Wednesday, April 16, 2003 Princess OKs Carnival takeover deal   Tourism: Move won't immediately bring more ships to L.B., official says. From staff and wire reports LONG BEACH P&O Princess Cruises PLC shareholders on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a $5.5billion agreement to be acquired by Carnival Corp. The deal, which is expected to create the world's largest cruise ship operator, won't bring in more cruise ships to the new terminal at Long Beach at least not immediately, said Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz. "We have said from the start that the Long Beach cruise terminal will be available to all other cruise lines in and outside of Carnival Corp.,' de la Cruz said. She declined to comment on whether Carnival was in negotiations with other cruise line operators to use the terminal on days when Carnival ships are at port. Current plans call for the terminal to be occupied three days per week Mondays, Fridays and Sundays by the Carnival ships Ecstasy and Elation. Carnival docked its first vessel, the Ecstasy, on Monday in the $40million terminal that utilizes nearly half of the former Spruce Goose Dome, marking the opening of an operation that will bring an estimated 300,000 passengers per year through the area. The operation is already providing a boost to other local tourist attractions. Queen Mary operators said roughly 25 cruise passengers stayed overnight Sunday at the hotel and several hundred used the early check-in service on the vessel, some paying to take the tour. The vote by P&O shareholders is seen as the final hurdle in an 18-month takeover saga. The vote followed a similar meeting by Carnival shareholders on Monday. Beginning today, P&O and Carnival will operate as a dual-listed company. Its shares will trade on the London Stock Exchange as Carnival PLC, and on the New York Stock Exchange as Carnival Corp., with 13 brands in the United States, Europe and Australia. The takeover cost Princess $145million in fees, including a $62.5million break payment to Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited after Princess swapped suitors when regulators approved an alliance with Carnival. The combined operation will have a fleet of 66 ships, with 17 ships on order. The cruise industry has been struggling with a drop in passenger numbers since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, with the global economic downturn and the war in Iraq adding to its woes. "Carnival and P&O together are in the best position to ride the current geopolitical uncertainties and benefit from the positive long- term prospects for the cruising industry,' said Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison, who will retain both posts in the firm.