. And of course no visit to Andalusia would be complete without tapas to accompany with the sherry, so visitors can also try these appetizer sized ‘little plates.’

Kids, Art Lovers and Sports Fans – Entertaining options for many types of travelers:

Swedish Fairytales (Stockholm, Sweden) – A magical tour for kids – and the young at heart – featuring the Junibacken Museum, where the world of award-winning Astrid Lindgren’s well-loved books for children come to life. Visitors can meet characters such as Alfie Atkins, Old Man Festus and Mercury the Cat in Storyboook Square, climb aboard the Story Train for a magical tour through Lindgren’s stories, and play in Pippi Longstocking’s house, the Villa Villekulla. The tour also includes a visit to Stockholm’s 17th-century warship Vasa, the oldest fully preserved ship in the world.

Venitian Churches Chorus Pass (Venice, Italy) -Passengers have the opportunity to purchase a unique “chorus pass” to 16 of the lagoon city’s most important churches — and potentially view more than a 1,000 works of art. The Chorus Project, which offers the Chorus Pass, aims to contribute to the safeguarding, conservation and restoration of the architectural and artistic heritage of Venetian churches. Purchase of this pass supports the group’s efforts and entitles passengers to explore the history and faith of the city’s monumental churches and the precious paintings, sculptures, goldsmith’s works and fabrics preserved within them.

The Sporting Life (Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool, England) – Sports fans visiting Dublin or Liverpool can go behind the scenes at the local sport stadiums to learn more about the local sporting life. In Dublin, visit Croke Park Stadium, one of the most historic and modern sporting arenas in the world. Tours takes vistors to the dressing rooms, premium and corporate entertaining levels, service areas, and visitors can even test their own skills in hurling and gaelic football in the interactive games area. In Liverpool, fans can visit Anfield Stadium, home to the Liverpool Football Club, for a behind-the-scenes tour of that explores the player areas plus the club museum and the Champions League Trophy.

Active Tours – Travelers who want to stretch their legs and test their muscles as they tour have two new ways to explore in Finland:

Helsinki by Jopo Bike (Helsinki, Finland) – Passengers can join a Finish rage by touring Helsinki by Finland’s famed Jopo bike – the gearless, unisex red bicycle created back in the ’60s. Jopo bikes are again in fashion, and offer a great way to cycle past many of the city’s points of interest, from the main public beach to the striking Sibelius Monument. During the 10 mile tour, participants will enjoy views of the Opera House from Toolo Bay and see the icebreaker fleet at Katajanokka Island.

Nordic Walking in Finland (Helsinki, Finland) – For another unique way to tour in Helsinki, passengers can try Nordic Walking. Developed in the off-season by Finnish cross-country skiers, Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles to exercise the upper body during a fitness walk. Participants will experience Helsinki in the course of an approximately seven-mile fitness walk that travels to the heart of the city.

Shore excursions can be reserved in advance through the line’s innovative Cruise Personalizer on www.princess.com, providing passengers with the comfort of knowing they’re confirmed on their preferred tours before they sail, plus the added convenience of having their tour tickets ready and waiting in their stateroom on arrival. Princess’ 2008 Europe season offers something for every explorer’s wish list, with six ships callings at over 115 ports throughout the continent – more than ever before. Eight new ports debut – including such untouched locales as Albania – as well as five new itineraries. Princess’ six-vessel fleet is the largest in the region, offering 87 departures of 32 unique itineraries, ranging from seven to 23 days in length. The Europe season runs through November 28, 2008.

Sailing year-round in Europe, the Freestyle Cruising vessel is the first ship to feature Freestyle 2.0 enhancements

Norwegian Cruise Line(NCL) announced today that it has introduced new entertainment on board Norwegian Jade as part of the ship’s year-round deployment in Europe. Reflecting the company’s continuing commitment to Freestyle Cruising, the wide variety of entertainment offerings were designed to offer guests more flexibility during Norwegian Jade’s port-intensive European itineraries.  The new entertainment includes four new off-Broadway musicals, the legendary show phenomenon Tony n Tina’s Wedding, an expanded The Second City comedy show, and a classical dance production by award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp. In addition, Norwegian Jade  is the first NCL ship to feature Freestyle 2.0 enhancements, including all new menus in the restaurants, upgraded bedding and enhanced on-board activities programming, including NCL “U” enrichment classes, themed parties, sports programming and enhanced youth programs.

“WithNorwegian Jade’s  year-round deployment in Europe, we’ve developed special entertainment programming that raises the bar for cruise ship entertainment, offering an engaging and vibrant daytime and nighttime line-up for our guests,” said Colin Veitch,NCL ‘s president and CEO. “At the same time, Norwegian Jade is the first to feature our Freestyle 2.0 enhancements and the combination of these two initiatives is providing an extraordinary Freestyle Cruising experience for guests sailing on Norwegian Jade .”

On Norwegian Jade, NCL has replaced the traditional cruise director with both a master of ceremonies and a guest activities director. The master of ceremonies is a professional entertainer who hosts all evening events while the guest activities director coordinates the ship’s daytime activities. In addition, the entertainment scheduling has been changed to allow guests more flexibility and choice each evening. The nighttime production shows are offered twice per cruise, but only one performance per evening, in contrast to the traditional offering of one production show being offered twice per night. This provides guests the option of catching a show later in the cruise if they miss the first performance. In addition, most evenings there is a second show performed that includes acrobatics, action comedy and magic. To enhance the performance, all shows are performed live with the accompaniment of the Norwegian Jade orchestra.

Freestyle Entertainment Offers Something for Everyone
Norwegian Jade’s  new Freestyle Entertainment includes:

• Smokey Joe’s Café, The Songs of Leiber and Stoller: A jukebox comes alive during this Tony-awarding winning musical, showcasing more than 40 classic favorite rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The hits include “Dance with Me,” “Poison Ivy,” “Hound Dog,” “Stand by Me,” and more.
• SHOUT! The Mod Musical: Based on a popular British magazine, this engaging revue brings back the smashing sounds of England in the 1960s. From cover to cover, SHOUT! travels through the decade with unforgettable music of the era and includes performances of classic songs such as “Downtown,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and “Goldfinger” along with eye-popping fashions and groovy dance numbers.
• And the World Goes ‘Round: The Songs of Kander & Ebb: This glittering musical features an eclectic collection of love and torch songs, such as “New York, New York,” “Cabaret,” and “Money, Money,” interspersed with banjos, roller skates and a tribute to Sara Lee.
• Showdown!: This NCL Entertainment original production features four “contestants” who compete in a mock reality singing competition where the audience votes on the winner. The contestants sing Motown favorites and engage the audience with their unique personalities. They also invite the audience to join in the fun in a dance-a-thon medley.
• Sinatra Suite: Choreographed by the award-winning dance legend Twyla Tharp, this two-dancer ballet set to Sinatra music was originally performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov and is performed on the ship by a husband and wife team. Full of emotion and romance, the piece features classic Frank Sinatra songs, including “Strangers in the Night,” “That’s Life,” and “My Way.” Costumes for the production were designed by Oscar de la Renta. The dance is performed as part of a Classical Evening that includes an opera singer and another Tharp choreographed work, Junk Duet.
• The Second City International Cabaret: A seven-member ensemble from famed Chicago improvisational group, The Second City, hosts an entirely new and expanded evening of cabaret theatre in the Spinnaker Lounge. Offered multiple nights and running for four hours, the cabaret mixes The Second City’s unique sketch improvisational comedy with game show vignettes, special guests and dance and music sets performed by a live band. This highly interactive evening includes lots of spontaneous entertainment and audience involvement.
• Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding: The hottest off-Broadway show and one of the longest running, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is a hilarious interactive show that satirizes a traditional Italian-American wedding with audience members as “invited guests” to the nuptials of the Vitale and Nunzio families, portrayed by a improvisational cast of 25. The wedding and reception is held once per cruise in the Spinnaker Lounge, which is transformed into Vinnie’s Coliseum restaurant, a classic Italian wedding hall complete with pasta served on paper plates.
• Bar Central: In addition to the shows in the Stardust Theater and Spinnaker Lounge, Bar Central is another exciting entertainment venue. This dynamic piano lounge attracts guests from cocktail hour to late night with its engaging blend of show tunes, classical and popular music. Guest entertainers from other venues often drop in for impromptu duets and star turns. Freestyle 2.0 Offers Enhanced On-Board Activities

On Norwegian Jade, guests are among the first to experience a wide-range of new day and evening offerings as part of Freestyle 2.0. These include:

• NCL “U”: Guests on  Norwegian Jade can experience this enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle programming, which includes a number of offerings throughout each cruise focused on four distinct areas: Digital Age & Technology; Destination Education; Food, Wine and Spirits; and Comedy & Humor hosted by the famed The Second City troupe. Guests can choose from a number of seminars including a variety of sessions giving tips on digital photography, a series of destination discovery overviews, mojito making, tequila tasting, French pastry making, 30-minute Italian meals, corporate world improv tips, class clowns: improv for kids and much more.
• New Themed Parties: Guests can party to the wee hours with two new themed nighttime parties: NCL’s White Hot Night and NCL’s Monte Carlo Night. Held in the Spinnaker Lounge on Norwegian Jade, the White Hot Night is the ultimate dance party set in a wonderland of white. Guests are also asked to wear white to the party and they can purchase special “white hot” shirts designed specifically for the event. NCL’s Monte Carlo Night, held in the casino, sizzles with all of the glitz and glam reminiscent of the French Riviera. It’s an evening of tantalizing entertainment unlike any other.
• Enhanced Pool Deck Experience: Guests on Norwegian Jade are treated to a number of special sailaway parties throughout the cruise. Drink flags have been added on all deck chairs with witty sayings such as “I’m unwinding. (Please don’t make me walk to the bar).” In addition, cold towels are delivered regularly throughout the day and crew members are equipped with Evian spritzers to cool off guests who need some refreshing.
• Enhanced Sports Programming: All new sports activities have been designed to make the sports deck more interactive and exciting. These activities include basketball tournaments; fitness classes such as body sculpting and stretch and relax offered outside on the sports deck; scheduled walks with the activities staff; and scheduled shuffleboard, table tennis and human-sized chess games on the sports deck.
• Expanded Kid’s Crew and More Teen Activities: Kid’s Crew hours have been expanded and now run from approximately 9:00 am through to 10:30 pm on both port and sea days. Parents have the flexibility of letting their children enjoy the Kid’s Crew during these expanded times. As part of Freestyle 2.0, table games, Nintendo Wii and Xbox video game consoles have been added to the Teen Lounge.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of NCL.

NCL is building two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.

For high resolution, downloadable images, please log onto NCL’s web site at www.ncl.com/pressroom. For further information on NCL Corporation, contact in the U.S. and Canada  1(877) 325-7522.