Princess' Europe Season Offers New Adventures Ashore.

Lifestyle Editors/Feature Editors/Travel Writers

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2003

Unique Shore Excursions Include Opportunities to Attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Climb Mt. Vesuvius, Visit a Mercedes Benz Factory, or

Meet a Clan Chieftain

Whether they want active adventures, to meet local people, get off the beaten track or just relax on a beach, Princess passengers will be able to tailor their time ashore in Europe with a number of unusual and interesting choices this summer. More than 20 new Adventures Ashore(R) excursion options debut in European ports this year, offering many unique experiences -- including the opportunity to watch as a Mercedes Benz is assembled in Germany, to climb the volcano that buried Pompeii while in Naples, meet a real-life chieftain of a Scottish clan, fly to Moscow or attend the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

"Our Adventures Ashore program is designed to offer our passengers the same level of innovation, choice and attentive service on land as they have come to expect on board," said Dean Brown, Princess' executive vice president of customer service and sales. "This year we've arranged for an exceptional range of tour options in Europe -- including many unique experiences available only with Princess."

Some of the new and unusual Adventures Ashore excursions available include:

You Can't Do this at Home

Take in a Local Tradition -- The famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been billed as one of the world's greatest shows, with its stirring sight of massed pipes and drums of the Scottish regiments, as well as military bands from around the globe. People travel from all over to experience the unique blend of music, ceremony and theater set against the backdrop of the historic Edinburgh Castle. Tickets can be hard to come by for this renowned event, which takes place for only three weeks each summer, but passengers on Royal Princess' August 3 Western Europe/British Isles sailing will enjoy a special longer call at the port of Rosyth especially to facilitate a tour that will take them right to their reserved seat.

Fly to Moscow for the Day -- A new tour this year gives passengers the opportunity to see not only St. Petersburg but also Moscow during Regal Princess' two day call in the Russian port. Passengers will take a short flight to Moscow and spend a full day in the city, visiting such sights as the Kremlin, Red Square, Lenin's Mausoleum, the Armory Museum (famous for its collection of Faberge Eggs) and other unforgettable places. The tour includes lunch and dinner in local Moscow restaurants, including a Russian folklore show.

Visit a Mercedes Benz factory -- Automobile aficionados will love Princess' new "Car Lover's Delight" tour from Hamburg. The package features a drive from the port to nearby Bremen, home to the Mercedes Benz factory, billed as the most modern car plant in Europe. Passengers will see just how many different models are assembled, and will enjoy lunch at the plant's visitor restaurant. The tour also includes a walking tour of Bremen's historic city center and a scenic drive through Hamburg.

Climb Mt. Vesuvius -- A new tour developed by Princess enables adventurous passengers to not only visit the ruins of Pompeii, but also hike up the volcano that buried the town, Mt. Vesuvius. The 40-minute hike also affords stunning views of Naples and the bay.

Step into a Shakespeare Play -- Passengers on the new "Verona: City of Romeo and Juliet" tour can feel as though they're living Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers by touring the tale's setting near Venice. This walking tour takes in Verona's imposing Arena, the Roman amphitheater that once rivaled the Colosseum, as well as Juliet's Balcony, where passengers can pose for photographs in the small courtyard and admire the names inscribed on the wall by visitors seeking eternal love.

Meet the Locals

Visit a Clan Chieftain in Invergordon -- Princess passengers will have the unique opportunity to visit and have tea with a hereditary Scottish clan chief at his castle in this new tour. Hector Munro, chief of the Clan of Munro, and his mother welcome their Princess guests to the 700-year-old family home, Foulis Castle.

Visit an American Gondola Builder in Venice -- Guests on this new excursion visit one of Venice's six gondola builders, American Thom Price. The master craftsman escorts the group himself as they tour his boatyard and see gondolas in various stages of construction.

Try a New Mode of Transport

Barcelona on Wheels -- Passengers can explore the capital of Catalonia up close and personal with this new guided bicycle ride through the city streets.

Kayaking in Venice -- What better way to experience a city of canals than on the water? In this new excursion, passengers can join instructors from a local rowing club as they explore the less-traveled parts of the city's lagoon by their own kayak power.

Thorsmork Safari by 4x4 -- Passengers can enjoy the great outdoors Icelandic style in this new tour that features traveling in Super 4x4 vehicles through some of the country's most spectacular scenery. These rugged vehicles can roam over a lava plateau and through the coastal lowlands surrounded by imposing glaciers.

Acropolis and Corinth Canal Transit by Caique -- Unique to Princess, this favorite tour enables passengers to transit Greece's famed Corinth Canal feeling like the ancient Greeks, as they travel by caique, an indigenous type of watercraft.

Go Back in Time

Titanic Walking Tour through Cork -- The last port of call for the Titanic before it set off across the Atlantic on its fateful voyage, Cork is full of remnants of the heyday of the White Star Line and the early 20th century immigration to the New World. In this new excursion developed by Princess, passengers will visit the pier where the ship docked, the historic offices of the shipping line, and other local sights -- plus learn the art of making Irish coffee.

Saga City Tour of Reykjavik -- A new tour of Reykjavik that not only takes in the sites, but also presents the history of the city's settlement. Passengers will learn about the remarkable changes that have transformed this city from its first settler to modern times.

Private Visit to Dalmeny House -- Located in what is credited as one of the most beautiful and unspoiled settings in Britain, Dalmeny House, home to the Earl of Rosebery, offers passengers the opportunity to travel back 300 years to an art-filled Gothic Tudor estate in this new excursion option from Rosyth, Scotland.

A Taste of Ancient Greece -- A Princess exclusive that has become popular over the last several years, this tour gives visitors the opportunity to dine in the style of the ancient Greeks. Passengers can enjoy a feast of dishes prepared just as they were in classic Greek recipes. The family-style meal is served only with spoons (as there weren't forks in ancient times), and with beer or wine fermented according to ancient practices.

Life's a Beach

Europe may not be the first place people think of for a beach vacation, but with Princess passengers have a number of options to visit local landmarks and join the locals at favorite seaside haunts.

Visit Pisa and Viareggio -- When the people of Tuscany want to enjoy the seaside they go to Viareggio. Princess passengers can now enjoy this popular resort area in style with reserved loungers and changing rooms, plus visit the newly restored Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Acropolis and Astir Beach -- In Athens passengers can also choose to combine ancient wonders with beach time, as they visit the Acropolis in the morning followed by a relaxing afternoon enjoying the waters of the Aegean on the "Athenian Riviera" in this favorite Princess exclusive.

Enjoy a Taste of Germany

Hamburg at Night -- A new opportunity to see another side of this German city, with tours through the red light district, a visit to a historic microbrewery for beer and pretzels, and a chance to sample a local specialty, "fischbrotchen" -- a wheat bun with fried fish.

Beer and Pretzels -- Passengers on Regal Princess' Baltic Heritage cruises can also experience classic German taste treats on this new tour from Warnemunde. The evening features sightseeing of the seaside town, as well as stops for sauerkraut, bratwurst and, of course, sourdough pretzels and freshly tapped Pils-beer.

Go Your Own Way

Private Chartered Cruise -- Bay of Naples -- The ultimate way to experience any port of call is with your own private transportation. Now Princess has added to passenger options, with not only private cars on land, but now private boat charters in Naples. This tour will enable small groups to enjoy a private cruise to Sorrento and Capri, with lunch at the luxurious Hotel Quisisana on Capri.

Private Car program expanded -- Princess has added 11 new cities in which passengers can hire the services of a private car or van with guide, making it possible to enjoy this luxury in 16 total European ports. Only Princess enables passengers to reserve these private tours ahead of time via the Web.

Princess' European season features three ships sailing on 24 different itineraries featuring 70 distinct ports of call. Golden Princess features 11 sailings, including Princess' famed Grand Mediterranean route between Barcelona and Venice, with calls at Monte Carlo, Livorno, Naples, Athens, Kusadasi and Istanbul. Regal Princess will offer nine Scandinavia/Russia sailings, taking in the best of the Baltic seacoast. Royal Princess sails on an extended Europe season with 19 Connoisseur cruises, featuring the widest range of itinerary choices in the cruise industry. Routes include the Mediterranean, Western Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, the British Isles, and the Norwegian Fjords. Cruisetour options are available for many sailings, creating a complete land/sea vacation that allows passengers to explore many of the region's most popular cities and attractions.

Fares for Europe cruises this summer begin at $999 per person, based on double occupancy. One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of P&O Princess Cruises plc (NYSE:POC), its current fleet of 11 ships sail on approximately 150 different itineraries around the globe, calling at more than 260 ports on all seven continents. By 2004, a further four ships will be introduced. Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

NOTE: An electronic copy of this release, and access to Princess' on-line newsroom, containing past news releases, background information and photography, is available at www.princess.com/news.