Galaxy's Inaugural Sailing from Texas Doubles as Annual Veterans' Victory
Cruise

GALVESTON, Texas - November 1, 2004 - The world's top-rated premium cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, today sets sail for the first time from the Port of Galveston, Texas, with a sold-out cruise, including a more than 300-member group of veterans who served in major conflicts ranging from World War II to the current war in Iraq.

"We are very pleased to welcome guests from the great state of Texas and beyond, and are honored that a revered group of war veterans chose the Galaxy as the platform for their annual 'Veterans' Victory Cruise,'" said Celebrity's Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales Steve Hancock. "We appreciate the warm reception from the Port of Galveston and public officials, and are thrilled to offer travelers a new option in premium cruising from such a charming and hospitable community.
"
Hancock and Celebrity colleagues today welcomed area travel agents, media and public officials including Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas at a special ceremony onboard the 1,870-guest Galaxy, rated one of the top 10 "World's Best Ships," according to a readers' survey published in Conde Nast Traveler.

Galaxy departs round-trip from Galveston on 11- and 12-night Panama Canal cruises through April 2005, with visits to Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; the historic Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, the port serving Colon and Panama City; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Fares begin at $1,100 per person, based on double occupancy.

Celebrity concludes its first season of sailing from Galveston with a new, 16-night transatlantic cruise departing May 7, with ports of call in Key West, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Funchal, Madeira; Gibraltar, U.K.; Villefranche (for Nice and Monte Carlo), France, ending in Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy, where Galaxy begins her 2005 season in Europe.