The Vote is In - Princess Passengers Select Best Shore Excursion Service in Alaska

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (September 20, 2006) - As the 2006 Alaska cruise season winds down, Princess has announced the winners of its eighth annual C.R.U.I.S.E. service awards, which honor passenger choices for best tours of the season plus favorite tour guides and dock representatives in Alaska and Northwest ports Princess ships visit during the summer.

The awards recognize the importance of local tour operators and their staff as a vital part of the visitor's Alaska cruise experience and are based upon the number of positive passenger comments. Winners include tour companies, individual guides and dock representatives from Princess' extensive line-up of more than 150 shore excursion options in Alaska. For the first time, the 2006 season awards will honor the contributions of dock representatives who make sure tours operate in a timely and smooth manner and assist passengers before and after tours. All recipients will receive their awards at ceremonies held aboard the line's Alaska-based ships.

"Our local tour operators are an integral part of our passengers' cruise experience in Alaska, and they excel at ensuring that Princess' service levels continue even off the ship," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "We're so pleased every year to see the wonderful feedback we get from passengers that helps us determine the winners of these C.R.U.I.S.E. service excellence awards."

Begun in 1999 in the Caribbean as part of Princess' C.R.U.I.S.E. (Courtesy, Respect, Unfailing In Service Excellence) customer service program, and expanded to Alaska in 2000, these tour operator awards cap off a season-long effort to recognize the role that Alaskan-owned tour partners play in passengers' cruise experiences. Tour Guide of the Season and Dock Representative of the Season award winners receive 0, a letter of commendation, a plaque, a ship tour and lunch onboard with their family. Operators of the Shore Excursion of the Season receive a plaque and a letter of commendation, a tour of the ship, and lunch onboard for company officials.