NACTA Names Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises 2005 Cruise Lines of the Year

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Home-Based Agency Community Honors Cruise Lines for Outstanding Leadership

MIAMI, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA) has named Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises cruise lines of the year for 2005, recognizing their outstanding leadership and continued support of the home-based agency community. The award was presented during the NACTA Rocks National Conference in conjunction with Travel Trade's Cruise-A-Thon in Fort Lauderdale recently.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was featured prominently among cruise industry leaders at the event, which is devoted to the strength and growth of home-based agents. Both of the company's brands were honored for their continued commitment to the home-based travel professional. Keynote speaker Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Sales, for Royal Caribbean International, conducted a market research seminar on American family travel trends, outlining the key requirements for today's family vacation and showcasing the many family friendly options available onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

"It is a great honor for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to be the recipients of NACTA's cruise line of the year award," said Bauer. "NACTA's focus on education, professionalism and effective communication has made the organization a key strategic associate. By providing the best services and benefits to independent travel agents, NACTA significantly contributed to positive exposure for both brands in 2005."

Other Royal Caribbean contributors at the NACTA conference included Cris DeSouza, home-based channel manager, and Michael Laca, producer for CruisingPower.com, who jointly presented a dedicated workshop on the latest tools available to the home-based agency community. A surprise guest at the conference, Capt. William Wright, senior vice president, Marine Operations for the company, announced Royal Caribbean will give away free cruises to all attendees and invited agents on a two-night preview sailing onboard Freedom of the Seas, the line's largest and most forward-looking ship, which debuts in May 2006.

"Royal Caribbean has been the industry leader in developing customized solutions for the home-based agent, dedicating management resources to the home-based channel, challenging the status quo and providing continued support through educational programs, including seminars at sea dedicated exclusively for home-based agents," said Joanie Ogg, president of NACTA. "I was asked to consult with Royal Caribbean when they began the design of their program several years ago, and I continue to work closely with their dedicated home- based management team to enhance the relationship between our home-based travel partners and the line."

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will renew their leadership commitment and continued support for the home-based community in 2006 by continuing their strategic alliance with NACTA; Globus Family of Brands, the world leader in escorted travel; and Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST), the industry's only marketing group exclusively for home-based agents. The four companies will deliver an encore performance of the successful Home-Based Success Series, an innovative, fast-paced learning seminar that will visit numerous U.S. cities to educate and motivate home- based travel agents.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a combined total of 29 ships in service and two under construction. The company also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe through its cruise-tour division. Additional information can be found on http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ , http://www.celebrity.com/ , or http://www.rclinvestor.com/ .

Established in 1986, NACTA is the travel industry's leading national trade association representing independent contractors, outside sales agents, cruise and tour oriented agents, group oriented travel professionals and traditional ARC appointed travel agencies that provide services and support to such professionals. NACTA represents the interests of independent travel entrepreneurs and works to promote professionalism and recognition for the professional independent agent. As a member-driven association, NACTA surveys its membership to develop a consensus on issues of concern to the independent travel agent community. When consensus is reached, NACTA carries out its members' will to stimulate positive change within the travel industry. NACTA is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASTA.

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