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With 17 cruise ships visiting 350 different ports, Princess Cruises has 120 itineraries and many one-way cruises to choose from. Since their founding in 1966, Princess has introduced several important new concepts in cruising and they're always striving to offer a better cruise experience.
Princess has extensive onshore infrastructure, especially in Alaska, so their programs ashore are well managed. And since their cruise ships range in size from 2,500+ passengers to an intimate 684 guests, there are plenty of cruising styles to choose from.
Their 17 ships sail all seven seas, which means they have lots of relocation cruises as the ships follow summer around the world. From a 1-day jaunt from Seattle to Vancouver to a 48-day voyage from Shanghai to Capetown, there's a one-way Princess cruise that's right for anyone.
Repositioning cruises aboard the Caribbean Princess.
Carrying more than 3,000 passengers, Caribbean Princess is the largest cruise ship in the Princess fleet. With almost 900 balcony staterooms and a deck dedicated to mini suites, it's easy to enjoy the fresh air. The adults-only Sanctuary is a pleasant place to enjoy some peace and quiet. And the Lotus Spa offers a variety of massages and health and beauty treatments. Those who want to stay in shape can use the fitness center, sport court, and driving range. There are also programs for kids of all ages, so everyone in the family will enjoy their cruise.
Caribbean Princess only has two repositioning cruises in 2010. She sails on May 2 from San Juan, Puerto Rico bound for New York City. She makes port calls in St. Thomas, Antigua, and Bermuda before arriving in New York eight days later. The three sea days allow plenty of time to unwind.
She returns to the Caribbean on October 23, leaving from New York and calling at St. Lucia in addition to Bermuda, Antigua, and St. Thomas before disembarking passengers in San Juan.
Repositioning cruises aboard the Coral Princess.
The 1,970-passenger Coral Princess is a mid-size ship built to be able to transit the Panama Canal. She has two decks dedicated to lounges, restaurants, and entertainment venues. And you'll also find original features like a demonstration kitchen and ceramics lab. Two alternative restaurants, Sabatini's Italian Restaurant and Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse, provide additional options for diners. And there are three swimming pools, one with a retractable glass dome. After dinner, you can retire to the cigar bar for a smoke or to the piano bar for a nightcap.
Coral Princess relocates for the Alaska season in the spring, sailing from Fort Lauderdale on April 21, 2010. She visits Aruba and Cartagena, Columbia before going through the Panama Canal. After transiting the canal, she calls in Costa Rica, and three ports in Mexico before sailing up the Pacific coast of the United States. She stops in Los Angeles and Victoria, BC before disembarking in Vancouver. This voyage packs a lot of diverse destinations into 20 days.
Cruisers who enjoy shipboard life but don't have a lot of vacation time available can join Coral Princess in Los Angeles on May 6 for a five-night cruise to Vancouver. With just one port call in Victoria, this sailing is ideal for those who just want to curl up in a deck chair with a good book.
When the Alaska season is over, Coral Princess returns to Fort Lauderdale, leaving Vancouver on September 18, 2010 and doing the original trans-Canal itinerary in reverse. If you don't have enough time, you can board the ship five days later in Los Angeles.
Repositioning cruises aboard the Crown Princess.
Although it's a sister ship to the Caribbean Princess, there are some differences between the two. It's one of the newest Princess ships and it features an atrium lobby designed to be like an Italian piazza, complete with a sidewalk cafe. Another cool amenity is the sport court on the roof of the Skywalker Disco.
Crown Princess leaves the Caribbean to relocate to the Mediterranean on May 1, 2010. She sails from Fort Lauderdale and spends eight days at sea before arriving at Gibraltar. With the passengers all rested up from those relaxing sea days, Coral Princess calls at Alicante, Barcelona, Marseilles, and Livorno before arriving in Rome on May 15.
Those with more time can stay aboard and sail to Monte Carlo, Livorno, Naples, Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Athens, Katakolon, and Corfu before ending their voyage in Venice. If you've never sailed into Venice before, it's an absolutely unforgettable travel experience.
From there, Coral Princess heads for the North Atlantic for the summer season. She sails from Rome to London with visits to Livorno, Genoa, Cannes, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Dublin, Glasgow, Le Havre, and Zeebrugge along the way.
In early September, Crown Princess leaves London to return to the United States. She calls at Cornwall, Dublin, and Belfast before heading to Reykjavik, Greenland, and St. John's, Newfoundland. Passengers leave the ship in New York City.
On October 17, 2010 she returns to the Caribbean for the winter, sailing from Quebec City to Ville Saguenay, Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, Norfolk, and Charleston. The voyage ends in Fort Lauderdale. This is a unique way to visit some of America's most charming coastal cities.
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