Princess Cruises announced its 2018-2019 Americas cruise itineraries on Monday, covering sailings to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, the California Coast, and Alaska.
Four of the 12 ships, the Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess and Island Princess will be on the OCEAN Medallion system.
But the big news is the debut of the Royal Princess on the West Coast as the cruise line’s largest ship ever to sail to Mexico, which is a major vote of confidence in the Mexican Riviera market, and comes on the heels of a similar move by sister company Holland America Line.
There are also two new seven-day Pacific Coast itineraries featuring seven-day roundtrip departures from Seattle along the California Coast and seven-day roundtrip cruise from San Francisco to British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
In addition, Princess said it was the largest offering of five-day Cabo San Lucas Getaways with nine, all including overnight stays.
The Caribbean program has meanwhile been expanded to include both Saturday and Sunday departures; also new are more Alaska sailings roundtrip from Los Angeles.
“Our 2018-19 Americas season brings local cultures and iconic destinations to our guests with award-winning itinerary options from six homeports in the United States,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “And, once on board, they can relax and unwind and let our warm and welcoming crew ensure they have an incredible cruise vacation and ‘come back new.’”
There are five ships sailing four unique itineraries on over 35 departures to five destinations on five-, seven-, or 10-day voyages from Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to Princess.
The Royal Princess debuts sailing from Los Angeles as the largest Princess ship to sail to the Mexican Riviera on a series of seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises. The voyages are available as seven-day cruises from Los Angeles visiting the ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas, or as 10-day voyages from San Francisco with the added port of Manzanillo.
The 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez cruise returns on Star Princess, sailing from Los Angeles to the ports of La Paz, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta with an overnight stay in Cabo San Lucas.
On the West Coast, the season offers eight ships, sailing 12 unique itineraries on over 25 departures to more than 10 destinations on voyages of one to 10 days from Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C. and San Francisco.
Also, the Royal Princess will sail for the first time along the California Coast from Los Angeles to Vancouver, B.C. on a seven-day Pacific California Coast visiting San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco. The ship will most likely be in Alaska for the 2019 summer season.
The Ruby Princess sails a brand new seven-day Northern California Coast voyage sailing roundtrip from Seattle with stops in Monterey, Astoria, and late evening stays in San Francisco and Victoria, B.C.
Also new for 2018 is a seven-day Pacific Northwest Coast cruise on Grand Princess sailing roundtrip from San Francisco visiting Astoria, Vancouver, B.C. , Victoria, B.C. and a late evening stay in Seattle.
In the Caribbean for winter 2018-2019 will be five ships sailing 12 unique itineraries on over 120 departures to more than 35 destinations on voyages of seven to 20 days from Ft. Lauderdale and New York.
The Caribbean Princess sails 14-day Circle Caribbean voyages cruising roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, including visits to Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad, Aruba, Curacao, Antigua, St. Thomas, Amber Cove and St. Kitts. Guests can choose a special sailing spanning both Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Small ship Pacific Princess sails a holiday 14-day “Caribbean Connoisseur” voyage, visiting islands not typically included on other Caribbean itineraries, including St. Barthelemy, Iles Des Saintes (maiden call), Grenadines, Tobago, and Virgin Gorda.
The Crown Princess returns to 10-day alternating Eastern and Western service, which can be combined for a 20-day cruise.
Seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyages will be offered on Regal Princess, Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess with the choice of Saturday and Sunday departures.
The Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess will also offer a new seven-day Caribbean Explorer itinerary on select dates visiting San Juan, Amber Cove, Grand Turk and a stop at Princess Cays, according to a statement from Princess.
The Regal Princess, Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess will all offer seven-day Western Caribbean voyages departing on Saturday or Sunday. They will all be visiting Grand Cayman and Cozumel, with two itinerary options including Roatan and Belize City or Jamaica (Falmouth) and Princess Cays.
There are also longer sailings through the Panama Canal and from the West Coast to Hawaii.
The Emerald Princess and Star Princess will sail on two 28-day departures to Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa in fall and spring roundtrip from Los Angeles.
Returning due to popular demand, according to Princess, the Ruby Princess and Star Princess will sail on 12-day Inside Passage Alaska sailings roundtrip from Los Angeles in April 2019. Port calls include Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. with scenic cruising of Glacier Bay National Park.
