Most-Traveled Cruise Passenger Christens New Royal Princess in Portofino

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A F PRINCESS CRUISES GROUP SHOT PRINCESS CRUISES GROUP SHOT Royal Princess godmother, Lorraine Arzt, celebrates after christening the ship in Portofino yesterday with (from left to right) Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival ...

    PORTOFINO, Italy, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises' new Royal
 Princess was christened yesterday in the picturesque harbor of Portofino by
 the most-traveled cruise passenger, Lorraine Arzt, who has in total spent
 more than 11 years sailing aboard Princess ships.
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070615/LAF052-A
             http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070615/LAF052-B)
     With the words, "I name this ship Royal Princess, may God bless her and
 all who sail in her," Arzt released the lever which broke the champagne
 bottle over the ship, and became one of the select women to be honored with
 the title of ship godmother.
     Having spent more than 4,100 days at sea, Arzt is undoubtedly the most
 traveled passenger in the entire cruise industry. At the ceremony which
 celebrated her loyalty to Princess, she was feted by Princess executives
 and the passengers and crew of Royal Princess, set to the backdrop of local
 Italian musicians and a traditional blessing by the Father of the local
 parish.
     Last month when the ship entered service, Arzt, who spends
 approximately 10 months cruising each year, moved onto her "home away from
 home," a suite aboard Royal Princess. She plans to travel exclusively on
 the intimate 710-passenger vessel, when not at her shoreside residence in
 Beverly Hills.
     "Watching Lorraine christen 'her' vessel was a special treat for us at
 Princess," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "She is so
 deserving of this special honor, which pays tribute to her loyalty to
 Princess over many years." Buckelew added that by naming Arzt godmother,
 the line was also recognizing the importance of all Princess' loyal past
 passengers.
     Arzt has been a regular resident aboard various Princess ships over the
 years. She began cruising with her late husband, Joe, in the early 1970s
 aboard P&O's Spirit of London -- which later became the original Sun
 Princess. The Arzts, professional dancers who later became successful in
 the real estate business, discovered that their first voyage, to Mexico,
 sparked a life-long love of cruising. The couple, whose marriage Lorraine
 describes as "a 46-year romance," spent 17 of those years as regular
 passengers aboard the original Royal Princess. Following the transfer of
 that ship to P&O, Arzt sailed regularly aboard Sea Princess until the
 recent debut of the new Royal Princess.
     The Portofino ceremony marked a first for Princess in this picturesque
 Italian Riviera port. "Portofino made a perfect scenic setting for the
 naming of Royal Princess, as it represents the many special places we take
 our passengers," added Buckelew. Known for its enchanting views and a
 lovely waterfront, the quaint fishing village sports a dramatic natural
 harbor that has attracted sailing vessels for centuries. The christening
 voyage -- a new 12-day "Mediterranean Collection" itinerary -- began in
 Rome and also features calls at Monte Carlo, Corsica, Sorrento, Messina
 (Sicily), Valletta (Malta), and Corfu, in addition to the brand new
 Princess ports of Kotor (Montenegro), Split (Croatia) and Ravenna (Italy),
 before ending in Venice.
     A sister ship to the line's popular Tahitian Princess and Pacific
 Princess, the 30,200-ton Royal Princess offers passengers a boutique
 version of Princess' acclaimed onboard options -- including a variety of
 dining and entertainment choices and a large number of cabins with private
 balconies -- all offered in intimate surroundings. The 710-passenger vessel
 and her sisters have become popular choices for vacationers looking for
 "off the beaten path" itineraries and a small-ship experience.
     Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a
 professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the
 company's website at www.princess.com.
     About Princess Cruises:
     One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global
 cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern ships renowned for
 their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment
 and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer
 service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its
 passengers the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the
 globe, with sailings to all seven continents, ranging in length from seven
 to 102 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:
 CCL; NYSE:   CUK).
     Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our
 exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America,
 Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to
 please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines
 appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer
 exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable
 destinations.
 
 

SOURCE Princess Cruises