Greater Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - July 28, 2008 - Just in time for the 2008-2009 winter Caribbean cruise season, Port Everglades, located in Greater Fort Lauderdale will become home to five of the cruise industry's eight newest cruise ships. The world's third busiest cruise port, Port Everglades will serve approximately 3.14 million cruise passengers this coming year.

Several newly built cruise ships will be joining the Port Everglades fleet this season, including:

• Holland America Line's 2,104-passenger ms Eurodam will kick off the season as the first new cruise ship to arrive at Port Everglades
• Princess Cruises' will celebrate the official naming of the line's newest ship, Ruby Princess
• Celebrity Cruises' brand new 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice will also be named at the Port
• Carnival Cruise Lines' 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor will make her maiden call in the United States in November when the 3,006-passenger ship sails into Port Everglades
• Royal Caribbean International's 160,000-ton Independence of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship to ever visit Port Everglades when the 3,634-passenger ship debuts

In addition, sailing for the first time from Port Everglades are Princess Cruises' Tahitian Princess; MSC Cruises' Orchestra and Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Freedom (which will be sailing year-round from Greater Fort Lauderdale).

"It is a great honor for our port to serve as a home to some of the most prestigious cruise lines in the world," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Our destination offers so many options for both pre-cruise preparation and post-cruise relaxation, including world-class shopping, delectable dining and relaxing and rejuvenating spas, just to name a few,  that it will be hard for passengers to get back on the plane to return home."

Port Everglades' ever-expanding fleet of cruise ships provides guests with an array of cruise vacation choices. Part of the enjoyment of cruising is partaking in shore excursions.  Passengers can easily locate information guides and maps at several kiosks located in various cruise terminals, as well as experience a sense of place with decor featuring colorful imagery of the destination. As the homeport to so many cruise ships, passengers can extend their trip and take advantage of the destination's many leisure pursuits.  

"The newest, largest and grandest cruise ships typically debut at Port Everglades because South Florida is the cruise capital of the world and is easily accessible by air and land," says Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen.

For further information about Greater Fort Lauderdale's pre- and post-cruise hotels, visit www.sunny.org/cruise. 

Details on the latest cruise offerings are available on the Internet at www.broward.org/port.

07/2008