Celebrity Cruises Expands Vacation Opportunities in Alaska in 2003

July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity Cruises in 2003 will offer a significantly expanded number of enticing Alaska cruisetour packages operated by Royal Celebrity Tours, while again presenting a full season of seven-night cruise itineraries from Vancouver and Seward on Summit, Infinity and Mercury.

Inspired by guest interest, Celebrity's Alaska Cruisetours' total number of packages next year jumps from this year's 13 to 20, with four packages offering two full nights in Denali National Park and the popular seven-hour Tundra Wildlife Search.

An entirely new package in 2003 includes three nights in Denali and an all-inclusive, full-day Kantishna Wilderness Trails Excursion, which transports guests through 95 miles of Denali's prime wildlife habitat to the Kantishna Roadhouse near Wonder Lake on the banks of Moose Creek. Optional activities on the excursion include a dogsled demonstration and gold panning, along with stops for viewing moose, bear, caribou, eagles and other wildlife.

In addition, packages focusing on the raw, natural beauty of the Kenai Peninsula will offer stops in Homer, on the shores of the halibut-rich waters of Kachemak Bay, as well as Seward, at the entrance to the 650,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park.

"We're thrilled to offer travelers in Alaska this expanded and incredible array of cruisetour packages, particularly since the new options were inspired by comments from our guests," said Royal Celebrity Tours President Craig Milan. "We continue to hear that the combination of Alaska's rugged, natural beauty with the taste of luxury found on every Celebrity ship makes a uniquely appealing package."

Summit's 2003 Alaska Vacation Options
Celebrity's newest Cruisetour packages in Denali National Park and the Kantishna Wilderness area are among the options for guests sailing on northbound and southbound seven-night Glacier cruises on the environmentally- sensitive gas-turbine ship, Summit.

Summit's Alaska season begins with a 14-night cruise along the Pacific Coast, departing San Diego, California, on May 9, and calling on Catalina Island and San Francisco; Seattle, Washington; Victoria, British Columbia; Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska, and includes cruises beside Hubbard Glacier and through the Inside Passage, ending in Vancouver.

Summit's seven-night Northbound Glacier itineraries from Vancouver to Seward, Alaska, depart Vancouver on Fridays, May 23; June 6 and 20; July 4 and 18; and August 1, 15 and 29, 2003. Ports of call include Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Valdez, including cruises through the Inside Passage, past the glaciers of College Fjord and beside the region's largest and most active glacier, Hubbard Glacier.

Celebrity's Southbound Glacier cruises on Summit depart Seward on Fridays, May 30; June 13 and 27; July 11 and 25; August 8 and 22; and September 5, 2003, with ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska, featuring cruises through the Inside Passage and beside Hubbard Glacier.

Summit caps its 2003 season in Alaska with a 14-night Pacific Coastal cruise departing Vancouver on September 12, with calls on Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, and Valdez, Alaska; cruises through the Inside Passage and beside Hubbard Glacier; visits to Victoria, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco and Catalina Island, California, concluding in San Diego.

Summit cruise fares begin at $900 per person, double occupancy, with cruisetours starting at $1,700 per person, double occupancy, for a nine-night package.

Infinity's 2003 Alaska Vacation Options
Summit's sister ship, Infinity, will sail 17 Inside Passage cruises round- trip from Vancouver, British Columbia, every Friday from May 30 through September 19, 2003, with ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska, including cruises through the Inside Passage and past Hubbard Glacier, with fares beginning at $1,150 per person, double occupancy.

Infinity's captivating Canadian Rockies cruisetour packages will transport guests to a variety of adventurous and scenic territories via motorcoach and the Rocky Mountaineer Railway, with highlights including the Columbian Icefields, Banff National Park and Yoho National Park; sightseeing visits to Lake Louise, Jasper, Calgary and Vancouver; and the Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue in Kamloops.

Fares for Infinity's Canadian Rockies cruisetour packages begin at $3,190 per person, double occupancy, for a 13-night package.

Mercury's 2003 Alaska Vacation Options
Celebrity's Mercury, whose unique magrodome pool enclosure was built with the Alaska market in mind, will sail 19 Inside Passage cruises in Alaska round-trip from Vancouver, and also will present Canadian Rockies Cruisetour packages, either before or after the cruise.

Mercury precedes the 2003 Alaska season with a nine-night itinerary departing San Diego, California, on May 2, with ports of call in San Francisco, as well as Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka, Alaska, and a cruise through the Inside Passage, concluding in Vancouver.

Mercury's round-trip, seven-night Inside Passage itineraries will depart Vancouver on Sundays from May 11 through September 14, 2003, with visits to Juneau and Sitka, Alaska, as well as cruises through the Inside Passage and beside Hubbard Glacier.

Mercury's Canadian Rockies Cruisetour packages will also travel via motorcoach and the Rocky Mountaineer Railway, with highlights including Jasper and Banff National Parks; sightseeing visits to the Columbian Icefields, Jasper, Calgary and Vancouver; and the Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue in Kamloops.

Pricing for Mercury's seven-night cruises begin at $800 per person, double occupancy, with cruisetour packages starting at $2,430 per person, double occupancy, for a 12-night package.

Every Celebrity cruise through Alaska offers guests unique insight into the rich history, wildlife and culture of the state, with onboard enrichment lectures by Native Alaskans and a variety of materials and presentations produced in partnership with The Nature Conservancy.

When not exploring Alaska, guests can be rejuvenated in Celebrity's award- winning AquaSpa(SM) facilities; enjoy a fine liqueur and cigar in Michael's Club; visit the Martini Bar, to select from among 26 varieties of the trendy beverage; play a variety of games in Fortunes Casino; connect with family and friends in the Internet cafe, or connect with fellow guests in Cova Cafe Milano, Celebrity's seagoing version of the stylish coffeehouse in the famed fashion district of Milan, Italy.

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the industry, Celebrity Cruises' nine-ship fleet is the youngest of any major cruise line. Celebrity Cruises sails in Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii and the Panama Canal. For more information, visit the Celebrity web site at http://www.celebritycruises.com.