Travel and vacations - Diamond Princess Delivered & Christened!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Princess and thought it would be of
interest. See if you can spot the geographical error. If you have
missed any of my news' postings, they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

New Diamond Princess Delivered and Christened in Japan

Latest Princess Cruises Ship Launched with Traditional Japanese
Ceremony

SANTA CLARITA, CA Feb. 26, 2004
Under sunny skies in Nagasaki, Japan, the new Diamond Princess was
named today in a colorful ceremony which featured traditional Japanese
festivities set against the state-of-the-art ship. The ship was
delivered earlier in the morning to Princess Cruises by Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), builders of the 116,000-ton vessel.
Source: Princess Cruises

Diamond Princess was named by Mrs. Yoshiko Tsukuda, wife of Kazuo
Tsukuda, president of MHI. Dressed in a traditional kimono, Mrs.
Tsukuda officially launched the ship in a ceremony that included such
Japanese touches as a taiko drum performance, a traditional dragon
dance and a Shinto-style blessing. Hundreds of guests from around
Japan and other Asian regions attended the ceremony, which also
featured a spectacular fireworks display and other touches designed to
bring the ship good fortune.

The 116,000-ton, 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess launches a new ship
design for Princess and makes history as the first large cruise ship
built in Japan in more than a decade. The vessel incorporates
Princess' trademark design philosophy -- including an abundance of
balcony cabins, flexibility in dining and entertainment options,
Princess' renowned service and a variety of intimate spaces -- giving
the ship all of the choice of a large ship with the feel of a much
smaller vessel. The ship offers passengers a unique dining program
with four themed dining rooms, complimenting the main dining room and
Sabatini's trattoria -- Princess' trademark alternative restaurant; a
new Princess Concierge Service; the fleet's largest Internet Cafe; and
the debut of Club Fusion, a new high-tech dance lounge.

Diamond Princess departs Nagasaki today on a trans-Atlantic crossing
as it positions to Los Angeles for its inaugural season of Mexico
cruises, which begins March 13. The ship will be based in Seattle this
summer for seven-day round-trip Inside Passage cruises to Alaska.

One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess
Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL - News; NYSE:CUK - News), its current
fleet of 12 ships sail on approximately 150 different itineraries
around the globe, calling at more than 260 ports on all seven
continents. By 2006 a further three ships will be introduced.
Additional information is available through a professional travel
agent.

Note to editors: Additional Diamond Princess photographs featured
online at www.princess.com are also available in high resolution
format via email upon request.

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.