Port of San Diego Expanding Cruise Offerings!

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I received this press release from the Port of San Diego and thought
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Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL

Port of San Diego Expanding Cruise Offerings

New Sailings Offer Travelers More Price, Destination Choices

SAN DIEGO April 22, 2004
Starting this fall, cruise vacationers will have another option in San
Diego with the addition of Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit, beginning a
new one-of-a-kind eight-day cruise program from San Diego to an array
of Mexican resort destinations. Carnival joins Holland America Line,
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruise Line in offering
home port cruising out of one of the West Coast's most well
established vacation destinations.
Beginning in fall 2004, Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,124-passenger "Fun
Ship" Carnival Spirit will offer new and unique eight-day cruise
vacations from San Diego. This marks the first time that Carnival has
a seasonal homeport operation from the Port of San Diego. From October
16, 2004 to April 2, 2005, Carnival will offer 22 eight-day cruises
featuring calls in Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa and Manzanillo.

"San Diego is benefiting tremendously from the upsurge in the cruise
industry," said Rita Vandergaw, director of marketing for the Port of
San Diego. "Passengers like to have an alternative to Long Beach and
Los Angeles. It's easy to get to, you can actually begin or end your
vacation in this glorious destination, San Diego.

According to Port of San Diego officials, cruise calls have doubled
and passenger counts have tripled since 2000, sealing San Diego's
status as a major West Coast cruise port. From 2003 to 2004 alone, San
Diego has seen a 60 percent increase in calls and a 175 percent
increase in passenger count. Cruise officials cite the convenience to
San Diego International Airport and an abundance of local visitor
attractions as reasons passengers prefer sailing out of San Diego.

Cruises leaving from San Diego include Holland America Line, Carnival,
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Other cruise
lines that call on San Diego include Princess Cruises, Norwegian
Cruise Line, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Silversea
Cruises and The World of ResidenSea. For a complete schedule of San
Diego cruises, visit the Port of San Diego's Web site at:
http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandie...dulesearch.asp.
Hotel packages are also available at www.bigbay.com.

The Port of San Diego's cruise ship terminal is located in the heart
of the downtown waterfront, just five minutes from San Diego
International Airport. Ships set sail from San Diego year round.