New Ships, Destinations Announced For Norwegian Cruise Line And Parent Company Star Cruises

--Norway to leave the NCL fleet after more than 20 years; SuperStar Leo to open up new market - seven day round trip Hawaii cruising--

--Deployment changes and ship introduction in both fleets will take advantage of company's global position in the cruise marketplace--

MIAMI, FL, October 9, 2000 -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and parent company Star Cruises today announced a number of deployment changes for both the NCL and Star Cruises fleets that will take advantage of the company's flexibility and position as a single, global group.

In November 2001, Star Cruises will transfer the ultra-modern Superstar Leo to NCL's fleet. The 76,800-ton ship will be re-named and deployed year-round in Hawaii on seven-day itineraries. The ship will be the only large, new luxury ship offering year-round, weekly cruises in Hawaii, a move that is certain to have a tremendous impact in developing the underserved Hawaii cruise market.

In other NCL news, the line will take delivery of its brand new Freestyle Cruising flagship Norwegian Sun in September 2001. Concurrently, NCL will transfer the S/S Norway to Star Cruises for permanent service in Asia. Star's re-deployment of the Norway to Asia/Pacific will provide Asians with an opportunity to cruise on a ship with a rich maritime legacy.

The transfer of the Norway into Star's fleet also will coincide with the arrival of Star's newbuild Superstar Libra that will be based in Singapore. Superstar Libra, the first of the new-generation 2,300-passenger Libra-class vessels, will be delivered to Star Cruises in October 2001 and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore in November 2001. Lastly, Superstar Virgo, now based in Singapore, will move to Hong Kong, replacing twin sister ship Superstar Leo in that market year-round.

"The acquisition of NCL earlier this year has afforded the Star Cruises Group the opportunity to map out a ship deployment plan that optimizes the speed, capacity and strength of the fleet, enabling us to position the ships to markets where they are most suitable," said Dato KT Lim, Chairman of Star Cruises.

Added NCL President and Chief Executive Officer Colin Veitch, "The strategies employed in these moves ensure the NCL brand of having four new, 2000+ berth ships by the end of 2002. Further, Star Cruises will continue to offer a new ship or product each year in its core markets of Hong Kong and Singapore. This clearly demonstrates the tremendous advantage the Star Cruises Group enjoys as a single global cruise line."

"From a local perspective," continued Veitch, "NCL is now the only cruise line offering seven-day cruises to all of the top three destinations North American cruisers and potential cruisers say they would most like to go: the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. From a global perspective, the Star Cruises group, incorporating Star, NCL, and Orient Lines, is the only cruise line in the world offering regular seven-night-or-less cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Japan, and southeast Asia."

SUPERSTAR LEO
The Superstar Leo will be delivered to NCL in December 2001 in Hong Kong, and is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu to commence cruising on December 16, 2001. The ship will be deployed in Hawaii on seven-day itineraries and will be the only large, new luxury ship offering weekly cruises in Hawaii. Its maiden voyage under the NCL flag will depart Honolulu on December 16, 2001.

"There is no doubt that Hawaii is one of the most attractive vacation destinations anywhere in the world," said Veitch. "Yet it also is a market that has not previously had a modern cruise offering available, and consequently it has really not developed as a cruise destination. The entrance of Norwegian Leo brings with it the capacity to allow far more passengers to experience this incredible destination than ever before- and in a relaxed style that befits the spirit of the region."

Built in 1998 at a cost of $350 million by Star Cruises, Superstar Leo is big - 76,800 gross tons -- with 13 decks and a capacity of 1,960 passengers. Most importantly for NCL and its guests, the ship is purpose built for the innovative Freestyle Cruising concept, offering eight sit-down restaurants, an enormous children's facility and beautiful suites.

The ship's 7-day cruises will be the only ones in the market to include the four main islands, Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai plus a stop at Fanning Island, an exotic Micronesian island to the south of Hawaii.

While a Hawaii itinerary is special by any standards, the Norwegian Leo is incredible in its own right. Thirteen decks high, the ship measures 884 ft. in length and 106 ft. in width. The ship's 980 cabins offer a wide range of spacious accommodations. At the top end are 11 junior suites measuring 436-sq. ft. and seven executive suites each measuring an impressive 605-sq. Ft. The Leo also will be the only ship in seven-day Hawaii service to offer cabins with balconies.

Superstar Leo makes an immediate impact on its passengers. Beginning with the ship's Grand Centrum, a distinctively rectangular-shaped atrium rising seven full decks and extending to the gigantic skylight in the Galaxy of Stars room, the ship was built full of special touches. Each detail of its design has been carefully considered to stimulate the senses of its passengers - from the use of striking French windows in its main restaurant to the Roman influences of the Tivoli Pool and open-air Amphitheater.

Superstar Leo is also a ship built for power and speed - it is one of the fastest ships afloat, with a 25-knot maximum speed allowing its passengers the freedom to see more places in a shorter time. It is a similar sense of freedom that is at the heart of the new Freestyle Cruising concept as well, and those who cruise Superstar Leo will enjoy a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility, such as open-seating and extended hours in its main dining rooms, and non-intrusive service of the highest standard.

In keeping with the spirit of this concept, the ship offers an unusually wide array of dining venues with various culinary styles, including:

*Windows-One of two main dining rooms serving classical and contemporary menus

*Garden Room-A second main dining room

*Tai Pan Restaurant-Serving high-end Chinese cuisine

*Shogun Japanese Restaurant-Incorporating a Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki and Tatami rooms

*Maxim's Restaurant-Featuring French nouvelle cuisine

*Blue Lagoon-A round-the-clock eatery featuring grill and wok fast dishes

*Raffles--Indoor/outdoor buffet

*La Trattoria-Serving pasta, pizza and other popular Italian fare

In addition, passengers can enjoy light refreshment in a number of coffee bar and snack outlets.

Passengers interested in getting -- or simply staying -- fit will enjoy the Sports Deck with its jogging circuit, golf driving range, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts. A Roman Spa and Fitness Center offers the perfect place to unwind with steam, sauna, massage and the latest treatments.

Entertainment options abound with choices that include a 78-seat movie theatre, an extensive casino, and a discotheque and lounge for live music and dancing under the stars. For those who find shopping as the ultimate form of entertainment, there is a full shopping arcade as well as a gift shop boutique.

The ship also provides a full-service business center featuring secretarial assistance, photocopying and fax services. The ship additionally utilizes its theater as an auditorium for group functions and provides an executive boardroom and six additional breakout rooms.

NCL will be offering a wide array of Hawaii shore excursions, pre- and post-cruise packages, air add-ons and more.

S/S NORWAY
In September 2001 the S/S Norway will be re-deployed to Asia for service in the Star fleet. "The S/S Norway has served NCL well for two decades and we are pleased that this historic liner will remain within the group through her new deployment in one of Star Cruises' major markets," said Veitch.

"With the S/S Norway cruising in exotic Asian waters, her faithful followers from North America and Europe will have the opportunity to experience Asia onboard a ship internationally acclaimed with classical opulence," said Dato Lim.

Prior to its repositioning to Star Cruises, the S/S Norway will embark on a summer season of seven-day, alternating eastern/western Caribbean "farewell cruises" as NCL's flagship. These cruises will replace a previously announced plan to deploy the ship on two-and five-day service next spring. The final three "farewell" cruises, including a 16-day transatlantic voyage, will feature special on-board amenities and programming designed to celebrate the ship's legendary heritage and place in maritime history. Details on the "farewell cruises" will be announced soon by NCL.

"The Norway has enjoyed worldwide acclaim since her christening as the S/S France in the early 1960's, and re-birth as the S/S Norway 20 years ago," Veitch commented. "We think it is only fitting that we bid her adieu with special farewell cruises for our passengers."

NORWEGIAN SUN
The Norway's departure will be timed to coincide with the September 2001 arrival of NCL's Norwegian Sun. The design of the 77,000-ton Norwegian Sun, now under construction in Bremerhaven, Germany, has been enhanced to enable it to offer NCL's innovative new Freestyle Cruising product. Freestyle Cruising features open seating and extended hours in the dining rooms; multiple gourmet and a la care alternative dining locations; resort casual attire; a higher crew-to-guest ratio more typically found at top land based resorts; a hassle-free gratuity system; a variety of enrichment programs; and passenger-friendly disembarkation on the final day.

The Norwegian Sun will feature more dining options than any other ship in the North American market, with the flexibility of nine different restaurants including 10 distinctive menus every evening. Choices will include: two main dining rooms; a formal Italian restaurant; Le Bistro, featuring gourmet French fare; a Pacific Rim restaurant complex featuring a Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki Room and a California/Hawaii/Asian Fusion restaurant; a Tapas Bar with full selection of Tapas items and authentic entertainment; a 24-hour indoor/outdoor café featuring "food action stations" and serving everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to soups and salads; and a "Healthy Living" restaurant featuring spa menus and Cooking Light dishes.

The Sun will boast 67 percent outside staterooms, including a new category of mini-suites with balconies and four Owner's Suites measuring an impressive 502 square feet each. A dedicated lifestyle area/learning center will provide space for classes that will offer passengers the opportunity to enrich both the body and the mind. Other amenities include a two-story main show lounge, two pools, a large casino, an Internet Café with 20 computer stations, full service health spa and salon, Observation lounge, conference room, library, chapel for weddings and renewal of vows, shopping gallery, children's playroom and separate teen center, video arcade and children's pool.

STAR/NCL
"Star Cruises and NCL will continue to explore the various synergies that exist within the Group in areas of ship deployment, marketing and operations in order to provide cruisers with world-class products and services that reflect the global presence, standards and values of all three brands," concluded Dato Lim.

Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is an international cruise company and industry innovator that currently owns or operates a fleet of nine ships sailing to more than 200 ports around the world. NCL is currently building two new ships: M/S Norwegian Sun, a 2000-passenger sister ship to the Norwegian Sky (for delivery September 2001); and a 2,300-passenger, as-yet-unnamed ship that will be NCL's largest (for delivery in late 2002).

Following the acquisition of NCL this year, Star Cruises is now the fourth largest cruise line in the world operating a combined fleet of 20 ships with more than 21,000 berths. By the end of 2002, with the three ships currently on order, Star Cruises with NCL will have approximately 28,000 lower berths.

For further information on NCL, contact a travel agent or NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; in Miami-Dade County, Florida, (305) 436-0866; or on AOL at keyword: NCL.

For further information on Star Cruises, visit their new web site at www.starcruises.com.

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