Weak Dollar Prompts Star Clippers To Open Bookings Through March 2010

Star Clippers and its trio of three tall-masted ships has opened bookings through March 2010, citing a weak U.S. dollar, which is helping underpin cruise growth and historically solid advance bookings. Star Clippers operates Star Clipper, Star Flyer and flagship, Royal Clipper, all sailing diverse itineraries in Tahiti, the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Far East, and on transatlantic and Indian Ocean crossings.

"With the weakening dollar, more people are realizing the value of a cruise vacation," said Jack Chatham, president in the Americas for Star Clippers. "This, along with our history of getting solid advanced bookings, prompted us to open the books as soon as possible so our guests have enough time to plan their vacations and get their first choice of itinerary, cabin and date.

Star Flyer will sail in Tahiti on seven, 10- and 11-night cruises roundtrip from Papeete through 2010—and beyond; Star Clipper, from November 2008 through March 2009 and November 2009 through March 2010, will cruise in the Far East, but sail Greece and Turkey routes in summer 2009; Royal Clipper will continue its Caribbean duties through 2010, sailing two different seven-night Barbados itineraries from November through March. In the summer, it will deploy to the Mediterranean operating seven, 10- and 11-night western Mediterranean itineraries.

Visit www.starclippers.com.