Princess ship to summer in Caribbean [and Grand Cayman is on the itinerary]
By Fran Golden, special for USA TODAY
With its fleet expanding by two new ships, Princess Cruises says it will return to Fort Lauderdale for summertime cruises in the Caribbean in 2014.
It will be the first time Princess has had a ship cruising the region in summer months in four years.
Princess will base the 3,080-passenger Caribbean Princess in Fort Lauderdale from May to September for week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings that can be combined to make a 14-day voyage.
The ship will also do one three-day Memorial Day cruise and several four- and five-day sailings.
Most of the cruises include a visit to the line’s exclusive Bahamian beach on Princess Cays.
Despite its tropical name, the Caribbean Princess is spending this summer in the British Isles and Norway.
For 2014, Princess will reduce its fleet from seven to five ships in Europe.
But the line will have its two newest ships in the market – including the 3,600-passenger Royal Princess, set to debut this June with Catherine, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge (the former Kate Middleton) as godmother.
Also newly cruising in Europe in 2014 will be the Royal’s sister ship Regal Princess, which debuts early next year.
The 2014 Caribbean cruises on the Caribbean Princess include:
Seven-day Eastern Caribbean: Visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk; May 31; June 14, 21; July 5, 12, 26; Aug. 2 and 16.
Seven-day Western Caribbean: Visiting Princess Cays, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel; June 7, 28; July 19; and Aug. 9.
Five-day Eastern Caribbean Getaway: Visiting Princess Cays and Grand Turk; Sept. 6 and 15.
Five-day Western Caribbean Getaway: Visiting Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel; May 26; Aug. 23; and Sept. 1, 20, and 29.
Four-day Eastern Caribbean Getaway: Visiting Grand Turk or Princess Cays; May 15; Aug. 28, and Sept. 25.
Four-day Western Caribbean Getaway: Visiting Cozumel; May 19 and Sept. 11.
Three-day Eastern Caribbean Getaway: Visiting Princess Cays, May 23.
This item was written by Fran Golden, a cruise expert and Trip Coach for Budget Travel magazine. Golden is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/04/12/caribbean-princess-fort-lauderdale/2076765/
See related story below:
Duchess of Cambridge to name Princess Cruises’ new ship
Cruise Log Johanna Jainchill, special for USA TODAY
Catherine, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, will name Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship, the Royal Princess.
The former Kate Middleton will name the 3,600-passenger vessel during a ceremony that will take place in Southampton, England, on June 13.
Princess said the ceremony would uphold British ship-naming traditions including the blessing, a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards. The naming will highlight a week of inaugural celebrations to welcome the ship into service.
Princess did not say if Catherine’s husband, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, would also attend the ceremony.
“It is a great honor for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess,” said Alan Buckelew, Princess’ president and CEO, in a statement. “We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company’s British heritage and our commitment to the country.”
The Duchess continues a long tradition of British royals naming cruise ships, and a family tradition when it comes to the Royal Princess. The late Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince William’s mother, named the original Royal Princess ship in November 1984, also in Southampton.
The new Royal Princess is scheduled to arrive at the Ocean Terminal in Southampton on June 7, to commence a series of events for customers and travel agents, including a special naming gala on June 12. The ship’s inaugural celebrations conclude with the departure of the ship’s maiden voyage on June 16.
The ship will spend its inaugural season offering Grand Mediterranean cruises from Venice and Barcelona, followed by a fall and winter season of Eastern Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale.
This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers the travel industry for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.
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