Each year Princess offers passengers the
opportunity to sample the line's product with short "coastal"
sailings. These West Coast cruises range from overnight to a week in length,
offering a great way for travelers to explore North America's Pacific coastline
while enjoying a taste of Princess' amenity-filled vessels and renowned
service.
For the 2009-10 season, passengers can choose
from short escapes of one to four nights in the spring and fall, plus three
longer sailings. These special cruises include a weeklong Coastal Wine Region
sailing with special wine-related tours, programs and special guests; a
seven-day British Columbia and West Coast cruise showcasing a variety of ports
along the coast; and a five-day West Coast Escape.
"We enjoy giving passengers these yearly
opportunities to add a short getaway to their schedule," said Jan Swartz,
Princess senior vice president. "And many new passengers use these
sailings to get a taste of what Princess is all about - whether they choose to
sail overnight or spend a week exploring the West Coast's fabulous wine
regions."
Princess Coastal Sailings for 2009-10
include:
Wine Country Coastal - A seven-day opportunity for passengers to steep
themselves in the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and the San Francisco
area as well as the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Passengers can explore
the world of food and wine with themed excursions as well as special onboard
presentations from a guest wine expert and guest chef who will offer
demonstrations, wine tastings and special meals. The cruise aboard Sapphire
Princess departs from Los Angeles on May 8, 2010, sailing to Vancouver with
calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.
British Columbia and West Coast Coastal - This weeklong voyage explores the west coast from
the fall foliage of British Columbia to the shores of Southern California. The
Vancouver to Los Angeles cruise calls at Nanaimo, Victoria, San Francisco,
Catalina Island and San Diego. Golden Princess sets sail on September 20, 2009.
West Coast Escape - A five-day escape from Los Angeles to Vancouver,
this Golden Princess sailing offers the opportunity to visit Catalina Island,
San Francisco and Victoria. Golden Princess sets sail on May 9, 2010.
San Francisco/Vancouver - These two-day journeys sail between the "City
by the Bay" and British Columbia's largest city. Offered on Star Princess
on September 21, 2009 and May 6, 2010, as well as on Island Princess on
September 14, 2009.
Los Angeles/Vancouver - A choice of three-night getaways between Los
Angeles and Vancouver, are offered on Coral Princess on September 21, 2009 and
Island Princess on May 14, 2010. Coral Princess also offers a four-day voyage
on May 6, 2010 offering a call in Victoria.
Seattle/Vancouver - These overnight escapes between Seattle and
Vancouver give passengers a taste of life aboard, with departures on Golden
Princess on September 19, 2009 and May 14, 2010; Star Princess on September 20,
2009 and May 8, 2010; and Pacific Princess on September 17, 2009.
Costal sailings are available for booking.
Escape Fares for overnight sailings start at $99 per person, based on double
occupancy. Past Princess passengers are eligible for $10 to $50 in Captain's
Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by Dec. 31, 2008
Princess has also announced a new season of
cruises to the sun swept Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. These relaxing, seven-
to 14 day voyages offer passengers the opportunity to experience these colorful
ports filled with dramatic scenery, diverse cultures, white sand beaches and
ancient ruins, while enjoying the youngest fleet in the Caribbean and some of
the largest and most amenity-filled vessels sailing the Mexican Riviera.
In the Caribbean, Princess will sail six ships on 13 itineraries with 129
departures visiting more than 25 ports in these fabled islands. Ruby Princess
will take over the line's 10-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries,
offering some of the less-visited ports in the region. Emerald Princess sails
on the line's Eastern Caribbean itinerary and Crown Princess will feature the
Western Caribbean with an enhanced itinerary now featuring the lovely island of
Roatan, Honduras. Caribbean Princess continues to sail on alternating seven day
Southern Caribbean sailings from San Juan. Grand Princess returns with an
extensive 14-day Caribbean Collection route and Sea Princess will again sail on
14-day voyages from Barbados.
On the Pacific side, Princess again returns to its "south of the
border" cruising roots with two ships - Sapphire Princess sailing on the
classic seven-day Mexican Riviera route from Los Angeles and Star Princess
cruising on 10-day voyages from San Francisco.
"The Caribbean and Mexican Riviera both
offer the delightful sense of fun and make for a wonderful warm weather escape,"
said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "And passengers will also
be able to enjoy an array of fantastic ships on these routes, including
Caribbean Princess and Star Princess with brand new piazza-style atriums and a
number of new features."
Princess' Caribbean and Mexican Riviera
itineraries for 2009-10 include:
Emerald Princess - Emerald Princess sails to the Eastern Caribbean,
with roundtrip cruises from Ft. Lauderdale on Sundays. The itinerary features
calls in line's own Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
Emerald Princess offers 28 sailings between October 11, 2009 and May 2, 2010.
Crown Princess - Crown Princess takes over the line's roundtrip
seven-day sailings to the Western Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale with an enhanced
itinerary that now offers calls in Roatan. The ship will sail on 27 Saturday
departures with stops at Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays. Crown
Princess' season will run from November 7, 2009 through May 8, 2010.
Caribbean Princess - Caribbean Princess sails from San Juan on two
alternating seven-day itineraries. The Classic Southern Caribbean route
features 14 sailings to the ports of St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, Barbados and
St. Lucia, while 14 Southern Caribbean Explorer sailings travel to St. Thomas,
Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. Cruises depart between November 1, 2009
and May 9, 2010. Caribbean Princess will also offer one eight-day Bermuda &
Eastern Caribbean sailing from New York to San Juan calling at Bermuda, St. Kitts,
Antigua and St. Thomas, departing October 24, 2009.
Ruby Princess - Ruby Princess offers a set of alternating 10-day
sailings roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale - one to the Southern Caribbean and the
other to the Eastern Caribbean. The Southern Caribbean Medley itinerary,
offered on 10 sailings, includes calls at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Dominica,
Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. The Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary, featured
on nine sailings, offers calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St.
Thomas and Princess Cays. Emerald Princess' Caribbean season runs between
October 25, 2009 and April 29, 2010.
Grand Princess - Grand Princess offers more time to explore the
islands with a 14-day Caribbean Collection itinerary roundtrip from Ft.
Lauderdale. The ship sails to Grand Turk, La Romana, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St.
Vincent, Barbados, Trinidad, Curaçao and Aruba. Grand Princess offers nine
departures between December 21, 2009 and April 23, 2010. The ship also offers a
new 11-day Grand Southern Caribbean sailing on January 4, 2010, calling at
Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba.
Sea Princess - Sea Princess will offer a series of alternating 14
day Caribbean voyages from Barbados. Seven sailings of the Grand Caribbean Islander
route feature calls at St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada, Bonaire, Curaçao, Montego
Bay, Samaná, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua and Dominica. The ship will also
offer seven sailings on a Grand Caribbean Adventurer itinerary that features
stops at St. Vincent, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay,
Samaná, Tortola, St. Kitts, Antigua and Dominica. To begin her season, Sea
Princess offers a seven-day Southern Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to
Barbados featuring calls at Princess Cays, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua and
St. Lucia. In spring the ship sails back to Ft. Lauderdale from Barbados with a
six-day sailing to Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. Sea Princess sails between
October 10, 2009 and May 1, 2010.
Sapphire Princess - Sapphire Princess will again set sail from the Port
of Los Angeles on 32 departures to the sunny Mexican Riviera. This favorite
seven-day roundtrip route takes in the prime ports of call of Puerto Vallarta,
Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. Sapphire Princess will depart on Saturdays between
September 26, 2009 and May 1, 2010.
Star Princess - Star Princess will a offer a longer, 10-day
roundrip Mexican Riviera voyage from San Francisco featuring calls at Acapulco,
Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. The ship will sail on
two cruises on April 16 and 26, 2010.
Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises are now available for booking. Escape
Fares for seven-day sailings start at $599 per person, based on double
occupancy. Past Princess passengers are eligible for up to $50 in Captain's
Circle Launch Savings on bookings made by Dec. 31, 2008. Additional information
about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by
calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.
Carnival Cruise Lines will resume
visits to Mexican ports of call based on the latest guidance from the Centers
for Disease Control, which is no longer recommending against non-essential
travel to Mexico. Once all voyages with previously modified itineraries are
completed, those vessels will revert to their original routes featuring stops
in Mexico. Most itineraries were modified through mid-June with the exception
of the Holiday which was modified through late May. A ship-by-ship listing
including dates for when each vessel will resume its original itinerary is
available at http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/itinerary_updates.aspx.
“We are very pleased to resume our previous
itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry’s most popular destinations,
and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent
weeks for their understanding and patience,” said Gerry Cahill, president and
CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Cahill added, “The health and well being of our guests and crew is our
highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and
consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration
of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort
areas where our ships visit.”
Cahill also noted that the cruise industry works closely with U.S. public
health officials in the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program in developing and
complying with extensive policies and procedures that are effective in
mitigating illness aboard cruise ships. Carnival will continue to follow
CDC guidelines for cruise ships which include pre-boarding health
questionnaires for all guests and crew, along with secondary screening by
shipboard medical professionals as necessary. Additionally, all Carnival
ships stock influenza test kits and anti-viral medications for treating type A
influenzas.
“Mexico has so many wonderful sites and
attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support
a resumption of port calls in Mexico. We know that they and our port
destination partners are very much looking forward to our return,” he added.
Carnival
Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22
“Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 16 days in length to The
Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New
England, Europe and Bermuda. The line currently has two new ships
scheduled for delivery between now and 2011. The first of those, the
130,000-ton Carnival Dream, is set to debut Sept. 21, 2009.
For additional information or reservations on the “Fun Ship” vacation
experience, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit http://www.carnival.com.
Pearl Seas Cruises has announced that their first ship, which was
launched in March, is in its outfitting stage. "It is progressing with
over 150 people working on the ship daily at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax,
Nova Scotia" said Vice President Tim Beebe. The joiner work and the
electrical installation are being completed at this time. Pearl Seas Cruises
expects the first ship to be delivered in the first quarter of 2009.
The new ship will carry 210 passengers and
have international cruises in the Canadian Maritimes, St Lawrence Seaway, Great
Lakes, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New England, and in the Caribbean.
The ships' spacious suites (each measuring
302-580 square feet) will all have private balconies with large opening picture
windows. All staterooms will also feature flat-screen satellite TV's, DVD
players, have individual climate control and Internet access.
For more information, visit www.pearlseascruises.com