NCL Norwegian Pearl's Godmother to be Rosie O'Donnell

**Ally** · 10-27-2006, 12:12 PM

NCL to Host Gala Fundraising Event aboard Its Newest Ship to Benefit Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation.

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, NCL Corporation (“NCL”) announced Emmy® Award winner Rosie O’Donnell will serve as the godmother of its newest ship Norwegian Pearl. The popular talk show host and actress will christen NCL’s newest Freestyle Cruising vessel in a ceremony at the Port of Miami on Saturday, December 16 at 5 p.m.

NCL has also donated the use of Norwegian Pearl to O’Donnell’s charity, Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation, for a one-night charity event on Friday, December 15. Guests onboard the one-night cruise will enjoy an evening of culinary delights, a Broadway-style show in the Stardust Theater with O’Donnell and guest entertainers direct from Broadway performing, a comedy show by popular comedy troupe Second City and a sail-away cocktail party on the pool deck.

“We are so pleased that Rosie will serve as Godmother of Norwegian Pearl,” said Colin Veitch, NCL Corporation’s president and CEO. “Rosie is a talented entertainer and dedicated philanthropist, and both these qualities will be front and center during the christening and charity event of Norwegian Pearl. We will raise a lot of money for her charitable foundation, which will allow her to expand on the broad range of work already undertaken to improve the quality of life for children all over America.”

NCL will donate the use of Norwegian Pearl, inclusive of all food, beverage and shipboard entertainment for the one-night event with 100 percent of the ticket revenue being given to the charity.

“After chartering four ships with NCL, I have experienced the innovative product and exemplarily service of the crew first hand so I’m very proud to serve as Godmother of the company’s newest ship -- Norwegian Pearl,” O’Donnell said. “I’m also thrilled we will be using Norwegian Pearl for a cause that is very close to my heart – helping disadvantaged children. It is the perfect venue to raise money for children in need around the country.”

Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation is a public, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping America’s kids by supporting non-profit programs that serve disadvantaged children. Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 1,100 nonprofit organizations that have helped provide important opportunities for thousands of America’s kids in need.

Tickets to the gala fundraiser go on sale Monday, October 30, 2006 with prices starting at $250 per person for an inside cabin and up to $3,000 per person for a Courtyard Villa. In addition, NCL will offer businesses the opportunity to purchase special packages that include a reception with O’Donnell and VIP gift bags. Package number one at $10,000 includes one penthouse, two mini-suites and four balconies and package number two at $5,000 includes two mini-suites and two balconies. For reservations, call NCL at 800-327-7030.

NCL and O’Donnell have been working together since 2004 when R Family Vacations chartered Norwegian Dawn for the industry’s first ever gay family cruise. Since then, R Family Vacations, founded by Kelli O’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky, have seen the popularity of these cruises grow and have chartered four ships from NCL including Norwegian Jewel for a Caribbean cruise in February 2007.

Norwegian Pearl – Simply Striking

The 93,500-ton Norwegian Pearl, which will be delivered to NCL on November 28, is the ninth new ship in six years for NCL and continues the company’s plan to completely renew its fleet and by 2010, will feature the youngest fleet in the industry. Norwegian Pearl is the latest edition of the line’s innovative Jewel-class ships boasting an industry first – a four-lane ten-pin bowling alley; and two NCL firsts -- a rock-climbing wall and two top-of-the-ship Deluxe Owner’s Suites on deck 15.

Just like her sisters –Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel and Pride of Hawai`i -- Norwegian Pearl will accommodate 2,400 guests, and features all the elements of NCL’s dynamic modern Freestyle Cruising fleet including multiple restaurants, lively public rooms, versatile, family-friendly accommodations and NCL’s sizzling new style of accommodations - Courtyard Villas - which along with each ship’s two Garden Villas make up the biggest, most luxurious and innovative suite complexes at sea.

After a series of inaugural events in Europe and Miami, the ship will sail two seven-day itineraries to the Caribbean (Eastern and Western) beginning Dec. 22, 2006. On January 5, 2007, Norwegian Pearl features its innovative five and nine-day Western and Southern Caribbean schedule. Ports of call on the five-day Western Caribbean itinerary include stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize. The nine-day Southern Caribbean route includes calls in Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. John’s, Antigua and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

NCL Corp. Ltd. ("NCL") is an innovative cruise company headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a fleet of 15 ships in service and under construction. The corporation oversees the operations of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, and Orient Lines. The company is currently building two ships, Norwegian Pearl for delivery in November of 2006 and Norwegian Gem for delivery in October of 2007.

In addition, NCL plans to build up to three new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery between 2009 and 2011. NCL is on target to have the youngest fleet in the industry by 2010, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

For further information, please contact NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; visit NCL’s website at Welcome to The NCL.com.
Contacts

NCL Corporation, Miami
AnneMarie Mathews, 305-436-4799
or
Susan Robison, 305-436-4762
PublicRelations@ncl.com
or
Edelman Public Relations
Alexa Gunther, 312-616-1657
or
Carlee Bator, 312-240-2694
Carlee.bator@edelman.com