PRESS RELEASE

6 September 2005

Copenhagen: New Christmas Cruise Destination

The last five years have seen a doubling of the number of cruise guests visiting Copenhagen, and the number for 2005 is expected to be at least 360,000. Until now this success has been limited to the summer period but this year, for the first time ever, Copenhagen will be able to call itself a Christmas cruise destination. Cruise Copenhagen Network expects more Christmas cruises in the coming years.

During the summer Langelinie Pier in Copenhagen throngs with cruise passengers and the ships are docked end to end the length of the promenade. But up until now the traffic has quietened after September. That is all about to change as Copenhagen will be welcoming its first cruise line docking ever during December this year.

The historic first December docking will be by the M/S Aurora, due to arrive at Langelinie Pier on December 10th. The Christmas cruise was sold out already by the end of August and on board of M/S Aurora will be 2,600 British and American passengers keen to make the most of Copenhagen's unique shopping opportunities over a stop lasting two days.

- We are delighted that M/S Aurora will be coming to Copenhagen as part of its Christmas cruise. We have been working for some time to expand the cruise season and we very much hope that the M/S Aurora's docking will be a success and the beginning of many more winter cruises, says Christian Lund, General Manager, Maersk Broker and member of Cruise Copenhagen Network.

Maersk Broker has worked together with Copenhagen Port to arrange this winter cruise with P&O Cruises but the idea to expand Copenhagen's cruise season evolved from the drawing board of Cruise Copenhagen Network's three-year strategy for development of Copenhagen as a cruise destination.

- Copenhagen is beautiful at Christmas time and has much to offer cruise guests. Throughout the shopping areas of the city, from Europe's longest pedestrian street, Strøget, to malls such as Field's, you will find wonderful Christmas decorations, while Copenhagen's famous amusement park, Tivoli, is transformed into a Christmas market, explains Anette Jensen, Cruise Marketing Director, Cruise Copenhagen Network.

This 'Winter Wonderland Cruise' on M/S Aurora lasts for ten days. Passengers embark in Southampton, England, and sail via Amsterdam and Oslo to Copenhagen where the M/S Aurora docks for two days before setting sail again for Southampton via Hamburg, Germany, and Brügge in Belgium.

For more information:

Anette Jensen, Cruise Marketing Director, Cruise Copenhagen Network (CCN) tel. +45 3355 7428, email. anj@woco.dk, Christian Lund, General Manager, Maersk Broker tel. + 45 3363 3056, email. agency.cph.dk@maerskbroker.com