What Happens When You Get A ‘TOP 10 CHEF IN THE WORLD’ Who Is A ‘MASTER CHEF OF FRANCE’ That SETS COURSE FOR AUSTRALIA

You Get The CHEFS OF MAJESTIC PRINCESS GAIN ACCOLADES AHEAD OF AUSTRALIAN ARRIVAL!

Princess Cruises’ Director of Guest Culinary Experience, Chef Pierre-Marie Leprince, has been honoured with the distinction of Master Chef of France by the prestigious culinary organisation, the Association of the Master Chefs of France (L ’Association des Maîtres Cuisiniers de France).

Also newly named to the association is three-Michelin-starred Chef Emmanuel Renaut, the culinary mastermind behind Majestic Princess’ La-Mer restaurant.

Recently awarded Top 10 Best Chef in the World for the third running by French magazine La Chef, as voted by two and three-starred Michelin chefs from around the world, Renaut developed specialty French restaurant La Mer in partnership with Leprince exclusively for Princess’ newest ship, Majestic Princess.

“The prestige and expertise of Chef Leprince and Chef Renaut takes the dining experience at sea to a whole new level.” said Stuart Allison, Senior Vice President Princess Cruises Asia Pacific.

“For a $39 cover charge and without the month-long wait that synonymous with this calibre of cuisine, Australian and New Zealand guests will be among the first to experience La Mer when Majestic Princess arrives for her maiden Australian season in September this year.”

The Biggest, newest and most luxurious ship in the Princess fleet, Majestic Princess will be the largest ever Princess ship to homeport in Australian waters when she arrives in Sydney on Saturday, 15 September 2018.

During her inaugural Australian season, Majestic will sail on 16 cruises to destinations including Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong.

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises And www.australiancruisingnews.com.au The HOME Of Australian Cruising!

Photos supplied by: Princess Cruises.

Whilst it is only 86 days to go until Majestic Princess calls Australia home, today she sailed into Keelung Taipei where she was joined by another Princess ship, Diamond Princess. Both ships were expertly captured by Princess Cruises' local port agent in Taiwan, Vicky Tsai.

Majestic Princess is currently sailing on roundtrip  itineraries from Taiwan and Diamond Princess is currently sailing on roundtrip itineraries from Japan. Majestic Princess carries 3,500 guests and weighs in at 143,00 GRT the ship will become the largest Princess ship to homeport in Sydney, Australia. Majestic Princess is due to arrive in Sydney on Saturday the 15th of September 2018 for the 2018/19 Australian cruising season.

“The anticipation and excitement for Majestic’s maiden season speaks to the momentous growth of our market. Incredibly, we have already announced her second season return before she’s arrived, to spearhead our largest Australian deployment in 2019, alongside Ruby Princess.”

During her inaugural Australian season, Majestic Princess will sail on 16 cruises to destinations including Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong. 

The ultimate in premium cruising, Majestic Princess features 13 dining options including two restaurants with menus designed by Michelin star chefs – Harmony by Chef Richard Chen and La Mer by Chef Emmanuel Renaut – as well as more than 1000 square meters of designer shopping, the cruise line’s largest ever thermal suite and a dramatic over-the-ocean glass walkway, the SeaWalk.

Guests can choose from a wide range of high-end accommodation including suites, Club Class mini-suites, and new deluxe balcony rooms, with more than 80 per cent of the ship's 1780 staterooms offering private balconies.

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises And www.australiancruisingnews.com.au The HOME Of Australian Cruising!

Photo supplied by: Princess Cruises.

The 2018 Alaska cruise season has launched for Princess Cruises with unique itineraries, cruise tour options, and new guest experiences.

Travelers looking to visit Alaska will be able to cruise in style on one of the seven Princess ships sailing the region this summer, including the enhanced Golden Princess, which features newly designed restaurant space, the Camp Discovery youth and teen center and an improved Movies Under the Stars screen.

Passengers on Princess Cruises sailings will also be treated to unique Alaska experiences, such as the Cook My Catch culinary program and the chance to interact with sled dog puppies onboard.

For travelers heading to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge as part of a Princess cruisetour, they will be able to get a first look at the lodge's newest addition, a wilderness treehouse built by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet's hit show Treehouse Masters.

“This year, our guests will be delighted by the newly designed guest experiences highlighting the history of Alaska and its people that adds a unique layer to an already unbelievable cruise vacation,” Princess Cruises vice president Lisa Syme said in a statement.

In Kenai, Princess will bring passengers to its new dining venue at Princess Wilderness Lodge, Rod & Reel. Travelers will also be able to enjoy rides on the newly updated Princess-owned rail cars operating on the Alaska railroad.

The official website of Princess offered details of the 2018 Princess sailings:

Alaska Cruises

With 130 departures from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C. and Whittier featuring unique ports, there are options abound for exploring Alaska in 2018 aboard Princess ships, including:

—Voyage of the Glaciers – the most popular Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier) offered by Princess Cruises features two glacier-viewing experiences on every voyage, with visits to the UNESCO-listed Glacier Bay National Park plus either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. These cruises are offered aboard Island Princess, Coral Princess, Star Princess and Golden Princess.

—Inside Passage –This awe-inspiring part of Alaska, known for its lush scenery and pristine fjords, will be featured on seven-, 10- and 12-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle, San Francisco and for the first time ever, Los Angeles. Ruby and Emerald Princess sail on seven-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle with all Ruby Princess cruises featuring a visit to Glacier Bay National Park. Grand Princess sails out of San Francisco, featuring five departures visiting Glacier Bay. Two 12-day cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles aboard Emerald Princess and Golden Princess will also include Glacier Bay.

Alaska Cruisetours

In addition, cruisetours offer a more immersive experience and the opportunity to visit Denali National Park. Land tours are combined with a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and include the company's premier wilderness lodges, exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service, plus visits to the top two attractions in Alaska – Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park.

Princess offers guests more than 22 cruisetour options in 2018, most featuring multiple nights at Princess-owned and operated wilderness lodges to experience the grandeur of Denali. Guests will once again be able to purchase a pre-paid meal package for the land portion of their vacation in 2018. Options include:

—Denali Explorer – The line's most popular cruisetour option, these itineraries feature multiple nights at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Most offer Princess exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area all in one day, plus the opportunity to explore Fairbanks and/or Anchorage.

—On Your Own – An affordable option for independent-minded travelers, these itineraries offer a flexible way to see the heart of Alaska. Tours follow similar routes as Denali Explorer options, but do not include any pre-planned excursions, giving travelers the opportunity to customize their own experience.

—Off the Beaten Path – These itineraries are designed to take travelers beyond Denali to sought-after, remote regions of the state such as the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

—Connoisseur – The line's highest level of service, these cruisetours provide a truly immersive experience. With a professional tour director, most meals included on land and enhanced sightseeing, guests experience the best of the Great Land.

By Donald Wood, Travel Pulse
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Princess Cruises has unveiled details about its 2020 World Cruise aboard Pacific Princess. The 670-guest vessel will call on 42 destinations on five continents during the cruise.

The 111-day roundtrip voyage departs Ft. Lauderdale on January 5, 2020. A 96-day version of the trip will sail from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. It departs on January 20, 2020. Several shorter segments are available, as well.

"We've been offering World Cruises since 1998 and our team of destination experts knows how to create the best worldwide itineraries like no other in the cruise industry," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Our Captain, officers and crew regularly hear from guests the impact the World Cruise has on them, as they share their appreciation for taking them to places they never in a million years thought they would experience."

The 2020 World Cruise will visit 26 countries, crossing the equator four times. The itinerary features 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the first visit to Stone Town in Zanzibar. The cruise will also make maiden World Cruise calls to Kaikoura, New Zealand; Praslin, Seychelles Islands; Mayotte Island, (French protectorate); Zanzibar, Tanzania and Melbourne, Australia.

The 2020 World Cruise will feature late-night stays in several ports, including Melbourne, Tahiti, Phuket and an overnight in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bookings for the 2020 World Cruise open April 25, 2018. Early booking credits and past passenger savings are available.

Princess Cruises continues its multi-year "Come Back New Promise." The $450 million-dollar initiative is enhancing the onboard experience on several fronts. Among them: new culinary, entertainment and family activity partnerships, as well as upgrades to room amenities.

The line currently has three new Royal-class ships on order. The next newbuild slated to join the Princess Cruises fleet is Sky Princess. She’ll debut in October 2019.

By Ana Figueroa, TravelPulse
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Spice up your life this spring on a West Coast culinary cruise with Princess Cruises that will feature Bill Esparza, James Beard award winner and food journalist.

The four-day voyage, which will depart Los Angeles on March 22, will also include chefs Sabina Bandera and Carlos Salgado, recently nominated for best chef in the West with the James Beard Foundation Awards.

Esparaza and the chefs will work with the Princess culinary team to produce chef-led cooking demonstrations, tequila tastings and cocktail-making tutorials, custom shore excursions and Q&A sessions.

The Ruby Princess cruise will visit Santa Barbara and Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Los Angeles. Passengers will have an opportunity to taste special menus throughout the ship's restaurants and bars, and learn new cuisine skills from the guest chefs.

Esparza is a recent winner of a James Beard award for his coverage of the L.A. taco scene in Los Angeles magazine and is considered an expert on Mexican food. Esparza has traveled and tasted cuisine throughout Mexico, Latin America and Southern California.

Salgado is the chef-owner of Taco Maria in Costa Mesa, one of Orange County's most critically acclaimed restaurants. He was named best new chef by Food & Wine in 2015.

In Ensenada, Mexico, Bandera is known as the Queen of the Cart, La Guerrerense. Her food cart and tostadas de mariscos (seafood tacos) have been praised by food guru Anthony Bourdain, among others.

Cruise prices start at $509 per person, double occupancy, for an inside room; ocean-view rooms start at $604 per person, double occupancy. Balcony rooms and suites are sold out.

By Rosemary McClure, LA Times
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Princess Cruises has unveiled a new stateroom category today with its Club Class Mini-Suite option that will roll out across the fleet beginning in December 2016 as part of the lines Come Back New Promise enhancement program.

The new category takes existing mini-suites spacious cabins with a separate bedroom and living area and tacks on bonus amenity, service and dining perks. Highlights include access to a reserved Club Class Dining area in the restaurant with expedited seating and an expanded menu and priority embarkation and disembarkation, as well as the new Princess Luxury Bed.

Club Class Mini-Suites provide Princess guests yet another elevated product enhancement to enjoy during their cruise vacation, said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. The VIP perks, including the new Club Class Dining, offers a premium and memorable onboard experience so our guests can completely relax, unwind and immerse themselves in worldwide destinations and ultimately come back new.

Already included with mini-suites are up to 323 square feet of space with a balcony, a separate seating area with a sofa bed and coffee table, a bathroom with a tub and shower combo and a welcome glass of champagne.

Club Class Mini-Suite added perks are outlined as follows:

Club Class Dining

Dedicated section of the Main Dining Room complete with expedited seating

Dedicated wait staff and distinct table decor

Exclusive menu items with a daily chefs special plus table-side preparations

Available every day for dinner and for sea day breakfasts and lunches

Upgraded Amenities & Services

The Princess Luxury Bed developed by board certified sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus and HGTV designer Candice Olson

Priority check-in and embarkation at the start of the voyage and priority disembarkation at the end

One-time free wine preparation on embarkation day (half bottle of red and white)

Evening canapes (upon request)

Terry shawl bathrobes

On the bulk of Princess ships, save for the newest Royal-class ships, the mini-suite is the first category to accommodate a third guest in the room, and now these extra features add more value to the configuration. The benefits will also extend to guests booked in full suite categories above and beyond those perks already included therein.

The new Club Class Mini-Suite is set to debut on the Ruby Princess on December 10, 2016 and the Emerald Princess on December 12, 2016, and the rest of the fleet will follow through October 2, 2017 with the Golden Princess scheduled to receive it last.

Article Courtesy of Jason Leppert/Travel Pulse and Seven Sea Journeys/News

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Featured photo credit: Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises announced today its 2017 cruise vacations to Europe, including the inaugural sailings of the line’s newest ship Majestic Princess.

The season features six ships sailing to 119 destinations from the corners of the Mediterranean to the northernmost tip of Europe.

Guests can choose from 64 unique itineraries on 153 cruise departures, visiting 27 countries. Debuting in April 2017, Majestic Princess first sets sail on maiden European sailings with five- to 28-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Athens and Rome.

“Princess is known for offering the best cruise itineraries around the globe and our 2017 Europe season is sure to inspire our guests with our newest and largest ships in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We’re especially excited to debut Majestic Princess in the Mediterranean before she officially sails to Asia for her maiden China cruise season.”

Princess now offers the More Ashore program, crafting the line’s newest itineraries to give guests more opportunities to experience the color, culture and flavors of the region in 2017. With port calls offering more time ashore with either late night departures (9pm or later), an overnight, or a two-day experience, travelers can see the sights during the day and then experience the nightlife of select destinations in the evening.

All 2017 Europe sailings open for bookings on Thursday, December 3, 2015.

Highlights of the Princess Cruises 2017 Europe program include:

Majestic Princess

The newest cruise ship to join the Princess fleet debuts in Rome (Civitavecchia) on April 4, 2017 for a five-day Maiden Adriatic Sea roundtrip voyage visiting Kotor and Corfu. The 3,560-guest Majestic Princess then sails on a series of seven-, 14-, 21- and 28-day Mediterranean voyages departing Barcelona, Athens and Rome from April 9-May 14, 2017.

Cruises to the Mediterranean

In addition to Majestic Princess, Royal Princess features new 11-day Grand Mediterranean and 10-day Western Mediterranean combinable for a 21-day Grand Mediterranean Collection, as well as seven, 14-, 21- and 28-day sailings throughout the Mediterranean

Scandinavia & Russia Cruises

Regal Princess returns to Northern Europe, along with Crown Princess and Pacific Princess for popular cruise vacations to Scandinavia & Russia, offering an overnight in St. Petersburg with departures from London (Southampton or Dover) or Copenhagen. A new Pacific Princess Baltic Heritage itinerary includes overnights in Stockholm and St. Petersburg, sailing from London (Dover).

British Isles Cruises

The 2017 Europe season marks the line’s largest British Isles season ever with 12 departures on Caribbean Princess and two on Pacific Princess, including last night stays in Edinburgh offering the opportunity to visit the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo on select sailings. All 12-day British Isles cruises include a new late evening stay in Belfast and an option of an overnight in Dublin on select departures from London (Southampton).

New Ports of Call

Summer 2017 features maiden port calls to Haugesund (Norway), Oban (Scotland), Siracusa (Sicily, Italy), Ulvik (Norway), and St. Tropez (France).

Iceland & Norway Cruises

Both Crown Princess and Pacific Princess will offer North Cape voyages to the Arctic Circle during the peak midnight sun period around the summer solstice. Crown Princess will also visit the spectacular Norwegian fjords, while Pacific Princess will feature a maiden call in Haugesund, Norway.

Pacific Princess will also offer 14-day Iceland & Norway itineraries visiting off-the-beaten path ports in Iceland and the Shetland Islands. She will also cross to the land of fire and ice on a Transatlantic passage featuring Iceland.

European Land & Sea Vacations

Guests can enhance their European travel with five unique Land & Sea Vacation options, which combine certain sailings with a fully-escorted land tour. Choices include Paris and the French Countryside; Ireland’s Ring of Kerry; Classic Italy, visiting popular sites in Venice, Florence and Rome; Imperial Treasures of Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin; and Swiss Splendors featuring the mountain beauty of Interlaken and Lucrene, as well as a scenic boat trip on Lake Como.

Source: (Cruise Industry News, Nov. 23, 2015 "Princess Announces 2017 Inaugural European Sailings of Majestic Princess”)

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With a growing demand for fresh entertainment onboard ships, Princess Cruises went right to the top and partnered with a three-time Oscar winner to develop new shows.

The partner? None other than Stephen Schwartz, composer of “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell,” and winner of three Academy Awards. Under the multi-year agreement, Schwartz will develop four new musicals over the next several years.

During his 40-year career, Schwartz has won four Grammys and three Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Score for “Pocahontas” and Best Song for “The Prince of Egypt.” He’s been nominated for six Tony Awards. He is the only songwriter in Broadway history to ever have three shows run more than 1,900 performances.

His first musical for the cruise line is “Magic to Do,” which combines magic with some of Schwartz’s famous songs and a new song written exclusively for Princess. The show will debut aboard Crown Princess this fall.

“I’m excited about the possibility of using the enormous resources available with Princess to create new and innovative theatrical entertainment,” Princess President Jan Swartz said. “Their onboard theaters are Broadway-caliber venues with state-of-the-art technical capability, and coupled with their access to first-rate performers, I see it as an extraordinary and almost irresistible opportunity.”

Schwartz will bring together Broadway talent to help design the productions. The “Magic to Do” team includes Don Frantz, associate producer of “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway; Gabriel Barre, director of the national tour of “Pippin” and the current Broadway-bound musical, “Amazing Grace”; Jeremy Railton, four-time Emmy winner who has worked on the 2002 Winter Olympics ceremonies and the Academy Awards; Ken Billington, Tony-winning lighting designer; Mark Hartman, music director of “Sondheim on Sondheim,” “Avenue Q” and the national tour of “Pippin”; and Jennifer Paulson-Lee, a choreographer whose credits include “Enter Laughing, the Musical,” “A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “101 Dalmatians” and “Seussical.”

In addition, Jim Steinmeyer, who has worked with Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield, will create the magic experience in “Magic to Do.”

Source: Theresa Norton Masek (TravelPulse, "Princess Making Sweet Music with Oscar-Winning Composer, Stephen Schwartz")

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Princess Cruises is today celebrating the first birthday of Royal Princess, which was launched in Southampton, England during a spectacular christening by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

Guests currently sailing aboard Royal Princess will be treated to some special festivities marking the occasion including a "Royal Ball Birthday Party" in the ship's showpiece atrium with a birthday sing-a-long, balloon drop and celebratory cake.

During the past 12 months Royal Princess has traveled 120,000 miles and carried 150,000 guests. The ship has set sail on 44 cruises, and visited 39 ports in 20 countries throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean. This summer the ship is cruising through the waters of Scandinavia and Russia, and Iceland and British Isles before repositioning to New York for its first Canada and New England season this fall.

"Today, we look back with great pride as we celebrate the first birthday of Royal Princess," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "She's been a wonderful addition to our fleet and we're delighted that she's been so well received by our guests."

Called one of the "Most Popular Ships at Sea" by x, Royal Princess has already won five prestigious Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, and its innovative SeaWalk® is being hailed as one of the "Top Gee-Whiz Features at Sea" by USA TODAY.

Tony Draper, Captain of Royal Princess, said," I can hardly believe one year has passed since our fantastic inauguration and christening by HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge. The ship's company has worked diligently throughout to deliver great service on board, ensuring all our guests have had a memorable, relaxing and rejuvenating time on their cruise."

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess was the first of two new-generation ships for the line. Among the special features found on board is a dramatic multi-story atrium serving as the social hub of the ship offering a host of dining and entertainment options; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water; the Princess Live! television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef's Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.

Sister ship Regal Princess joined the fleet last month.

By Princess Cruises

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Scheduled to debut in May, the 141,000-ton vessel is a sister to the nine-month-old Royal Princess — the line's largest ship ever — and will boast similar features including a cantilevered, glass-enclosed walkway over the ocean called the SeaWalk.

Regal Princess also will have a deck-top water and light show; private, extra-charge outdoor cabanas; an outdoor batting cage for baseball fans; and a working television studio/performance venue that seats 280 people — all features that made their debut on the Royal Princess.

A major milestone in the construction of a cruise ship, sea trials involve days of maneuvers to test propulsion, steering and navigational equipment , and Princess says the Regal Princess passed with flying colors. It's now back at the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste, Italy, where it has been under construction for more than a year.

With sea trials completed, only final finishing work remains before the Regal Princess is delivered to Princess by the shipyard. With its addition, the line will have 18 ships at sea.

The Regal Princess will sail six- to 20-night Mediterranean sailings starting at $1,199 per person and seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailings starting at $699 per person.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Scheduled to debut in May, the 141,000-ton vessel is a sister to the nine-month-old Royal Princess — the line's largest ship ever — and will boast similar features including a cantilevered, glass-enclosed walkway over the ocean called the SeaWalk.

Regal Princess also will have a deck-top water and light show; private, extra-charge outdoor cabanas; an outdoor batting cage for baseball fans; and a working television studio/performance venue that seats 280 people — all features that made their debut on the Royal Princess.

A major milestone in the construction of a cruise ship, sea trials involve days of maneuvers to test propulsion, steering and navigational equipment , and Princess says the Regal Princess passed with flying colors. It's now back at the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste, Italy, where it has been under construction for more than a year.

With sea trials completed, only final finishing work remains before the Regal Princess is delivered to Princess by the shipyard. With its addition, the line will have 18 ships at sea.

The Regal Princess will sail six- to 20-night Mediterranean sailings starting at $1,199 per person and seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailings starting at $699 per person.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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KATE, Wills and baby George are dodging Victoria this time around - but Melbourne is expecting a Princess nevertheless.

Golden Princess, the biggest cruise ship ever to be based in Melbourne, is bound for the Victorian capital.

With Australia’s love affair with cruising holidays at an all-time high, Princess Cruises has announced it will base a record five ships in Australia next year.

The 108,000-tonne ship accommodates 2600 passengers.

“Golden Princess’ larger size means she has a host of wonderful features,” Princess Cruises Vice President Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said.

“More than half her staterooms have private balconies, while she also offers a beautiful spa, four swimming pools and 10 restaurants and cafes, so we think she’ll be very popular with Victorians.”

Golden Princess will make her maiden visit to Australia in October 2015, arriving in Sydney before moving to Melbourne.

Her five-month season will include holidays to New Zealand, the South Pacific and Tasmania, with fares starting from $1849 per person for a 13-night New Zealand cruise.

As part of Princess Cruises’ record five-ship program, Golden Princess will join Diamond Princess in Australian waters for the 2015-16 summer, while Sun Princess will remain in Australia next winter, joining sister ships Dawn and Sea Princess in providing cruises year round.

Princess Cruises is launching its first summer season of cruises from Fremantle, doubling the cruise line’s Western Australian offering to give the state its first year-round cruise program, as well as Princess Cruises’ biggest ever presence in Brisbane, with Queenslanders set to enjoy nine months of sailings in 2015-16.

Mr Allison said the record fleet would increase the cruise line’s local capacity by 35 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014.

He said Australians now spend more nights on Princess Cruises’ ships than on any other line, with Australia its second biggest market after the US.

For the first time, all ships will offer onboard pricing using Australian dollars as they deliver a program of more than 80 cruises from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle and Auckland.

By Herald Sun

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Returning to Sydney for her 2013/14 summer season, Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess has unveiled a $30 million refurbishment.

The cruise line has introduced a Japanese restaurant, Kai Sushi, replacing the Champagne bar and The Atrium boasts a new 24 hour International Cafe, improving the Patisserie Bar.

The Lotus spa now offers a more relaxed environment while the revamped Horizon Court buffet has new menu items, more space and more seating.

Meg Koffel Princess Cruises PR manager said Sun Princess brings new features with Asia-inspired elements which will appeal to the Australian and Asian markets.

The International Cafe is now the social heart of the vessel and is a great meeting spot to catch-up with friends. Hot and cold drinks start from A$1.50 with the espresso coffee card priced at A$35 for 15 coffees.

Set on the lower level of the refreshed Atrium, the International Cafe has opened with 30% more seating serving complimentary pastries and sandwiches.

Bringing a touch of the Orient, Sun Princess’ Kai Sushi restaurant serves all you can eat sushi, sashimi and seafood prepared by Japanese chefs.

Open for lunch and dinner, Kai Sushi offers Princess’ passengers a new Japanese style experience for A$20 surcharge.

On deck 12, the Horizon Court buffet and Stirling Steakhouse have been totally revamped, offering improved access and less congestion. A new Ramen noodle station, pastry shop and coffee bar is now available open from 5am to midnight, catering for up to 492 passengers.

Continuing outdoors, the Hamburger Grill on the ships top deck has been transformed into an al fresco venue seating 70 people with ice cream bar and coffee menu.

The Lotus Spa has also received a makeover with new furnishings, decor and refreshed treatment rooms offering singles or couples a new relaxed ambience. Services now include Japanese Ofuro baths.

Sun Princess is presently sailing on a series of roundtrip cruises from Sydney to New Zealand, Queensland and the South Pacific before returning to Japan in April 2014.

By ETB News: R.M.

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Princess Cruises' next ship, the Regal Princess, will debut nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

The line on Thursday announced the first sailing of the 3,560-passenger vessel -- a sister to the four-month-old Royal Princess -- will kick off on May 20 instead of June 2 as previously scheduled.

The new maiden voyage will be a seven-night trip from Venice to Athens featuring calls in Corfu and Mykonos, Greece; and Istanbul, Turkey.

Also added to the ship's schedule was a six-night voyage from Athens to Venice that starts on May 27 and features calls in Kusadasi, Turkey (for the ruins of Ephesus); Santorini and Katakolon, Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The line says construction of the vessel at a shipyard in Italy is running ahead of schedule.

The two new voyages can be combined into a 13-day "Grand Adventure" cruise or added on to the previously announced June 2 cruise to create a 20-day Mediterranean escape.

Under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard near Venice, the Regal Princess will be nearly identical to the four-month-old Royal Princess, which was christened in June by Britain's Duchess Kate. The vessels are nearly 20% larger than previous Princess ships and boast a number of new-for-line features (click through the carousel below for a glimpse of the Royal Princess' deck-top areas, cabins and more).

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Even as the Royal Princess was unloading passengers from its aborted Mediterranean sailing in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, Princess Cruises announced that the ship's next voyage will continue on schedule from Barcelona on Sept. 27.

The Royal Princess lost power for three and a half hours Sunday, leaving the new ship with minimal services. The vessel, carrying 3,594 passengers and 1,336 crew, was on the seventh day of a 12-day trip from Venice, Italy. A back-up generator provided power for essential services such as toilets.

The cruise line said repairs were necessary, and ended the cruise in Naples, where it arrived Tuesday, a day late. It says it will fix the problem while the ship sails to Barcelona to resume its schedule.

The line offered full refunds to passengers on the canceled trip, along with a 25% discount on a future cruise. It also made flight arrangements to get passengers home.

"We have appreciated our passengers' patience and understanding as they've waited to receive their onward travel details being arranged by our shore team. Again, we are sincerely sorry for this unexpected disruption to their vacation," the line said in a statement.

The incident, which occurred on a brand-new 141,000-ton ship, was the latest blow to the cruise industry, which is still reeling from well-publicized mechanical failures earlier this year. It also came a few days after the ship-wrecked Costa Concordia was dramatically righted off the Italian coast where it sank last year. Videos of the salvage operation went viral last week.

The Royal Princess was named amid much fanfare in June by the pregnant Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a Southampton ceremony. The vessel was heralded as a "new generation" design, with a dramatic glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship, private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water, the largest pastry shop at sea, and a special private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light.

By Larry Bleiberg, Special for USA TODAY

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Princess Cruises' newest ship, the Royal Princess, has had to cancel a Mediterranean cruise after it lost power for three and a half hours Sunday.

The ship, carrying 3,594 passengers and 1,336 crew, was on the seventh day of a 12-day trip from Venice. The incident began at around noon and lasted for at least three and a half hours, according to the cruise line. A back-up generator provided power for essential services such as toilets.

The incident, which occurred on a brand-new 141,000-ton ship, is the latest blow to the cruise industry, which is still reeling from well-publicized mechanical failures earlier this year. It also came a few days after the ship-wrecked Costa Concordia was dramatically righted off the Italian coast where it sank last year. Videos of the salvage operation went viral last week.

Princess says it plans to end the cruise when the ship arrives in Naples Tuesday, a day after previously scheduled. "The ship's technical team continued to evaluate the problem overnight and, upon further assessment, it became apparent that repairs need to be made to fully resolve the situation," the line said in a statement.

"We have dispatched a care team to Naples to ensure that all our passengers are provided with any assistance they may require. We are deeply sorry for this unanticipated disruption of our passengers' vacation plans, and we appreciate their patience and understanding of these circumstances."

The outage struck while the ship was sailing from Mykonos, Greece, to Naples, Italy. Princess doesn't yet know if it will have to cancel the next cruise, scheduled to leave Barcelona on Sept. 27.

The Royal Princess was named amid much fanfare in June by the pregnant Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a Southampton ceremony. The vessel was heralded as a "new generation" design, with a dramatic glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship, private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water, the largest pastry shop at sea, and a special private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light.

Passengers on the canceled trip will receive a full refund along with a 25% credit on a future cruise.

By Larry Bleiberg, Special for USA TODAY

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Princess Cruises today released results from its fourth annual Relaxation Report, conducted in celebration of National Relaxation Day on Aug. 15. The national survey revealed that men and women have different notions of what makes a vacation truly relaxing. In fact, maybe there is validity to the idea that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, because almost one in four women would rather read more, whereas 34 percent of men would rather have more sex on vacation than at home.

The survey also revealed that men might know how to better relax than women. In fact, 45 percent of men feel relaxed when they return home from vacation as opposed to 43 percent of women who feel tired and need a vacation from their vacation.

"It's definitely interesting, although not all too surprising, to see a distinction between how men and women like to relax while on vacation," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "The good news is, male or female, whatever the preferred method of relaxation, Princess Cruises offers a wide variety of restful and relaxing options for any traveler looking to unplug and escape."

Princess Cruises, which annually helps more than 1.7 million passengers “escape completely” aboard its worldwide fleet of ships and exotic destinations, commissioned the annual report in an effort to uncover consumer attitudes towards vacation and relaxation habits and behaviors to better ensure their customers have a fully relaxing trip.

Go Big or Go Home!

The majority of Americans aged 35 and older report that it typically takes them two or more days to settle into their vacation, perhaps needing extra time to unplug from the office. In fact, nearly two out of three Americans surveyed prefer at least a full week away on vacation, as opposed to a day off here and there, to completely check out and feel relaxed.

Celebrity Vacation Date

Men and women also seem to be at odds when asked which female celebrity they’d like to relax with – 40 percent of women would rather laugh with comedian Ellen DeGeneres, whereas 42 percent of men lean toward girl-next-door Taylor Swift and on-screen siren Scarlett Johansson. When asked which male celebrity Americans would want to vacation alongside, men and women came together and agreed collectively (22 percent) that leading hunk Hugh Jackman is their man of choice.

When it comes to a musical companion, Justin Timberlake wins hands down in a showdown with Rihanna, with 18 percent of men and women preferring to get their sexy back versus 13 percent who would rather shine bright like a diamond.

In analyzing generational preferences, Millenials (approximately 18-31 years of age) tend to prefer younger celebrity companions with almost one quarter choosing Scarlett Johansson (22 percent) and nearly one third choosing Ashton Kutcher (31 percent), while Boomers would rather spend a vacation relaxing with folks closer to their own age, Ellen DeGeneres (25 percent) and Anderson Cooper (22 percent).

No Wake Up Calls, Please!

Nothing says relaxation like burying yourself in white, crisp clean sheets with no alarm clock set. Millennials agree, with one in four choosing sleep as the activity they most enjoy doing more of on a relaxing vacation than when they are at home. On the other hand, only 14 percent of Americans 65 and older are eager to sleep on vacation.

Not surprising, while it may be challenging to achieve with children along for the ride, nearly one in four parents prefer sleeping more on vacation than non-parents. In fact, for parents, getting more sleep on vacation is more of a priority than having sex (23 percent and 20 percent respectively).

About the 2013 Survey

The Princess Cruises Vacation Relaxation survey was conducted by ORC International among 1,008 American adults, ages 18 and older, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 4, 2013, using the CARAVAN landline-cell phone combined sample methodology.

By Princess Cruises

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Princess Cruises has canceled today's sailing of the 1,950-passenger Sun Princess, citing a power problem.

The 18-year-old vessel had just emerged from a $30 million overhaul in a Singapore dry dock and had been scheduled to sail a 14-night voyage from the city to Freemantle, Australia.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY, Princess spokeswoman Karen Candy says a malfunction occurred in the ship's switchboard resulting in "limited onboard power hindering (the ship's) ability to run all hotel operations."

The Sun Princess is the second vessel this week operated by a major cruise line that has been beset by mechanical problems. Celebrity Cruises' 2,138-passenger Celebrity Millennium made an unscheduled return to Ketchikan, Alaska late Sunday due to a propulsion issue and remains docked in the port today undergoing evaluation.

The problems come nearly six months after a string of mechanical issues on Carnival ships left many Americans questioning the reliability and safety of cruise ships.

Princess says the Sun Princess' next sailing -- an 11-night cruise from Freemantle to Singapore scheduled for Sept. 3 -- will go ahead as planned after repairs are made.

Passengers on today's sailing will receive a full refund, a credit for a future cruise and reimbursement for incidental costs related to the canceled sailing, Princess says.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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It's makeover time for the 2,022-passenger Sun Princess, the oldest ship in the Princess fleet.

The 77,000-ton vessel has entered a dry dock in Singapore for a two-week, $30 million overhaul that will bring several major changes including a new atrium with Princess' signature International Café.

Also coming is a new sushi and seafood venue, an updated Horizon Court buffet and a refreshed Lotus Spa.

Princess says the makeover also will include new interior furnishings and finishes, some with Asian-style touches, a nod to the ship's new role operating seasonal sailings in Japan.

Changes to the Horizon Court buffet will include the addition of action stations for live a la carte cooking as well as a pastry shop and coffee bar, refreshed décor and expanded seating. Nearby, the ship's top-deck hamburger grill will be transformed into an al fresco barbecue venue, and specialty coffee options will be added to the ice cream bar.

Unveiled in 1995, the 18-year-old Sun Princess will spend the coming winter sailing in Asia and Australia before beginning a second season of Japan-based cruising in April 2014.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Aside from the ship's naming ceremony being Kate's last solo engagement before going on maternity leave, there had been much talk about the soon-to-be launched vessel; the sheer size and scale for one, the activities on board, bars, restaurants, and of course, the spa for another. 'The atrium is 50% bigger than any other at sea,' read one press release. Another spoke of the ship's 27 bars and restaurants, plus 'endless' entertainment opportunities. Which all sound very nice, of course. But what is Kate Middleton's new cruise liner really like?

We went onboard to check it out. Here are 10 things we learnt...

1. It's HUGE.

Absolutely enormous, in fact. Like a giant, glossy hotel that somehow manages to float on the water. It accommodates nearly 3,500 passengers onboard, with - here come the figures! - 19 decks, 1,780 staterooms, and 27 bars and restaurants. It's a whopping 1083 feet long (that's longer than the height of the Eiffel tower, apparently) and can also cruise sideways. Plus, you can walk right out above the sea if you dare, to try the new glass-bottomed SeaWalk. Wow.

2. It has a the largest gelateria at sea

We love ice cream as much as the next person, but the Royal Princess's gelateria is something else. You can feast on anything from homemade cookies and cream to a decadent brownie sundae with hot fudge sauce, all whipped up by the ship's pastry chef. Yum.

3. You can snuggle up at an outdoor cinema

And it's - you guessed it - the largest one at sea. An enormous all-weather screen presides over the top deck, screening the year's hottest films under the stars, while staff circulate with cocktails or hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies and milk. Brilliant fun.

4. Cruises aren't just for old people

While cruises are often thought of as an activity best saved for later on in life, the average age onboard the Royal Princess was surprisingly young. Not just that, but there is something to occupy all ages - from young families and teens to those looking for a romantic weekend away. We kicked back in the chic Lotus Spa - complete with Hammam, 20 treatment rooms and bubbling water beds - or hung out in the adults-only sanctuary, where private cabanas, short dips the pool and healthy picnics are the order of the day. Bliss.

5. It's not actually named after Kate Middleton

Contrary to belief, the Royal Princess isn't actually named after it's famous Godmother Kate; the name was chosen months in advance, while the Duchess's involvement was only confirmed in December. While it's unlikely she'll ever stay on the ship, Kate's role as figurehead meant she took part in the naming ceremony, and enjoyed a private tour afterwards. We chatted to officials present during her visit, who she was 'very nice, asked lots of questions, and giggled as she was invited by the captain to sound the horn.'

6. It has a dedicated pastry shop

Pastries, cakes, croissants and other delicious goodies are available all day, whipped up by a special team of pastry chefs. An industry first, apparently. What's not to love?

7. The Piazza is seriously impressive

We couldn't help but feel we'd stumbled onto the set of the (pre-disaster) Titanic when we came across Royal Princess's beautiful Piazza. Lined with marble, glittering fountains and old-fashioned balconies, it really is a sight to behold.

8. It has it's own art collection

Yes, really. Not just that, but passengers can enjoy their very own 32-stop tour of the 4000 works of art onboard, all using their smartphone or iPad.

9. It's the greenest ship in the company's fleet

Design bods went to all kinds of lengths to make the Royal Princess their greenest ship ever. The super-efficient hull and propeller design take less energy to drive than ever before, while low energy lighting and a tunnel washer in the laundry reduce usage on board. Very eco-friendly.

10. It has its own television studio

The Ship's very own version of Daybreak, the Princess Live! TV studio - complete with audience seating - broadcasts live features on anything from local information and the evening's schedule to a interviews with the staff and captain. Great for a giggle and staying up to date.

By Eleanor Young, marieclaire.co.uk

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