Norwegian Cruise Line to Host Gala Fundraiser Cruise in Hawaii.

Business & Travel Editors

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2001

Aloha United Way, Read To Me, Bishop Museum

and Hawaii International Film Festival Will Benefit

from Norwegian Star Inaugural Festivities 

On December 15, 2001, Norwegian Cruise Line will host an overnight fundraiser cruise from Honolulu to benefit four Hawaii charities as part of the line's inaugural festivities for its new ship, Norwegian Star. The new ship, which will be based year-round in Hawaii, is the second vessel to be purpose-built for NCL's exclusive cruising concept, Freestyle Cruising.

All ticket revenue from the gala cruise will be paid directly to Aloha United Way, Read To Me International Foundation (an Hawaii literacy charity), Hawaii's Bishop Museum and the Hawaii International Film Festival and will exclusively benefit these charities. In addition, NCL will donate the use of the ship and all operational, food and beverage services and amenities for the sailing.

"NCL has a long history of contributing to the communities in which it does business and we are proud to assist these very worthy organizations in their charitable work. We want to become an important contributor and member of the local community," said Colin Veitch, president and chief executive officer of NCL. "Hawaii is a destination that our guests repeatedly request and we look forward to sharing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands with cruise passengers around the world."

Guests will enjoy a full evening and morning of culinary delights with Norwegian Star's 10 different restaurants as well as a sail away cocktail party, a Broadway show, a comedy show and a silent auction that will also raise money for the charities.

Beginning Dec. 16, 2001, the 91,000-ton, 2,220-passenger Norwegian Star will offer weekly seven-day, year-round itineraries round-trip from Honolulu, Oahu and Lahaina, Maui. Norwegian Star also has the distinction of being the first ship purpose built for the Hawaii market and is the only modern ship to be deployed there year round.

All NCL Hawaii itineraries will include visits to the four main Hawaiian Islands: Oahu (Honolulu), The Big Island of Hawaii (Kona and/or Hilo), Maui (Lahaina), and Kauai (Nawiliwili or Port Allen) including a stop at Fanning Island, NCL's Pacific hideaway - a remote island in the republic of Kiribati.

Norwegian Star is one of three new ships purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising, an innovative new concept which offers NCL passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest standard. NCL's other purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships include the recently-introduced, 78,000-ton Norwegian Sun and the 91,000-ton Norwegian Dawn, sister ship to Norwegian Star, which is scheduled for introduction in December 2002.

NCL will have two other ships in Hawaii: Norwegian Sky, which will offer 10-day itineraries and Norwegian Wind which will sail 10-, 11- and 12-day itineraries. Norwegian Wind also sails in Alaska, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean; Norwegian Sky also sails in Alaska and the Caribbean. Other NCL ships include: Norwegian Dream, with itineraries to South America, Europe, Canada & New England and the Caribbean; Norwegian Majesty, which operates in Bermuda and the Caribbean; Norwegian Sea, sailing in the Caribbean and Canada & New England; and the Norway, recently re-introduced into the NCL fleet, sailing an Eastern Caribbean Itinerary.

Aloha United Way (AUW) is a community solutions provider. Through its network of agencies and partnerships, AUW helps support 65 charities and support agencies in Hawaii. Read to Me International Foundation addresses the literacy needs of children and seeks to ensure that every child is read to every day for at least 10 minutes.

Hawaii's Bishop Museum is the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific and is recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. The Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to advancing understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film.

Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and industry innovator that currently operates a fleet of nine ships sailing to more than 200 ports around the world.

For reservations and more information, contact a travel agent of NCL in the U. S. and Canada at [phone]; in Miami-Dade County, Florida, [phone]; visit NCL's web site at http://www.ncl.com; or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to download high resolution photography visit http://www.ncl.com/hires.

For reservations and information on the fundraising cruise, contact Pacific Management Consultants, Inc., at [phone].