Princess Cruises have just announced that 2018 will bring its biggest ever season of cruises departing from the UK.
For the very first time, the line will offer guests over one million cruise nights on sailings to northern and southern Europe, a significant increase on recent years.
The announcement forms part of Princess Cruises’ 2018 programme: the itineraries include Europe, Alaska, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Canada and New England.
Guests will be pleased to know that the announcement will bring exciting, and some never-before-seen, highlights.
Tony Roberts, vice president of Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said: “Having seen a significant increase in popularity of Princess cruises from the UK, we are thrilled to announce that our 2018 programme will be our biggest ever season. With over 40 sailings, there are more holiday options than ever before from the UK. And with just a 5% deposit, guests can secure a seven night cruise for under £40.’
The 2,700-guest vessel, Sapphire Princess, will make her maiden visit to Europe and will be offering a longer season of cruises from Southampton. This will include 16 departures with sailings ranging from three to fourteen nights.
She will also sail from Singapore to Southampton in 2018 on an Indian Ocean & Europe Grand Adventures 38-night voyage. Ports of call will include Colombo, Cochin and Dubai. After six months of sailing her Europe roundtrip from Southampton she will return to Singapore, also providing two opportunities for guests to sail the unique 38-night itineraries.
Royal Princess will be returning to the UK and the 3,560-guest ship will sail the British Isles roundtrip from Southampton in 2018, marking five years since she was launched by HRH, the Duchess of Cambridge. There will be late departures from Belfast on every sailing and overnight stays in Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow on select voyages, exclusively new to the programme.
Pacific Princess will sail a roundtrip from Dover to northern and southern Europe, including a new 12-night European capitals cruise with an overnight stay in Amsterdam.
From April – October, Crown Princess will offer Mediterranean cruises from Rome, Athens and Barcelona. Regal Princess will sail roundtrip from Copenhagen to Scandinavia and the Baltic from April – September. Regal Princess will sail the same itinerary that was featured in ITV’s documentary ‘The Cruise’ which was broadcasted earlier this year.
There will be 36 voyages in Europe over the school holiday period, including five on Sapphire Princess. There will also be 12 Caribbean voyages during the holidays, as summer Caribbean cruises return for the first time since 2014.
Princess will offer 47 itineraries around the Caribbean and Panama Canal ranging from seven to 20-nights. The season will be from April – October, sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale on Caribbean Princess.
In addition, Princess will offer its largest ever Alaska deployment with seven ships sailing in the region, increasing the number of guests by more than 15%.
Princess’ Vice President continues: “We are very excited to welcome Sapphire Princess, which has never sailed in Europe before and boasts unique features that we are confident our UK guests will enjoy. And the return of Royal Princess will be a special moment as 2018 will mark five years since she was launched in Southampton by HRH, the Duchess of Cambridge.”
The programme will go on sale on Thursday December 1 at 4pm with a reduced deposit of 5% available until February 28, 2017.
So, that is your cruise news for today! What are your thoughts? Are you excited for Princess’ biggest season of sailings in the UK to date? Which in the fleet have you sailed with before? Leave us your comments and thoughts!
