from Business Wire....
July 22, 2003 03:05 PM US Eastern Timezone
Princess Details Dramatic Caribbean Growth in 2004-05; Line's Caribbean Capacity Jumps 75 Percent with Six-Ship Fleet; Sixteen Different Itineraries Offered
SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2003--Backing up its commitment to become a major cruise operator in the Caribbean, Princess will launch its most extensive season there ever in fall 2004, with six of its largest and newest vessels sailing throughout the region. The new 2004-05 schedule represents a dramatic 75 percent increase in Caribbean capacity from the season before, and features the youngest fleet sailing in the region.
Featuring 152 departures on 16 unique itineraries with 26 different ports of call, Princess will offer four seven-day and two 10-day ships sailing the Caribbean between October 2, 2004 and April 24, 2005. Highlights of the season include the new Caribbean Princess, a host of new itineraries, a new port of call in Belize, and a new home port of Galveston.
"This is an unprecedented expansion in the Caribbean for us," said Dean Brown, Princess' executive vice president of customer service and sales. "We will offer a unique Caribbean experience, with our emphasis on 'big ship choice with small ship feel,' the highest percentage of balcony staterooms and the youngest fleet in the destination. We like to call it the only truly royal experience in the Caribbean."
Four ships -- Caribbean Princess, Grand Princess, Golden Princess and Star Princess -- will offer seven-day itineraries, including two different routes in each of the Caribbean's main regions -- Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Plus, the popularity of Princess' 10-day itineraries has prompted the company to nearly double the number of departures on these extended vacations, and offer two new itineraries. Both Dawn Princess and Sun Princess will sail on alternating 10-day cruises.
Princess' 2004-05 Caribbean season includes:
Caribbean Princess -- This new 3,100-passenger ship, built specifically for the Caribbean trade, continues its 2004 inaugural season with Princess' Classic Eastern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The line's largest vessel at 116,000 tons will offer Saturday departures on an itinerary that travels to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays. In addition, the ship will offer a special eight-day holiday sailing on December 18, 2004.
Grand Princess -- Sailing on a new seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary from Princess' new Galveston homeport, the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess departs on Saturdays for a new stop in Belize, plus Costa Maya, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The ship's schedule also includes a special nine-day holiday cruise on December 24, which includes celebrations for both Christmas and New Year's, as well as two six-day pre- and post-holiday sailings, and two repositioning cruises between Galveston and San Juan. The ship also offers two sailings between New York and San Juan.
Star Princess -- Star Princess begins its first season in the Caribbean with alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Sundays. The brand-new Eastern Caribbean itinerary features calls at San Juan, St. Thomas, Tortola and Princess Cays. The Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Princess Cays, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Cozumel.
Golden Princess -- Based in San Juan, Golden Princess offers alternating seven-day Southern Caribbean itineraries, departing on Sundays. The Classic Southern Caribbean itinerary includes calls at Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Antigua. The alternate Southern Caribbean Explorer itinerary features the ports of St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Caracas and Aruba.
Dawn Princess -- Dawn Princess will offer alternating 10-day cruises from Ft. Lauderdale, featuring a new Western Adventurer route with stops at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The Southern Caribbean Medley itinerary includes calls at Curacao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. In addition, the ship will offer a special seven-day Western Caribbean sailing for the holidays on December 23.
Sun Princess -- Sun Princess also joins the 10-day line-up with alternating Eastern Caribbean sailings. The new Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary offers calls at St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. The Eastern Caribbean Islander route features stops at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Barbados and Antigua. Sun Princess will celebrate the holidays with a seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailing on December 22.
Regardless of which itinerary passengers choose, they will enjoy some of the most amenity-filled vessels in the Princess fleet, with such distinctive features as the line's signature Personal Choice Dining(SM). Only Princess offers passengers the opportunity to choose either the traditional, same time/same table option; or Anytime Dining, which gives passengers the flexibility to choose when, where and with whom they dine throughout the cruise. Other amenities include the Lotus Spa, extensive children and teen centers, wedding chapels, internet centers, and an extensive array of entertainment options and venues.
The newest vessel in the fleet, Caribbean Princess, sports such features as a poolside movie screen, a new Caribbean-themed alternative restaurant, and nearly 900 cabins with balconies -- more than on any other cruise ship sailing year-round in the Caribbean.
Early booking fares for Princess' 2004-05 Caribbean season begin at $549 for seven-day sailings and $899 for 10-day cruises.
One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:CCL) and (NYSE:CUK), its current fleet of 11 ships sail on approximately 150 different itineraries around the globe, calling at more than 260 ports on all seven continents. By 2006 a further four ships will be introduced. Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting www.princess.com.
Note to Editors: An electronic copy of this release, and access to Princess' on-line newsroom containing past news releases, background information and photography, is available at www.princess.com/news.
Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Contacts
Princess Cruises
Julie Benson, 661-753-1530
jbenson@princesscruises.com
or
Tori Benson, 661-753-1540
tbenson@princesscruises.com
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