News Article

"Movies Under the Stars" to Premiere Aboard Grand Princess
Ship's new giant outdoor movie screen will bring popular feature to Galveston cruising

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 27, 2004) -- Passengers gave an enthusiastic "two thumbs up" to Princess' new "Movies Under the Stars" outdoor movie screen when it debuted earlier this year aboard Caribbean Princess. When Grand Princess begins its inaugural Galveston cruise season in two weeks, it will also feature this innovative entertainment concept that has been receiving rave reviews from cruisers.

Princess' maiden cruise from Galveston on November 8 will introduce the largest ship to sail out of the Texas port. The 109,000-ton Grand Princess will offer seven-day roundtrip Western Caribbean cruises featuring calls at Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman and a new port of call in Belize -- the only four-port week-long cruise itinerary in the region. Princess will offer 22 departures from Galveston through April 2005.

One of the trademark features of the Grand Princess will be its new Times Square-style LED (Light Emitting Diode) screen located above the ship's Neptune's Pool area. More than 300 square feet in size and featuring an impressive 69,000-watt sound system, the million-dollar screen has sufficient lighting power to be seen clearly even during daytime hours and offers passengers a movie experience comparable to a shoreside movie theater. Grand Princess becomes the first Princess ship retrofitted to offer this now-trademark feature as the company expands the state-of-the-art screens to other ships in its fleet.

"Movies Under the Stars made quite a splash with customers when we introduced it earlier this year," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of sales and customer service. "Everyone loves to go to the movies, but few have the opportunity to watch a film on a giant screen while floating in the pool mid-day or while enjoying a cocktail 'under the stars' in the evening." Swartz added that the giant screens will be added to a number of other vessels in Princess' Caribbean fleet.

Grand Princess' "Movies Under the Stars" program will show a variety of entertainment throughout the day, featuring up to seven movies or events daily, including family films and first run hits -- such as "Spider Man 2," "Shrek 2" and the unique "Sing-A-Long Wizard of Oz" -- as well as concert footage and other special programming such as NFL Monday Night Football. In the evenings, lounge chairs are covered with special cushions and blankets and Princess' hallmark poolside service is available to enhance the viewing experience with free popcorn plus a variety of drink specials and movie nibbles.

The 2,600-passenger ship features a variety of dining and entertainment venues, with Princess the only cruise line to offer Anytime Dining, the unique opportunity to choose when, where and with whom to dine. The vessel brought a number of firsts to the cruise industry including the first wedding chapel at sea. Among the ship's many amenities are a highly praised, authentic Italian trattoria, a premium steakhouse, an extensive children's center, golf simulator and nine-hole putting course, Lotus Spa, fitness center including a swim-against the current pool, and the ship's dramatic Skywalker's Lounge, suspended 150 feet above the sea.

Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.