Princess Cruises launches Caribbean fleet

Thursday, 4 August 2005

Princess Cruises launches biggest-ever Caribbean fleet in 2006-07

Eight Princess ships will cruise the Caribbean during the 2006-07 season, sailing 11 different itineraries.

There will also be an inaugural season of sailings from the new homeport of New Orleans.

The cruises range from seven to 14 days aboard some of the newest and biggest ships in the region giving Caribbean cruisers more choice than ever.

Crown Princess sails her first full programme of southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan while Golden Princess inaugurates Princess' first sailings from the new homeport of New Orleans. These two ships are joined by Caribbean Princess in the eastern Caribbean, Star Princess in the western Caribbean and Grand Princess sailing the western Caribbean from Galveston, Texas.

Sun Princess and Sea Princess will present longer voyages sailing the length and breadth of the eastern and southern Caribbean, with Sun Princess providing 10-day cruises and Sea Princess returning for a second season of 14-day journeys. Coral Princess will join the Caribbean fleet for a special holiday sailing in the eastern Caribbean.

"This deployment represents our biggest Caribbean fleet to date," says Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Princess Cruises in the United States.

"With four different homeports, three choices in cruise length and a plethora of itineraries covering the region, we are providing Caribbean cruising options to suit all preferences. Plus, we have the newest seven-day fleet in the industry - at just under four years old on average - with innovative ships built specifically for Caribbean cruising. The ships feature Princess Cruises' trademark balcony cabins - the perfect way to enjoy the islands," Ms Swartz says.

Seven-night Caribbean cruises in 2006 are available from NZ$967 per person. Call 0800 95 12 00, see a travel agent or visit www.pocruises.co.nz .

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. Meanwhile the Southern Caribbean Explorer route includes 13 departures with visits to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. Following her previously announced summer season in "The Big Apple," Crown Princess begins her autumn 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 - This ship begins 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 also offers a complete summer season in 2006 with alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises. The May 6 to October 21, 2006 season features 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, is the base for Golden Princess' western Caribbean itinerary. The ship makes 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. Grand Princess makes 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 make 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 provide 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 provides 10 sailings and includes calls at Curaçao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. The eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary features on nine sailings with 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 has an intriguing a series of 14-day Caribbean adventures, featuring two alternating itineraries sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The ship provides 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 joins 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 the itinerary,, passengers 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 centres, wedding chapels, internet centres, and an array of entertainment options and venues, all in an intimately-designed and personalised environment.

Crown Princess and her sister ship, Caribbean Princess, both sailing year-round in the Caribbean, feature a poolside "Movies Under the Star" movie screen, a Caribbean-themed alternative restaurant, and nearly 900 cabins with balconies -- more than 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).

ENDS

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