Press Release

CRUISE WEST’S 2008 VOYAGES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OFFER EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS UP TO $800

~Three Itineraries Explore the Region’s Timeless Traditions and Immaculate Islands~

May 24, 2007

SEATTLE, May 24, 2007 – The small-ship cruise line, Cruise West, is offering early booking savings of up to $800 on three distinct voyages of discovery in the South Pacific in 2008. Guests who book their trips by June 15, 2007, will save $600 per person on the cruise, plus an additional $200 if payment is made in full by this same date. Guests who book by September 7, 2007, will save $300 per person, and an additional $100 if payment is made in full by this date.

In January through March, Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, will journey through the pristine beauty, tiny atolls, remote villages and untouched treasures of the islands of the South Pacific. Cruise West’s up-close, casual and personal style of small-ship cruising provides the opportunity to explore remote ports and islands that larger ships cannot access, and to leave each destination with only footprints behind.

~2008 South Pacific Itineraries~

The precious gems of Polynesia and Melanesia are explored on Cruise West’s aptly named Pearls of Polynesia itinerary. This 12-night sailing between Fiji and Papeete visits Beqa, Fiji, to watch a traditional firewalking ceremony; the Cook Islands including Atiu, “The Land of the Birds,” which is not visited by many other tourists; and Tonga to meet with local villagers, participate in a kava ceremony and snorkel in the pristine waters. Pearls of Polynesia travels on January 23 and February 26, 2008, priced as low as $5,049 per person with the maximum early booking savings. Standard pricing starts at $5,849 per person, based on double occupancy.

Naturalists will be in paradise on the 11-night Island Sanctuaries itinerary, which visits the remote oases of French Polynesia. On this round trip journey from Papeete, guests will snorkel in Rangiroa, the second largest atoll in the world; visit a local pearl farm in Takapoto; and travel through the Marquesas Islands to meet with villagers and explore the plush terrain. This itinerary sails on February 2 and 12, 2008, and is priced as low as $3,749 per person with the maximum early booking savings. Standard pricing starts at $4,549 per person, based on double occupancy. Post-cruise extension to the remote Easter Island is available on February 2 departure only.

The 16-night Legends of the Pacific sailing explores the islands of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, traveling between Guam and Fiji. The Spirit of Oceanus will bring guests to areas seldom visited by other travelers, on an insider’s expedition of native villages, World War II sites and tiny islands. Highlights include snorkeling at Tonoas Island, the center for the Japanese Navy during WWII; meeting with native villagers throughout the islands and enjoying performances of their traditional dance and song; and visiting the tropical forest of Pohnpei Island which is home to 40 species of birds, reptiles and deer. This itinerary will sail on January 7 and March 11, 2008, and is priced as low as $5,999 per person with the maximum early booking savings. Standard pricing starts at $6,799 per person, based on double occupancy.

Cruise West’s Spirit of Oceanus is the line’s most spacious and luxurious ship. Each suite offers a sliding door, picture window or porthole. Other amenities distinct to this ship include a walk-in closet or wardrobe, a large marble bathroom and a lounge area. Two lounges and an open-seating dining room provide a casual atmosphere for guests to interact with one another, the crew, Exploration Leaders and guest speakers. Inflatable excursion craft are used for almost every port of call in the South Pacific. Six suite-types are offered onboard, in addition to the elegantly appointed and spacious Owner’s Suite located on the ship’s Sun Deck.

~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~

Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings.

For more information, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com. Media can also visit www.louhammond.com for downloadable releases and photography.

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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 – nine in all – hold between 78-138 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, Japan, the South Pacific, and the Kuril Islands.