Princess Launches Largest Ever Caribbean Fleet in 2006-07
Date: 27 Jul 2005
Eight Princess ships will be sailing through the sunny Caribbean during the 2006-07 season, giving passengers more choice than ever with a selection of 11 itineraries including southern Caribbean cruises aboard the new Crown Princess and an inaugural season of sailings from the new homeport of New Orleans.
The cruises will range from seven to 14 days, aboard some of the youngest and biggest ships in the region. Crown Princes, which will sail on her first full program of southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, and Golden Princess, which will inaugurate Princess' first sailings from a new homeport in New Orleans, will be joined by Caribbean Princess in the eastern Caribbean, Star Princess in the western Caribbean and Grand Princess sailing the western Caribbean from Galveston. Sun Princess and Sea Princess will offer longer voyages sailing the length and breadth of the eastern and southern Caribbean, with Sun Princess offering 10-day cruises and Sea Princess returning for a second season of 14-day journeys. And Coral Princess will join the Caribbean fleet for a special holiday sailing in the eastern Caribbean.
Seven-night Caribbean cruises in 2006 are available from AUD$879 per person. Call 132 469 in Australia.
"This deployment represents our largest Caribbean fleet to date," said Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Princess in the US. "With four different homeports, three choices in cruise length, and a plethora of itineraries that cover the region, we offer Caribbean cruising options to fit just about any preference. Plus, we offer the newest seven-day fleet in the industry (at just under four years old on average) with innovative ships built specifically for Caribbean cruising and loaded with our trademark balconies - the perfect way to enjoy the islands."
Princess' 2006-07 Caribbean season features:
Crown Princess - The newest addition to the Caribbean fleet, Crown Princess will be based in San Juan for alternating Saturday departures on seven-day cruises to the Southern Caribbean. The ship offers 13 sailings on a Classic Southern Caribbean itinerary featuring calls at Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. The Southern Caribbean Explorer route meanwhile includes 13 departures with visits to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. In addition, following her previously announced summer season in "The Big Apple," Crown Princess will start her fall run with an eight-day repositioning cruise from New York to San Juan on October 27, 2006 including stops at St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica and St. Kitts. The ship's Caribbean season runs through April 28, 2007.
Caribbean Princess - The ship offers her third season sailing Princess' classic eastern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The vessel shifts to Sunday departures for 27 sailings of an itinerary that travels to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays. Sailings run between October 29, 2006 and April 29, 2007. Caribbean Princess will also offer a complete summer season in 2006 with alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises. The May 6 to October 21, 2006 season features both 12 eastern Caribbean sailings and 13 western Caribbean sailings to Princess Cays, Ocho Rios (or Montego Bay), Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Golden Princess - A new homeport for Princess, New Orleans, will be the base for Golden Princess' western Caribbean itinerary. The ship will offer three sailings on an itinerary that travels to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Golden Princess sails on December 16, 23 and 30, 2006.
Grand Princess - Grand Princess returns to her Galveston homeport to sail on a series of seven-day western Caribbean cruises. The 2,600-passenger vessel departs on Saturdays on a new itinerary that calls in Costa Maya, Roatan (Honduras), Belize and Cozumel. The ship offers 24 sailings on this itinerary between November 18, 2006 and April 28, 2007.
Star Princess - Star Princess will again offer a series of seven-day western Caribbean itineraries, departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Saturdays. The ship will offer 25 sailings between November 11, 2006 and April 28, 2007, featuring calls at Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays.
Sun Princess - Sun Princess will offer alternating 10-day sailings roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale - one to the southern Caribbean and the other to the eastern Caribbean. The southern Caribbean Medley itinerary is offered on 10 sailings and includes calls at Curaçao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. The eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary is featured on nine sailings and offers calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. Sun Princess' Caribbean season runs between October 11, 2006 and April 9, 2007.
Sea Princess - Sea Princess again offers an intriguing a series of 14-day Caribbean adventures, featuring two alternating itineraries sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The ship will offer six sailings on the Grand Caribbean Adventurer with calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Bonaire and Aruba. Six sailings of the Grand Caribbean Islander itinerary feature calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, Isla Margarita, Curaçao and Montego Bay. Sea Princess sails between November 11, 2006 and April 14, 2007.
Coral Princess - Coral Princess will join the Caribbean fleet for a special holiday eastern Caribbean sailing on December 22, 2006. This seven-day escape features visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess' own Princess Keys.
Regardless of which itinerary passengers choose, they will enjoy some of the most amenity-filled vessels in the Princess fleet, with such distinctive features as the line's signature Personal Choice Dining, Lotus Spa, extensive children and teen centers, wedding chapels, internet centers, and an extensive array of entertainment options and venues, all in an intimately designed, personalised environment. Crown Princess and her sister ship, Caribbean Princess, both sailing year-round in the Caribbean, sport such features as a poolside "Movies Under the Star" movie screen, a Caribbean-themed alternative restaurant, and nearly 900 cabins with balconies -- more than on any other cruise ships sailing year-round in the Caribbean.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best -known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognised leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the globe, with sailings to all seven continents, ranging in length from seven to 30 days. The company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2005, is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
