SANTA CLARITA, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest natural blue sapphire will be showcased in Seattle as part of the festivities surrounding the launch of Princess Cruises' newest ship, Sapphire Princess. The 28-pound, football-sized Millennium Sapphire, which has only been seen by a select few since its 1995 discovery in Madagascar, will be displayed on the ship for guests aboard Sapphire Princess' June 10th naming celebration. The 116,000-ton vessel, the first-ever cruise ship to be christened in Seattle, is the last in an unprecedented series of three ships launched by the line since February, and will be home-ported in Seattle for the summer.
"What more fitting way of welcoming our new Sapphire Princess than by paying tribute to its name with the west coast debut of this incredible gemstone," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "After we learned of its existence we were delighted we could present the Millennium Sapphire in our celebrations, which include the historic naming of a cruise ship in Seattle."
The 61,500-carat Millennium Sapphire holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest carved sapphire. The sapphire, which was discovered a decade ago on the island off the African southeastern coast, originally tipped the scales at 89,850 carats, making worldwide gem news when it was certified. The sapphire's consortium of owners decided not to break up the remarkable gemstone, but rather to commission master gem carvers to create and pay tribute to humanity's greatest examples of ingenuity and accomplishment, through a series of 134 elaborate surface carvings. Award-winning Italian artist Alessio Boschi was commissioned to design the artwork and oversee the carving process. Among the intricate carvings on the Millennium Sapphire are images of human achievement ranging from ancient wonders like the pyramids of Giza to modern day accomplishments such as Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. The carving was completed in 2000 and the resulting piece, aptly known as the Millennium Sapphire, has made only a handful of public appearances. A hybrid of gemstone and incredible work of art, worth tens of millions of dollars, the Millennium Sapphire is considered by both art and gem experts as a unique and invaluable "one of a kind" historical and international treasure.
The Millennium Sapphire will be displayed for guests invited to Sapphire Princess during pre-inaugural cruise celebrations. The ship will be named on June 10th by Nancy Gore Murkowski, the First Lady of Alaska, paying tribute to Princess' long relationship with the 49th state.
The 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess will join sister vessel Diamond Princess in Seattle for a summer season of seven day round trip Inside Passage sailings with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and glacier cruising in Tracy Arm, plus a stop in Victoria, B.C. Sapphire Princess combines signature Princess features -- such as abundant balcony cabins (a total of 750), intimate public rooms, and a plethora of entertainment venues -- with unique, new concepts, including four themed personal choice dining room options, a new Princess Concierge Service, the largest Internet Café at sea, and a brand-new Princess-operated Lotus Spa.
One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of Carnival Corporation & plc , its current fleet of 14 ships sail on approximately 150 different itineraries around the globe, calling at more than 260 ports on all seven continents. Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/.
For further information contact: Julie Benson, jbenson@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1530 Tori Benson, APR, tbenson@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1540
An electronic copy of this release, and access to Princess' on-line newsroom containing past news releases, background information and photography, is available at http://www.princess.com/news.
Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Princess Cruises
"What more fitting way of welcoming our new Sapphire Princess than by paying tribute to its name with the west coast debut of this incredible gemstone," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "After we learned of its existence we were delighted we could present the Millennium Sapphire in our celebrations, which include the historic naming of a cruise ship in Seattle."
The 61,500-carat Millennium Sapphire holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest carved sapphire. The sapphire, which was discovered a decade ago on the island off the African southeastern coast, originally tipped the scales at 89,850 carats, making worldwide gem news when it was certified. The sapphire's consortium of owners decided not to break up the remarkable gemstone, but rather to commission master gem carvers to create and pay tribute to humanity's greatest examples of ingenuity and accomplishment, through a series of 134 elaborate surface carvings. Award-winning Italian artist Alessio Boschi was commissioned to design the artwork and oversee the carving process. Among the intricate carvings on the Millennium Sapphire are images of human achievement ranging from ancient wonders like the pyramids of Giza to modern day accomplishments such as Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. The carving was completed in 2000 and the resulting piece, aptly known as the Millennium Sapphire, has made only a handful of public appearances. A hybrid of gemstone and incredible work of art, worth tens of millions of dollars, the Millennium Sapphire is considered by both art and gem experts as a unique and invaluable "one of a kind" historical and international treasure.
The Millennium Sapphire will be displayed for guests invited to Sapphire Princess during pre-inaugural cruise celebrations. The ship will be named on June 10th by Nancy Gore Murkowski, the First Lady of Alaska, paying tribute to Princess' long relationship with the 49th state.
The 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess will join sister vessel Diamond Princess in Seattle for a summer season of seven day round trip Inside Passage sailings with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and glacier cruising in Tracy Arm, plus a stop in Victoria, B.C. Sapphire Princess combines signature Princess features -- such as abundant balcony cabins (a total of 750), intimate public rooms, and a plethora of entertainment venues -- with unique, new concepts, including four themed personal choice dining room options, a new Princess Concierge Service, the largest Internet Café at sea, and a brand-new Princess-operated Lotus Spa.
One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of Carnival Corporation & plc , its current fleet of 14 ships sail on approximately 150 different itineraries around the globe, calling at more than 260 ports on all seven continents. Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/.
For further information contact: Julie Benson, jbenson@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1530 Tori Benson, APR, tbenson@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1540
An electronic copy of this release, and access to Princess' on-line newsroom containing past news releases, background information and photography, is available at http://www.princess.com/news.
Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Princess Cruises
© 2004 PR Newswire
