In The News

CRUISE WEST ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF NEW SHIPS AND ITINERARIES

January 17, 2006

Yorktown Clipper and Nantucket Clipper to Expand Line Operations

Seattle, WA, January 17, 2006 - Cruise West, the preeminent American-owned and operated small-ship cruise line, announced today that it has acquired the Yorktown Clipper and the Nantucket Clipper, previously part of the Clipper Cruise Line fleet. With the increasing success of Cruise West and the projected profitability over the course of upcoming years, this planned expansion comes at an ideal time to again raise the bar of small-ship cruising experiences, as Cruise West has often done before.

The 138-guest Yorktown Clipper and the 102-guest Nantucket Clipper have officially joined the Cruise West family today. Both ships are U.S.-flagged coastal cruise ships joining Cruise West’s fleet of American-owned vessels, and will significantly enhance the company’s operational reach. The new ships will sail the 2006 itineraries on the East Coast, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Central America previously published by Clipper Cruise Line, but under Cruise West ownership and management. Guest programs and amenities will offer the comfortable and modern accommodations of these former Clipper small ships with the distinguished exploration approach that Cruise West has so successfully pioneered.

Chairman and CEO Dick West said, “We are delighted to expand our operations to the East Coast and to offer our guests novel itineraries in the up-close, casual, and personal style of cruising that have branded our ships for over 60 years. Cruise West’s fleet, now consisting of 10 diverse ships, will completely circle North and Central America and the entire Pacific Rim.”

President and COO Jeffrey Krida said, “Over the past four years, Cruise West’s careful management has allowed us to steadily strengthen our balance sheet and market position. We have already projected 2006 to be the strongest financial year in our company’s history. This consolidation with Clipper Cruise Line’s domestic vessels into an already impressive fleet will allow Cruise West to scale new heights. We appreciate the dynamic sales support from the travel community and we look forward to continued work with our travel partners in creating strides in the small-ship cruising industry.”

Cruise West is the largest American small-ship cruise line and will now be operating 10 vessels accommodating 70 to 138 guests on itineraries in Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, on the Columbia River, in California Wine Country, the South Pacific, and Japan. This expansion will also increase the destinations that Cruise West guests can travel to with the new vessels’ previously scheduled itineraries to the East Coast of the Americas, Great Lakes and Caribbean.

Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business – offers the opportunity to explore remote locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. The casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike.

The emphasis for all Cruise West destinations is outward on the history, local cultures, shoreside attractions, and on personal service. The cruising style offers flexible schedules allowing intimate encounters with wildlife, scenery and with like-minded guests. Zodiacs and other excursion crafts offer access to wilderness shorelines. Each ship features Cruise West Exploration Leaders who are experts in the natural history, biology and lore of the destination. For more information call toll-free 1-800-888-9378.

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Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business based in Seattle – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – ten in all – hold between 70-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. The experience is personally enriching through expert Exploration Leaders providing onboard narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel. All have forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. All vessels are also equipped with inflatable landing boats for close-up exploration of remote areas and shore landings.

Destinations served include: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia & Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Costa Rica & Panama, The U.S. eastern seaboard, the Caribbean, Japan, the South Pacific, the Kuril Islands, and the Great Lakes