Excel Maritime Increases Quarterly Minimum Dividend Guidance by 100% to $0.40 per Share

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - June 30, 2008) - Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (NYSE: EXM), an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, announced today that the Board of Directors has increased the Company's minimum annualized dividend guidance to $1.60 and has set the 2008 minimum annualized dividend guidance to $1.20. This guidance would result in a minimum quarterly dividend of $0.40 per common share beginning with the dividend declared for the second quarter of 2008.

Mr. Molaris stated, "We are very pleased with our Board's decision to double distributions to our shareholders. We believe that its decision is a solid proof of our Company's strong financial condition, after the merger with Quintana, and it is underpinned with solid growth potential together with secured long term cash flows. We anticipate that returns to our shareholders will be further enhanced over time."

The Board retains the discretion to declare quarterly dividends that deviate from the quarterly dividend guidance, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as those under Liberian law; covenants and other restrictions under the Company's revolving credit facility and any future debt instruments; and changing market conditions.

ABOUT EXCEL MARITIME CARRIERS LTD

Excel is an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. After the acquisition of Quintana, Excel owns a fleet of 40 vessels and, together with 7 Panamax vessels under bareboat charters, operates 47 vessels (4 Capesize, 14 Kamsarmax, 21 Panamax, 2 Supramax and 6 Handymax vessels) with a total carrying capacity of approximately 3.7 million DWT. Excel Class A common shares have been listed since September 15, 2005 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EXM and, prior to that date, were listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) since 1998. For more information about the Company, please go to our corporate website www.excelmaritime.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's planned acquisition of Quintana and the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to the ability to satisfy the closing conditions of the acquisition, changes in the demand for dry bulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Contact Information: Contacts: Investor Relations / Financial Media: Nicolas Bornozis President Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue - Suite 1536 New York, NY 10160, USA Tel: (212) 661-7566 Fax: (212) 661-7526 E-Mail: excelmaritime@capitallink.com www.capitallink.com Company: Lefteris Papatrifon Chief Financial Officer Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. c/o 17th Km National Road Athens-Lamia & Finikos Street 145 64 Nea Kifisia Athens, Greece Tel: 011-30-210-62-09-520 Fax: 011-30-210-62-09-528 E-Mail: info@excelmaritime.com www.excelmaritime.com