Yiannos Pantazis News

Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, Inc., announced today that two out of its eight shipowning companies, Olympic World Cruises, Inc., the owner of the vessel Olympia Voyager, and Royal World Cruises, Inc. the owner of the vessel Olympia Explorer, have filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States bankruptcy code. The company has been in discussion with the lenders to these subsidiaries regarding a potential restructuring of $250.0 million in loans incurred to finance the acquisition of the two vessels. Discussions have not to date produced an agreement and the lenders have delivered a notice of acceleration of the loans. These loans are secured by mortgages on the two vessels and have been guaranteed by Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, the parent company.

Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. reported that significant booking cancellations aboard its cruise vessels for the remainder of the year will adversely affect its final results for 2001. The cancellations follow the tragic attacks on New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. CEO of Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, Yiannos Pantazis, stated, "A large number of the passengers travelling with us in September and October are from the United States and unfortunately, since September 11, many have chosen not to travel abroad. The cancelled bookings will have a serious negative impact on the fourth quarter and, consequently, the year-end numbers will show a higher loss than previously expected. $0.85 per share.

Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc announced that Silk Navigation had acquired an additional 20 percent of ROC Holdings Inc. from Louis Tourist Agency. As a result, Silk and Louis each now hold 50 percent of ROC Holdings, which in turn holds 51.4% of Royal Olympic's common stock. Silk Navigation is controlled by members of the Potamianos family, with Andreas Potamianos holding the position as Royal Olympic's Co-Deputy Chairman and Louis Tourist Agency is controlled by Costakis Loizou, also Co-Deputy Chairman. In addition, Royal Olympic announced that it had agreed with Louis Tourist Agency to modify the terms of the $20 million convertible subordinated note issued by Royal Olympic on February 28, 2001 and held by Louis Tourist Agency.

Blohm+Voss GMBH delivered of the new fast cruise ship, Olympia Explorer, to Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. The vessel immediately sailed from the Blohm+Voss shipyard to the Port of Piraeus in Greece. The Olympia Explorer, together with her sister ship, Olympia Voyager, are the fastest cruise vessels of their size, performing unique cruises at speeds of up to 30 knots. "The new itineraries Royal Olympic Cruises will offer with this vessel have created considerable interest in the cruise market. The first cruises are already fully booked," added Pantazis. On her maiden voyage on May 3, the Olympia Explorer will start a series of weekly cruises calling at the ports of Piraeus, Corfu, Venice, Dubrovnik, Bari, Katakolon, Istanbul, Mykonos and Santorini.

Around the world, people involved with shipping are booking flights to Greece and preparing to do business at the Posidonia 2002 International Shipping Exhibition, held on the Piraeus waterfront from June 4-7, 2002. With the Greek market worth a conservative $16 billion per annum, there is plenty of incentive. The business week begins with The Posidonia Congress and a program of high level international presentations and debate, at the Megaron, Athens Concert Hall on Monday, June 3. Posidonia's attraction for exhibitors and visitors is not hard to see. Greek shipowners control the biggest fleet in the world. Their drive towards fleet renewal and regeneration is creating multi billion dollar opportunities throughout the international maritime industry.

Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc.announced that it has regretfully been forced to cancel the cruises of its new vessel, Olympic Explorer, for the remainder of the summer season. Although it had been reported that the Company had hoped to commence cruises with the vessel on September 15, it has not been possible to finalize all the discussions with the Blohm+Voss shipyard to allow the necessary technical modifications to be completed by this date. Commenting on the cancellation, Yiannos Pantazis, Royal Olympic's CFO, stated: "It is a real disappointment to us that the ship will not be able to undertake any cruises during the summer season, but we hope to have the vessel ready to commence operations for the next season.

Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. (Nasdaq: ROCLF & EASDAQ: ROCL) has created a World Wide Web Site (roclf.com) designed for the investor community. The Site, created by Los Angeles based Station1, provides a profile on the company, as well as current and historic information on the company's financial performance. It is specifically designed to provide 24 hour availability to investors and potential investors who have an interest in the company. Commenting on the new Web Site, Yiannos Pantazis, Royal Olympic Cruise Lines CEO stated, " We are a unique cruise company which has for decades provided our cruise passengers with a very special cruise product.