Latest news with #PrincessCruises
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Five essential things to know before you board a Princess Cruises ship
Founded in 1965 and later acquired by British-owned P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises was swallowed up by US giant Carnival Corporation in 2003. Eschewing the swagger of other American lines, Princess wears its heritage in a more refined way, while rolling out inventive concepts that have helped change the face of the cruise industry. Princess led the way in incorporating more private balconies on ships (its fleet still has one of the highest percentages of balcony cabins) and was the first to bring al fresco movie screens on board, with its Movies Under the Stars programme. Other innovations include the exclusive, adult-only Sanctuary deck space, a concept later adopted by rivals, and a wearable device called Ocean Medallion that lets passengers order food and drinks from around the ship and acts as a cabin door key. The California-based line has built up a solid reputation for offering a premium, 'classic cruising' ambience. Its ships are known for popular features such as the central atrium hub, the Piazza, and eateries including Sabatini's Italian trattoria and Crown Grill steakhouse. These are complemented by a signature chef's table and balcony dining experiences. Underpinning all of this is Princess's Love Boat legacy. The line became a household name in the 1970s when its ships Pacific Princess and Island Princess took viewers to exotic destinations for the popular American TV series. Set on Pacific Princess, the show is credited with bringing cruising to a new audience, and Princess still references its Love Boat connections today. 1. Where does Princess Cruises sail? The line's 16-strong fleet covers the world, with sailings to all seven continents and port calls at more than 330 destinations. The Mediterranean and the Caribbean (private resort Princess Cays is located in the Bahamas) are strongholds in summer and winter, respectively, although Princess is also known for imaginative itineraries, particularly to Japan and Australia (where it bases ships), the Panama Canal and Hawaii. Alaska is another region that it dominates, claiming to take more guests to the region than anyone else. Sailings to Alaska can also be combined with stays at the five wilderness lodges it owns. These 'cruise tours', combining cruises and land tours, are also offered in Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand and Japan. Sailings vary from two-night mini-breaks to grand voyages and world cruises. Princess also bases ships in Southampton – three will be home-ported there in summer 2025. It also offers a handful of departures from Dover. 2. Who does Princess Cruises appeal to? Princess's elegant ships, high-end ambience and varied itineraries appeal to well-travelled couples in an older age range (the average is 59.4) than you would find on livelier lines like Royal Caribbean International or Carnival Cruise Line. Families are catered for with nurseries that take babies aged from six months to teen hangouts that cater for youngsters up to 17. While Princess ships lack the watersides and rides of other family-focused lines, Caribbean Princess has an interactive children's splash zone. Family-friendly accommodation, shore excursions and entertainment also make the line popular with multi-generational groups. Princess was the first line to offer weddings at sea and offers three wedding packages as either legal or symbolic ceremonies. It's worth noting the relatively steep gratuities that will be added to the final bill. 3. Princess Cruises' fleet There are 16 ships in the Princess fleet, though its ranks will be swelled by the arrival of the second Sphere-class ship Star Princess in September. Other ships are grouped as Royal, Grand and Coral. Sphere class Star Princess (4,300 passengers), Sun Princess (4,300 passengers) The newest and ground-breaking ship class for Princess feels more spacious and has a livelier vibe. When Sun Princess launched in spring 2024, it was hailed as the largest and most innovative Princess ship yet, with many new features. The enlarged Piazza is housed in a glass sphere, the main theatre has been replaced by smaller performance venues, including the Princess Arena and The Dome, and there is a themed magic experience called Spellbound by Magic Castle. Favourite restaurants have been joined by new additions, including the romantic Love by Britto, offering a romance-inspired fixed-priced menu. The Sanctuary private deck area has been expanded to The Sanctuary Collection offering a private sun deck with pool and a dedicated restaurant and lounge. Sails to: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal Royal class Discovery Princess (3,660 passengers), Enchanted Princess (3,660 passengers), Sky Princess (3,660 passengers), Majestic Princess (3,560 passengers), Regal Princess (3,560 passengers), Royal Princess (3,560 passengers) These ships have more space than their predecessors, with a larger atrium, a glass-bottomed walkway on the top deck called the SeaWalk, extending over the edge of the ship, private poolside cabanas and a live TV entertainment studio, Princess Live! Dining options include Chef's Table Lumiere – a custom-made table surrounded by a shimmering curtain that encloses diners in a curtain of light. All outside staterooms on these ships also have balconies. Sails to: Alaska, Asia, Australasia, the Pacific coast, Caribbean, US Eastern Seaboard, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Europe, Canary Islands, British Isles, Hawaii, Pacific coast, Australasia Grand class Emerald Princess (3,090 passengers), Ruby Princess (3,080 passengers), Crown Princess (3,090 passengers), Caribbean Princess (3,140 passengers), Diamond Princess (2,710 passengers), Sapphire Princess (2,680 passengers), Grand Princess (2,610 passengers) These popular ships encapsulate many of the activities and facilities for which Princess is known, while offering a more intimate ambience. The heart of the ship is the atrium and piazza, which is a gathering point for drinks, coffee and live performances. Entertainment is spread across the main theatre and lounges and the line's most popular restaurants are on board. Diamond Princess has features which appeal to the Japanese market, as the ship is largely based there, while Caribbean Princess has a family pool deck. Sails to: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Panama Canal, West Coast US, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Alaska, Pacific Coast, Hawaii, Australasia, World Cruise, Asia, Caribbean, South America, Antarctica, Europe, US Eastern Seaboard, Australasia Coral class Coral Princess (2,000 passengers), Island Princess (2,210 passengers) These are the smallest ships in the fleet. The trade-off is facilities – while there is a good line-up, it doesn't match those of larger, sister ships. Coral Princess and Island Princess generally offer more destination-rich itineraries, along with world cruises and long voyages. Sails to: Pacific Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Australasia, Asia (Coral); Panama Canal, the Caribbean, US Eastern Seaboard, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, Alaska, Mediterranean 4. Loyalty scheme Princess's Captain's Circle programme has four tiers, starting with Gold for one sailing, and progressing to Ruby, Platinum and Elite – the highest level reached after 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. Benefits range from early access to new itineraries and members-only events, to discounts on shore excursions and at on-board shops, and priority disembarkation. 5. Access for guests with disabilities Ships have accessible staterooms and public areas. Braille and tactile signage is available on all ships and hearing telecommunications with advance notice. Service animals are welcome. For more details, see or call 0344 338 8663.
Times
6 days ago
- Times
Win a seven-day Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruises worth £4,200
Explore sun-drenched Italy, Turkey and Greece with this prize of a seven-day Mediterranean cruise for two with Princess Cruises. Your ship will be the Sun Princess, the latest addition to the fleet. It arrived in 2024 and is bigger, glossier and more modern than any other Princess Cruises ship, decked out with a swish two-storey dining room, a two-storey spa with a thermal suite, plenty of outdoor pools and a theatre where you can catch a different show every night. You'll board the ship in Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome, before sailing to Naples, the gorgeous Greek islands of Crete and Mykonos, and the Turkish beach resort town Kusadasi. As you'll be staying in a balcony stateroom, you'll have plenty of opportunities to take in the view en route as well as when you get off the ship to explore. The journey finishes in Piraeus, the port of Athens. Included in the prize are economy flights from the UK and transfers in destination up to the value of £400 per person, all meals in the main restaurant (there's an extra fee for speciality dining), entertainment, drinks, wi-fi package and gratuities. The sailing date is May 2, 2026. For more information, click here. For your chance to win, simply vote in each category in this year's Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. There are 17 categories in total. Click here to vote. For the full list of prizes, see closes at 23.59pm on August 31, 2025. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Winner and guest responsible for getting to and from UK airport at their own expense. Subject to availability, Prize is only applicable to the single departure date provided (May 2, 2026). Prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. Winner and his/her guest(s) must travel on same itinerary. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with same booking. The Prize does not include travel insurance (adequate insurance is a condition of travel), parking, pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, shore excursions, spa treatments, personal expenses, casino, or additional gratuities. The Winner and their guest must have a full valid passport (with validity for six months or more beyond the date of travel) to take the trip. The Winner of the cruise will be bound by Princess Cruises' booking terms and conditions and policies (visit Princess Cruises reserves the right to substitute a Prize of equal or greater value and reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend or amend the promotion or withdraw the Prize where it becomes necessary to do so, including but not limited to where the cruise is cancelled for reasons outside of Princess Cruises' reasonable control. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Prize is subject to global travel restrictions. Princess Cruises will use the personal data you provide for the purpose of administering this competition and to facilitate redemption of Prize. Personal data will be processed in accordance with Princess Cruises' privacy notice at Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd. Full T&Cs apply — see
Courier-Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Three Aussies a day celebrate their wedding aboard Princess Cruises' Love Boat
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. It is a love story for the ages, and it all began on The Love Boat. When Princess Cruises events and guest services supervisor Louie Engelbrecht looks back on all the weddings he has organised, which averaged around three a day on Royal Princess during the last Australian summer season, one truly stands out. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'My most unforgettable wedding was for a couple in their 70s. They had met aboard the original Love Boat many years ago and then by chance met again on another Princess ship,' Engelbrecht says. Cue the theme song from the popular 1980s TV show where special guest stars from Andy Warhol to Betty White found romance on the high seas under the navigation of Captain Merrill Stubing. 'This couple had never forgotten each other so their meeting by chance was very special, (then) they were engaged aboard Royal Princess during her 2023-24 summer season and then decided to marry on Royal Princess last summer season 2024-25.' Engelbrecht says that wedding day was pure magic, a ceremony filled with romance. 'When she walked down the aisle, the groom's eyes sparkled with a love so genuine, as if it was the very first moment they saw each other more than 50 years ago. There were no dry eyes in the house,' he says. The Princess team organise it all, from sunset ceremonies to parties. Picture: Supplied. Forget expensive wedding venues and catering, a wedding at sea could be the perfect way to tie the knot. And it's a destination wedding with a difference – all the guests celebrate with you on your honeymoon. Engelbrecht says the Princess team organise it all, from sunset ceremonies to parties. And unlike land weddings when venues sometimes need to be secured years ahead, there is no such planning needed at sea. 'I would recommend planning your wedding with Princess at least two months in advance,' says Engelbrecht. 'The process begins simply by filling out a form online with your preferences for flowers, cake, music, and vows and upon boarding, you will be greeted by your dedicated wedding co-ordinator, who will guide you through every step of your planned event.' Around three couples a day got married on Royal Princess during the last Australian summer season. Princess Perfect Weddings offer legal or symbolic ceremonies on sea days, officiated by the captain. Planning for a wedding on-board is done via a wedding portal, allowing guests to hold a date while customising, and there are bespoke packages available. For example, the Timeless Ceremony at Sea for a couple plus eight guests includes the ceremony, flowers, a cake, chocolate-covered strawberries, a toast, photography including a digital USB and prints, a romantic breakfast, premium stateroom gifts, and a certificate. The price? From $US3995. Engelbrecht says vow-renewal ceremonies are also popular. 'One highlight over the recent summer season in Sydney was our Valentine's Day mass vow renewal on the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Australia where several couples renewed their vows with the captain and our crew,' he says. 'It was very special for all involved –we are the Love Boat, after all.' Originally published as A cruise ship is the ultimate destination wedding
Travel Weekly
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
The Star Princess will set sail with new theatrical performances
Princess Cruises revealed the entertainment lineup for the upcoming Star Princess, and it includes two new original theater performances. Photo Credit: Princess Cruises "Meridian" will capture scenes aboard a ship with "glittering masked balls" and "roaring engine rooms" and include both an original score and familiar hits. Princess described the story as one in which "the luminous collision of high society and hidden truths bring noblewoman Arabella Dovewood's windswept destiny to life." The other new theatrical show will be "Illuminate: A Spectacle of Joy," showcasing circus performances and a pop score. It will be an immersive show, Princess said. "Viva La Música," a current Princess show featuring Latin music, will also be onboard Star Princess. All three theatrical shows will be in the Princess Arena. The ship will feature more new entertainment in The Dome and the Piazza. The Piazza, the ship's atrium, will host Celestial Champagne Soirée, a new multimedia experience preceding the Princess tradition of a champagne waterfall. It will also have Princess Jamz, a 45-minute performance by the Princess World Orchestra. The glass-enclosed Dome at the top of the ship will be the spot to catch a new candlelight concert series, featuring classical music "reimagined for a new generation," according to the cruise line. The Star Princess follows the Sun Princess as the second ship in the cruise line's Sphere class. It will debut in the Mediterranean with an 11-day roundtrip cruise from Barcelona departing Oct. 4. Its first U.S. voyage will depart Nov. 7 from Fort Lauderdale. The line has yet to name a godmother for the Star Princess.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Telegraph
The world's best cruise lines, according to you
Around 20,000 readers voted in the 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards, nominating their favourite destinations, hotels and holiday companies – and the results are in. Here we reveal your top cruise lines. Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line Princess Cunard Celebrity They may be divisive, but mega ships packed with more restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues than you can shake a stick at are definitely here to stay. Most of the major, mainstream cruise lines have launched (or else are gearing up to launch) enormous vessels, capable of carrying well in excess of 2,000 passengers, that are more akin to floating resorts than traditional cruise liners. And your top three in this category are no exception. Winner Princess Cruises, which is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary, unveiled the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess – the largest in its fleet and the first of its all-new Sphere class – last year. A sister ship, Star Princess, is set to follow in autumn 2025. Meanwhile Cunard is fresh off the back of launching the £479m, 2,996 - passenger Queen Anne, the line's first new cruise ship in 14 years (and its largest). While the new Queen has a contemporary feel, she clings to the quiet elegance that has long been a Cunard hallmark. In third place is Celebrity Cruises, whose sleek and chic interiors are the brainchild of British interior designer to the stars, Kelly Hoppen. Celebrity Xcel, the fifth and final ship in the line's Edge-class series, is slated to commence sailing in November 2025. Like her sisters, she'll will feature a Magic Carpet (a tennis-court-sized, cantilevered platform that moves up and down the side of the ship); Infinite Veranda staterooms with outward-facing walls made entirely of glass; and Eden, an enchanting, rooftop garden. Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line Hurtigruten Seabourn Noble Caledonia Cruising doesn't have to mean gigantic behemoths with thousands of passengers. There are plenty of cruise lines who are cognisant of the fact that bigger doesn't always mean better – and consequently offer adventures on smaller ships with a much more intimate atmosphere. Small ocean ships, which also encompass expedition vessels, typically carry a few hundred passengers and can access tiny and off-the-beaten-path ports that their larger competitors simply can't squeeze into. They lack the bells and whistles of the big ships – think casinos and round-the-clock entertainment – but it's the calmness and connection to the ocean that are a large part of the appeal. Little wonder then that Hurtigruten – whose ships have been a hallmark of the Norwegian coast since 1893 and enable guests to live more like locals than tourists – jumped two places to claim the top spot. Runner up, for the second consecutive awards, is Seabourn – another small-ship line that's always looking to redefine the cruise experience, be it through hotel-style design; complimentary VIP events such as Caviar in the Surf; or exciting excursions encompassing a range of themes including cultural, epicurean, bespoke and adventure. Noble Caledonia, which scooped third place, is similarly big on educational cruising – not just in terms of the guest lecturers invited on board, but also the places its ships sail. Best Boutique Ocean Cruise Line Viking Cruises HX Saga While new mega ships – with ever-more ambitious attractions – may hog the headlines, that's not the whole picture. The boutique cruise sector is also booming as demand for personalised, authentic travel experiences continues to grow. Much like boutique hotels, boutique cruise lines offer passengers a more personal and unique experience through design-led interiors, exceptional service, quirky itineraries, sustainability credentials, and strong connection to the destinations they visit. Viking, which has been crowned the winner for the second awards running, is a case in point. The Norwegian-owned cruise line's 14 near-identical, adult-only ships carry 930 passengers and personify Scandi chic: expect light-filled public spaces featuring Swedish granite, birch and juniper furniture, pelt-draped sofas, and flame-effect firepits and spacious cabins – every one of which has a private veranda. In second place is HX – the new name for Hurtigruten Expeditions. The line made maritime history when it launched MS Roald Amundsen, the world's first hybrid battery-supported cruise ship, in 2019. A second, battery-powered ship, Fridtjof Nansen, debuted in 2021 and HX is currently converting the rest of its fleet to hybrid power with the aim of reducing emissions by 20 per cent. Elsewhere Saga has reinvented itself in recent years with new vessels Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure – launched in 2019 and 2021, respectively – offering a curated collection of cool British art, and a dining and entertainment venue by Jools Holland. Best River Cruise Line Oberoi Luxury Nile Cruisers Uniworld Viking River Cruises A cruise holiday isn't always about taking to the high seas. River cruises offer smaller ships, more regular (and relaxed) stops and the chance to enjoy the ever-changing scenery along the banks of the waterways as you glide past. While Europe, especially the Rhine and Danube, ranks highly, there are plenty more rivers – from the mighty Mekong to the sacred Ganges and mythical Nile – to cruise. This year's winner, Oberoi Luxury Nile Cruisers, has two ships in operation – the Zahra and the Philae – and will launch two new luxury Nile dahabiyas (the Melouk and the Malekat), in the second half of 2025. Runner-up Uniworld is renowned for its individually-designed ships that have been kitted out with the finest furniture, fabrics, and artworks from the region it is sailing in. The SS São Gabriel, for example, which plies the Portuguese Douro, is adorned with attractive blue and white azulejos tiles. In third place is Viking which, while now also a major player in ocean and expedition cruising, is still synonymous with river cruising. The line, which has the largest river fleet in Europe as well as ships on the Mekong, the Nile and the Mississippi, isn't content to rest on its laurels: 10 more of its Viking Longships will join the river fleet by the end of 2026 and a new Mekong ship, Viking Tonle, launches in October 2025.
