Martha Stewart to be 'Crowned' Godmother of Princess Cruises' Newest Ship in New York This June

Martha Stewart to be 'Crowned' Godmother of Princess Cruises' Newest Ship in New York This June

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Martha Stewart has been selected by Princess Cruises to serve as godmother for the line's newest cruise ship, Crown Princess. Ms. Stewart will preside over the vessel's official naming in New York on June 14, 2006, when she breaks the traditional bottle of champagne on the ship marking its debut. The ceremony, which will be the first to occur at the city's new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, will honor Ms. Stewart and the many accomplishments that have made her America's premier authority on the home.

That same evening across from the glittering Manhattan skyline, the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess will depart on her maiden voyage to the Caribbean, the first of a summer season of roundtrip New York voyages.

Ms. Stewart has been recognized numerous times in her professional career with honors of distinction, including a place among Time Magazine's "America's 25 Most Influential People," Fortune's "50 Most Powerful Women" (twice), Vanity Fair's "New Establishment List of the Top 50 Leaders of the Information Age," and Forbes' Annual 400 List, among others.

Princess Cruises' President Alan Buckelew says Princess feels privileged that Ms. Stewart has accepted the company's invitation to name Crown Princess. "Martha is truly an icon of style and, undoubtedly, has had more influence on how Americans entertain, cook and decorate and design in and around their homes than almost anyone in history," he said. "We wanted to give the honor of christening our new ship to a woman of exceptional achievement, and Ms. Stewart is certainly that. It is also fitting that she has grown her successful company in New York, the ship's home port."

Ms. Stewart stated: "It's a wonderful honor to be invited to christen such a magnificent cruise ship. To be the godmother is an exciting opportunity I'm privileged to accept."

From her award-winning magazine, Martha Stewart Living, to her bestselling product lines, Martha Stewart shares the creative principles and practical ideas that have made her America's most trusted guide to stylish living. Millions of consumers rely on Martha Stewart as their arbiter of style and taste and their guide to all aspects of everyday living -- from cooking and entertaining to decorating and home renovating, and much more. Martha Stewart is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which encompasses publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and Internet business segments.

The 113,000-ton Crown Princess will introduce a number of new design innovations to the Princess fleet, including a dramatic new piazza-style atrium, new casual dining venues, and a brand new adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary. Within the new street cafe environment of the atrium, passengers will find an International Cafe serving up fresh pastries and baked goods in the morning and assorted other offerings throughout the day, as well as a wine and seafood bar. Several signature Princess venues have been further enhanced, including an expanded Sabatini's Italian trattoria with a new piano lounge, and the Crown Grill, a new steak and seafood restaurant with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs will custom-prepare steamed shellfish and cooked-to-order steaks and chops.

The ship will also feature the many hallmark features that define the Princess experience, including the dramatic Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, multiple dining and entertainment options, a Lotus Spa fitness center, an extensive children and teen's center, a wedding chapel and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.

The inaugural 2006 summer season for Crown Princess will feature nine-day roundtrip voyages to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and will mark the return of Princess visits to Bermuda, as well as the line's first-ever regular calls to Grand Turk. In the fall the ship will reposition to San Juan for winter Caribbean sailings.

Additional information about Crown Princess is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

About Princess Cruises:

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the globe, with sailings to all seven continents ranging in length from seven to 30 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK).

Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

News, background information and photography are available 24/7 at www.princess.com/news.

Source: Princess Cruises

CONTACT: Karen Tetherow of Princess Cruises, +1-661-753-1540,
ktetherow@princesscruises.com; or Christina Miranda, miranda@redpointpr.com,
or Michelle Colligan, colligan@redpointpr.com, both of Redpoint Marketing PR,
+1-212-229-0119, for Princess Cruises

Web site: http://www.princess.com/

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