Cruise Industry Partners With Cosmetics Giant to Launch New Nail Polish Line for Summer 2005

    NEW YORK, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cruise Lines International
 Association (CLIA), which is comprised of the world's 19 major cruise lines
 and over 16,500 travel agency members, has teamed with Essie Cosmetics, Ltd.,
 to create the Cruise Collection -- a line of six brand-new nail polish shades
 that for the first time celebrates the joy of cruising. The collection, timed
 for the 2005 summer season, launched today in salons, spas and specialty
 stores worldwide.
     "Research has shown time and again that women are the primary decision
 makers when it comes to travel purchases. CLIA is thrilled that cruising will
 be featured on product packaging and point-of-purchase displays in more than
 55,000 retail outlets in 67 countries throughout the world," said Terry L.
 Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, the cruise industry's chief marketing
 organization and North America's largest travel industry association based on
 travel agency membership.
     As part of this cutting-edge new partnership, CLIA and Essie are hosting a
 contest whereby consumers can win cruise vacations for two on Carnival Cruise
 Lines, Costa Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line or Princess Cruises. Prizes
 also include Anne Cole bathing suits and Kenneth Cole sunglasses. The CLIA-
 Essie promotion is expected to generate significant numbers of first-timers to
 the industry.
     "Despite spectacular growth, the cruise industry continues to have
 tremendous market potential," said Dale, adding that, while cruise vacation
 interest is at record levels, only 17 percent of North Americans are estimated
 to have taken a cruise. "The story of cruising has to be told in new and
 interesting ways -- and the CLIA-Essie partnership exemplifies the fresh
 approaches CLIA is undertaking to get the cruise message out to the traveling
 public."
     Cruise industry growth is unprecedented and shows no signs of abating. In
 the last 10 years CLIA members added 100 brand-new ships, with 62 ships
 debuting in the last five years alone.
     And the good news just keeps getting better for the 19 member lines and
 16,500 CLIA member travel agencies. Spurred by a strong upsurge in cruise
 travel, the tally for passengers choosing to sail last year surpassed -- by
 far -- all previous booking records. In all, a record 10.6 million people took
 a cruise in 2004. CLIA predicts more than 11 million travelers will cruise in
 2005.
     Entry ballots for the CLIA-Essie contest can be obtained at outlets
 carrying Essie's Cruise Collection or by visiting http://www.essie.com . For
 more information about CLIA or the four cruise lines featured in the contest,
 visit http//www.cruising.org .
 
     About CLIA:
     The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the premier nonprofit
 cruise industry marketing organization comprising 19 leading cruise lines,
 which collectively accommodate 95 percent of North American cruise passengers.
 CLIA member travel agencies -- of which there are 16,500 -- are considered the
 consumer's very best resource when planning a cruise vacation. For more
 information on CLIA, cruise vacations, its member cruise lines or to locate a
 CLIA-member travel agency near you, use the Travel Agent Locator on CLIA's
 website at http://www.cruising.org
 
     About Essie:
     Established in 1981 by Essie Weingarten, Essie Cosmetics, Ltd. has since
 expanded into one of the most successful nail care companies in the world.
 Today, with international distribution in over 50 countries, Essie Cosmetics
 is an industry icon offering over 250 award-winning fashion colors and total
 treatments for hands and feet. The Cruise Collection consists of six colors:
 life saver -- strong glittery orange, cruise control -- warm tulip pink, "fun
 ships"(TM) -- soft pinky-red with a gold infusion, princess pink -- glistening
 soft cotton candy pink, magnifico -- iridescent soft light fuchsia, and jewel
 -- shimmery raspberry.
 
 

SOURCE  Cruise Lines International Association