Port of Los Angeles Welcomes Back Princess!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from the Port of Los Angeles and thought
it would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

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Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
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Port of Los Angeles Welcomes Back Princess Cruises: Diamond Princess
Sets Sail

SAN PEDRO, CA March 11, 2004
Today the Port of Los Angeles welcomed Princess Cruise Lines' newest,
most luxurious cruise liner Diamond Princess from her maiden voyage
from Nagasaki, Japan to the United States. With the Port of Los
Angeles as her first U.S. port of call, cruise passengers who embark
at the Port's World Cruise Center will experience the world's first
trips aboard the Diamond Princess.
The Diamond Princess departs the Port of Los Angeles March 13 for the
inaugural season of Mexican cruises during spring. The ship will begin
Alaskan cruise service this summer from Seattle.

"The Port of Los Angeles is delighted to be the first port in the
nation to welcome the Diamond Princess," said Port of Los Angeles
Executive Director Larry Keller. "It's a perfect fit: Princess'
state-of-the-art cruise ship is at the West Coast's state-of-the-art
Cruise Center."

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. Built by Mitsubishi, she is the
largest vessel ever made in Japan. Larger than her sister ship Star
Princess, Diamond Princess features an extra deck of state rooms with
private balconies, additional swimming pools, in addition to a
nine-hole golf course, casino, theater and Internet Cafe.

Utilizing environmentally advantageous fuel, the Diamond Princess is
powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system, which minimizes air
emissions. The ship will make weekly voyages to Mexico through
mid-April.