Princess Cruises has announced plans to increase by six months the Australia and New Zealand season of the 2,670-guest Sapphire Princess. The ship will now arrive in Australia on May 1, 2020 and sail down under for 12 months.

This adds a total of 47 new cruises from five major Australian cities to the season.

The ship was previously scheduled to sail in Asia from May-October.

Sapphire Princess will arrive into Perth (Fremantle) following a multi-million dollar refurbishment. The full season comprises 171 port calls including:

·        A 10-night Coral Coast voyage sailing from Perth (Fremantle), visiting West Australia's coastal destinations such as Broome, Geraldton and Exmouth. Departing May 4, 2020
·        A 17-night Northern Explorer between Sydney and Perth (Fremantle) visiting destinations such as Geraldton and Cairns. Departing Perth (Fremantle) on June 8, 2020
·        Roundtrip voyages to Fiji from Brisbane and Sydney including a 12-night Fiji cruise sailing from Sydney visiting Dravuni Island and Lautoka. Departing June 25, 2020
·        Australia Circumnavigation voyages from Sydney, Adelaide and Perth (Fremantle) including an inaugural 28-night Round Australia cruise out of Adelaide visiting Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Port Arthur, Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Yorkeys Knob, Alotau, Darwin, Kimberley Coast (Scenic Cruising), Broome, Geraldton, Perth (Fremantle), Margaret River (Busselton) and Adelaide. Departing from Perth (Fremantle) 10 August, 2020

The new cruises are on sale from Thursday, February 27.

Sapphire Princess will receive MedallionNet WiFi from June 4, offering guests the fastest Wi-Fi at sea.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises' vice president UK & Europe, said: “Australia remains one of our most popular destinations for UK guests and we're offering a variety of new options. If you're looking to line up your next cruise down under now is a great time to book with Princess.”

For more information or to book visit www.princess.com, call 0344 338 8663 or contact your local travel agent.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Further images are available on request.

About Princess Cruises

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 18 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year on 170 itineraries to more than 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England and World Cruises. Itineraries range in length from three to 111 days.

In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass cruises enabled by the Ocean Medallion - the cruises industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to a hassle-free, personalised cruise, giving guests more opportunity to enjoy their time onboard. Ocean Medallion will be activated on five ships by the end of 2019. An activation plan will continue across the global fleet in 2020 and beyond.

Two new Royal-class ships are currently under construction - Enchanted Princess, scheduled for delivery in June 2020, followed by Discovery Princess in November 2021. Princess recently announced that two new (LNG) ships which will be the largest ships in the Princess fleet, accommodating approximately 4,300 guests with expected delivery in 2023 and 2025.  Princess now has four ships arriving up to 2025. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).