Grammy Winning Singer-Songwriter Mary Chapin-Carpenter Performs on Alaska Discovery Cruise

Grammy Winning Singer-Songwriter Mary Chapin-Carpenter Performs on Alaska Discovery Cruise OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Olivia, the lifestyle company that connects, transforms and celebrates the lives of lesbians and their families and friends, announces five-time Grammy winner Mary Chapin Carpenter's Olivia debut on Olivia's Alaska Discovery Cruise. After a three-year hiatus, Carpenter released her tenth album, Between Here and Gone, in 2004. Mary Chapin Carpenter's intimate performance on board in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 8 kicks off the May 8-15, 2005 cruise. "It is well known that Mary is an incredibly dynamic live performer," Amy Errett, Olivia CEO, said. "We are thrilled that our Olivia guests will be able to enjoy Mary up close in this acoustic performance." Like all of Olivia's trips, the Alaskan Cruise is chock full of entertainment. Comedians Vickie Shaw, Karen Williams, and Lisa Koch will be bringing in the laughs, while Suede, Wishing Chair, Sweet Baby Jai and Roxana Ward will provide the soundtrack for the week. Guests are also invited to join Olivia's Author's Expo with best-selling authors like Sarah Waters, Dorothy Allison and Katherine V. Forrest, workshops and a book exchange at sea. Olivia guests will explore Alaska's awesome coastline. From scanning for wildlife and waterfalls while cruising through the astounding bays of the Inside Passage to hiking the Juneau Icefield, this cruise offers plenty in the way of wilderness. There's also tons of culture. In Ketchikan, passengers will find a rich center of native culture along with the world's largest collection of totem poles. Further north, native Tlingit and American cultures commingle with Russian traditions in culturally diverse Sitka. Guests travel in style aboard Holland America's ms Veendam. Everything about this ship is grand. In the lavish dining room, passengers savor excellent cuisine and marvel at the first-class service. The all-weather domed pool, Jacuzzi and luxurious spa treatments are perfect relaxation tools. And there's ample deck space from which to view Alaska's unique wildlife, like soaring bald eagles, wild grizzlies, surfacing whales and playful sea otters. Mary Chapin Carpenter is the most recent in a series of exciting announcements from Olivia, like Showtime filming part of an episode for their hit drama "The L Word" on board Olivia's Mayan Caribbean Cruise, a performance by Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge on their Eastern Caribbean Cruise, a performance by country music superstar Wynonna on their Four-night Caribbean Cruise, a performance by Grammy winner Shawn Colvin on their Mayan Caribbean Cruise and performances by the Indigo Girls on their Western Caribbean, Mayan Caribbean and Mexican Riviera Cruises. Additionally, Olivia hosted it first lesbian film festival and a sports-focused women's resort with all-star athletes. ABOUT OLIVIA Founded in San Francisco in 1973, Olivia, the premier travel company serving the lesbian and gay community, reaches more than 50 million people internationally. Over 75,000 people have traveled with Olivia in the last 10 years. Olivia charters entire ships or resorts to create one-of-a-kind vacations for lesbians, gay men and their family and friends, delivering world-class entertainment like Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, k.d. lang, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathleen Madigan and the cast of Showtime's "The L Word" along the way. Visit www.olivia.com for the latest information about Olivia cruise and resort vacations. Source: Olivia CONTACT: Susan MacTavish Best of Best Public Relations, +1-415-505-0301, or susan@bestpr.net, for Olivia Web site: http://www.olivia.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment