TALL SHIPS RETURN TO BOSTON HARBOR JULY 8-13:

TAJ BOSTON IS IDEAL 'BASE CAMP' TO VISIT SHIPS & OTHER HISTORIC SITES



Boston's Landmark Hotel to Host Captain and Lieutenants of Kruzenshtern,
A Four-Masted Barque from Russia, Second Largest Traditional Sailing Vessel in Operation Today

BOSTON, MASS. - (July 2, 2009) - The Tall Ships are coming! A stunning fleet of more than 40 sailing ships from countries around the world are returning to Boston Harbor on Wednesday, July 8. Taj Boston, at Arlington and Newbury streets overlooking the Public Garden, makes an ideal base camp for day trips to the view the ships and to explore many of Boston's historic sites from July 9-12.

For added excitement, guests of Taj Boston may catch glimpses of the captain and key lieutenants for the sailing ship Kruzenshtern, who are making the hotel their headquarters during their Boston sojourn. This four-masted steel-hulled barque hails from Kalingrad, Russia and is 376 feet long in length, with a draft of 19 feet and a beam of 49 feet. After the Russian ship Sedov, she is the largest traditional sailing vessel in operation and the most famous ship in the contemporary Russian sailing fleet. This marks her first return to Boston since 2000.

Various types of wood- and steel-hulled ships from many ports of call, including Argentina, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, the U.K., Uruguay and the U.S. will be on view to the public from July 9 - 12. While specific times for public tours are determined by each ship's captain, public access hours are from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Piers 1 and 4 at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. July 9-10 and from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. July 11-12 at the Fish Pier and Seaport World Trade Center.

About Sail Boston 2009
Sail Boston is an official Port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 (TSAC). The trans-Atlantic regatta will start in Vigo, Spain. From there the fleet will race to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, en route to Bermuda. The fleet will then race to Charleston, South Carolina before racing to Boston, for Sail Boston 2009. From Boston the fleet will cruise in company north to Halifax, Canada. From there the fleet will race back across the North Atlantic to Belfast, Northern Ireland. For more information, visit www.sailboston.com.

About Taj Boston
Taj Boston occupies the city's most celebrated location at Arlington and Newbury streets. Overlooking the Public Garden, the property is within walking distance of historic sites, theatre and financial districts as well as fashionable boutiques and galleries, and is just four miles from Boston's Logan International Airport. Opened in 1927, the luxury hotel features 273 guestrooms, including 45 suites, many of which offer wood-burning fireplaces. As a preferred social and business center, Taj Boston is noted for its fine dining in The Cafe, afternoon tea in The Lounge, cocktails in The Bar and seasonal Champagne Sunday Brunch on The Roof, as well as state-of-the-art business and guest services.

Acquired by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces in January 2007, Taj Boston joins The Pierre in New York and Campton Place in San Francisco as the U.S. members of Taj Hotels' luxury division. For reservations, contact 877-482-5267 toll-free or visit .

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