NCL Corporation (NCL) has announced that Emmy® Award winner Rosie O’Donnell will serve as the godmother of its newest ship Norwegian Pearl.

The popular talk show host and actress is slated to christen NCL’s newest Freestyle Cruising vessel in a ceremony at the Port of Miami on Saturday, December 16 at 5 p.m., following a one-night charity event to benefit Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation scheduled to be held onboard the ship on Friday, December 15.

Guests on the inaugural Norwegian Pearl one-night charity cruise will enjoy an evening of culinary delights, a Broadway-style show in the Stardust Theater with O’Donnell and guest entertainers direct from Broadway performing, a comedy show by popular comedy troupe Second City and a sail-away cocktail party on the pool deck.

NCL and O’Donnell have been working together since 2004 when R Family Vacations chartered Norwegian Dawn for the industry’s first ever gay family cruise. Since then, R Family Vacations, founded by Kelli O’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky, have seen the popularity of these cruises grow and have chartered four ships from NCL including Norwegian Jewel for a Caribbean cruise in February 2007.

“We are so pleased that Rosie will serve as Godmother of Norwegian Pearl,” said Colin Veitch, NCL Corporation’s president and CEO. “Rosie is a talented entertainer and dedicated philanthropist, and both these qualities will be front and center during the christening and charity event of Norwegian Pearl. We will raise a lot of money for her charitable foundation, which will allow her to expand on the broad range of work already undertaken to improve the quality of life for children all over America.”

NCL will donate the use of Norwegian Pearl, inclusive of all food, beverage and shipboard entertainment for the one-night event with 100 percent of the ticket revenue being given to the charity.

“After chartering four ships with NCL, I have experienced the innovative product and exemplarily service of the crew first hand so I’m very proud to serve as Godmother of the company’s newest ship -- Norwegian Pearl,” O’Donnell said in a press release. “I’m also thrilled we will be using Norwegian Pearl for a cause that is very close to my heart – helping disadvantaged children. It is the perfect venue to raise money for children in need around the country.”

Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation is a public, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping America’s kids by supporting non-profit programs that serve disadvantaged children. Since 1997, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in Early Childhood Care and Education program grants to over 1,100 nonprofit organizations that have helped provide important opportunities for thousands of America’s kids in need. Rosie's For All Kids Foundation has helped to build 27 day care centers -- known as Cutie Patootie Centers -- in low income areas throughout the United States.

Tickets to the gala fundraiser went on sale Monday, October 30, 2006 with prices starting at $250 per person for an inside cabin and up to $3,000 per person for a Courtyard Villa. In addition, NCL will offer businesses the opportunity to purchase special packages that include a reception with O’Donnell and VIP gift bags. Package number one at $10,000 includes one penthouse, two mini-suites and four balconies and package number two at $5,000 includes two mini-suites and two balconies.

Norwegian Pearl is the newest addition to NCL’s fleet of Freestyle Cruising vessels and the first to boast a four-lane ten-pin bowling alley, a rock-climbing wall and two top-of-the-ship Deluxe Owner’s Suites

After a series of inaugural events in Europe and Miami, the ship will sail two seven-day itineraries to the Caribbean (Eastern and Western) beginning Dec. 22, 2006. On January 5, 2007, Norwegian Pearl features its innovative five and nine-day Western and Southern Caribbean schedule. Ports of call on the five-day Western Caribbean itinerary include stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize. The nine-day Southern Caribbean route includes calls in Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. John’s, Antigua and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

For further information, please contact NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; visit NCL’s website at www.ncl.com .

Until next time!