PRINCESS COVERS THE CARIBBEAN WITH 11 ITINERARIES IN 2005-06

Caribbean cruise vacationers will continue to benefit from Princess’ commitment to this region in 2005-06, as an extensive selection of 11 itineraries will cover 25 ports in the tropical waters Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Six Princess ships will sail on seven-day, 10-day and 14-day itineraries from Ft. Lauderdale, San Juan and Galveston, each offering an enchanting blend of Caribbean culture.   New this season, the line debuts a series of longer Caribbean adventures with a series of two new 14-day itineraries aboard Sea Princess, one of which will also include a new port of call for the line, the unspoiled island of Bonaire.  In total, four ships — Caribbean Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess and Golden Princess — will offer seven-day itineraries, while Sun Princess features alternating 10-day itineraries and Sea Princess debuts the new 14-day itineraries.

“Our Caribbean program really will offer the finest fleet in the region,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president of customer service and sales.  “Having the youngest fleet, with an average age of five years, means our passengers enjoy some of the newest features afloat, including our renowned Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen.  And our ships have the highest percentage of balconies in the Caribbean, with more than half our staterooms sporting this popular feature.”
 Princess’ 2005-06 Caribbean season includes:

• Caribbean Princess – This new 113,000-ton ship, built specifically for the Caribbean trade, sails on its second season with Princess’ Classic Eastern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.  The vessel will offer 27 Saturday departures on an itinerary that travels to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays.  Sailings run between October 29, 2005 and April 29, 2006.

 Beforehand, Caribbean Princess will also offer a complete summer season with alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.  The April 30 to October 22, 2005 season features both 15 Eastern Caribbean sailings and 11 Western Caribbean sailings to Princess Cays, Ocho Rios (or Montego Bay), Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

• Grand Princess – Grand Princess returns for a second season of seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries from Princess’ new Galveston homeport.  The 2,600-passenger vessel departs on Saturdays for calls in Belize, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.   The ship offers 23 sailings on this itinerary between November 26, 2005 and April 29, 2006.

• Star Princess – Star Princess returns to the Caribbean with seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries, departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Sundays.  The ship will offer 27 sailings between October 9, 2005 and April 30, 2006, featuring calls at Princess Cays, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.

 In addition, Star Princess will sailing on two special holiday cruises – a 10-day Eastern Caribbean Voyager over Christmas and an 11-day Southern Caribbean Medley over the New Year.  The first departs on December 18 and will spend the holidays visiting St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.  The New Year sailing departs December 28 and will visit Aruba, Curaçao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.

• Golden Princess – Based in San Juan, Golden Princess offers alternating seven-day Southern Caribbean itineraries, departing on Saturdays.  The Classic Southern Caribbean itinerary includes calls at Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.  The alternate Southern Caribbean Explorer itinerary features the ports of St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Caracas and Aruba.  The ship will offer 13 sailings on each itinerary between October 29, 2005 and April 22, 2006

 In addition, the ship will sail on three Eastern Caribbean cruises between New York and San Juan.  The October 22, 2005 sailing travels from New York and calls at St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten.  On May 1, 2005 and April 29, 2006, the ship sails the reverse direction from San Juan.

• 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 11 sailings and includes calls at Curaçao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.  The Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary is featured on 10 sailings and offers calls at St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. 

• Sea Princess – Sea Princess returns to the Princess fleet with a series of new 14-day Caribbean adventures.  The ship will feature two alternating itineraries sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.  The ship offers seven sailings on the Grand Caribbean Adventurer route between November 5 and April 22, with calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Bonaire and Ocho Rios.  Six sailings of the new Grand Caribbean Islander itinerary are offered between November 19 and April 8, featuring calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, Isla Margarita, Aruba and Grand Cayman.  

     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, personalized environment.  The newest vessel in the fleet, Caribbean Princess, sports such features as a poolside movie screen, a new Caribbean-themed alternative restaurant, and nearly 900 cabins with balconies — more than on any other cruise ship sailing year-round in the Caribbean.

Early booking fares for Princess’ 2005-06 Caribbean season begin at $549 for seven-day sailings. Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com

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 recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers to 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).

Princess Cruises is a proud member of World’s Leading Cruise Lines.  Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.  Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations. 

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July 30, 2004   Posted in: Cruise Ships