Wishes at Sea

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International Unite With Make-A-Wish Foundation®

Seventeen-year-old Michael's millennium celebration was everything he dreamed it would be and more. Michael, along with his parents and best friend Justin, cruised the Caribbean aboard Majesty of the Seas. Like most young men his age, Michael took full advantage of everything the cruise had to offer—snorkeling, kayaking, dancing with his new friends in the teen nightclub and exploring a pirate ship. What made Michael's experience even more extraordinary is the fact that it was truly his wish come true.

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International have joined forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to help make wishes come true for children and teens, like Michael, with life-threatening illnesses. By donating cruise packages, and going above and beyond to make sure each wish family has the experience of a lifetime, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International are helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfill wishes for children whose fondest wish is to take an unforgettable cruise vacation.

"The Make-A-Wish Foundation is committed to making sure that every wish child has an amazing, exquisite experience," said Paula Van Ness, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. "Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International are helping us keep this commitment to children whose fondest wish is to experience a cruise vacation."

The cruise lines' commitment goes beyond providing cruise experiences to wish families. Royal Caribbean International plans to integrate the Make-A-Wish Foundation into its Adventure Ocean kids' program by educating participants about the organization through games, coloring books and other activities. Other plans include airing the Foundation's public service advertisements on the shipboard video systems and posting information about the partnership on the companies' Web sites.

Celebrity Cruises also is introducing the "Goodnight Card" art program, a collection of artwork created by Make-A-Wish® children, which will be featured on keepsake cards placed on Celebrity guests' pillows. The program will launch on May 12, with a series of Make-A-Wish children's original works of art displayed on Celebrity's Mercury as the ship begins its Alaskan season.

In addition, on November 17, Celebrity Cruises will help the Make-A-Wish Foundation celebrate its 20th birthday in "Celebrity" style as the official host of the 20th Birthday Millennium Cruise. The 2-night fund-raising cruise celebration will take place aboard Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, Millennium, and is expected to raise $1 million for the Foundation.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise company operating two cruise brands, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. The brands' combined fleet currently consists of 17 vessels; 10 additional vessels are on order for delivery throughout 2004. For additional information about Royal Caribbean, visit the company's Web sites at www.celebritycruises.com, www.royalcaribbean.com, or www.Rclinvestor.com.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with 80 chapters in the United States and its territories, and 20 international affiliates spanning five continents. Through private donations and the efforts of more than 18,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 73,000 wishes around the world since its inception in 1980 — more than 9,600 last year alone. During the year 2000 — the Foundation's 20th birthday — the Make-A-Wish Foundation will grant its 80,000th wish.

For more information, or to contact Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, see their website at: www.wish.org