<p>Miami - Feb 18, 2009 &mdash; Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) was recognized as &ldquo;Cruise Line of the Year&rdquo; by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation during the 13th Annual Cacique Awards held in Nassau, Bahamas on January 30, 2009. The Cacique Awards recognize the roles played by those individuals and organizations whose performance or products have consistently made a positive impact on the quality and the growth of tourism in The Bahamas.</p><p>&ldquo;Norwegian Cruise Line and The Bahamas have enjoyed a long-standing partnership,&rdquo; said Mr. Ellison &ldquo;Tommy&rdquo; Thompson, Deputy Director General of Tourism for the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. &ldquo;We are pleased that they are committed to helping grow tourism in The Bahamas by bringing their Freestyle Cruising ships to our islands.&rdquo;</p><p>Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise line to sail to The Bahamas beginning in 1966. Currently, the company has five ships visiting The Bahamas: Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Majesty.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honor to receive this award from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation,&rdquo; said Colin Murphy, NCL&rsquo;s vice president of special projects, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. &ldquo;The Bahamas offers a wealth of beauty and enjoyment for our guests.&rdquo;</p><p>The Cacique Awards recognize the roles played by individuals and organizations whose performance or products have consistently made a positive impact on the quality and growth of tourism in the Bahamas. Since 1995 they have been presented in eight public categories: Transportation; Human Resources Development; Sports, Leisure &amp; Events; Creative Arts; Handicraft; Sustainable Tourism; the Minister&rsquo;s Award presented to an individual who has exemplified Bahamian hospitality through genuine friendliness and concern toward visitors; the Lifetime Achievement Award for an individual who has made consistently outstanding contributions to the growth of tourism for 20 or more years; and a special award for an individual or organization that has developed an innovative tourist attraction.</p>