Bookings were up by 13% compared to the line’s previous strongest booking day in 2019. The line saw strong demand for its 2023 roundtrip Southampton cruises on Sky Princess alongside an increase in demand for fly-Mediterranean voyages and long-haul destinations such as Alaska, the Caribbean and Australia.
Eithne Williamson, vice president of Princess Cruises UK and Europe, thanked the company’s agent partners for helping the line achieve its record-breaking day.
“It is thanks to their unwavering commitment and hard work that we were able to surpass our previous best booking day and we’re extremely grateful for their continued support,” she added.
“The demand for cruise holidays is evidently back and better than ever and we are sure agents will agree that it is fantastic to see holidaymakers once again being able to plan ahead for future holidays in destinations both close to home and further afield.”
Six months after the restart, Princess Cruises has added a total of eight ships back in service, including the new Enchanted Princess, which welcomed its first guests in November.
Back in Action in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii
Pursuing a phased restart plan, Princess grew its active fleet to eight ships in the past six months.
The premium brand is now offering cruises in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii, sailing from three different homeports.
Here are the details:
Majestic Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Regal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 31, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 5 to 7 nights Itinerary: Eastern and Western Caribbean
Sky Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since August 30, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Grand Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: In service since September 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 10 to 15 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera, Sea of Cortez and Hawaii
Emerald Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since October 15, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 14 and 15 nights Itinerary: Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean
Ruby Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: In service since October 31, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: San Francisco (United States) Length: 15 nights Itinerary: Hawaii and Panama Canal
Enchanted Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since November 10, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 10 nights Itinerary: Southern and Eastern Caribbean
Caribbean Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since November 28, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Most of the Fleet Set to Return by May
As Princess returns to additional destinations in 2022, more vessels are resuming service. According to the company’s current restart plans, most of the fleet is set to be sailing again in May, in time for summer seasons in Alaska and Asia.
Here are the planned service resumption dates:
Discovery Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,660 Date: March 27, 2022 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta
Island Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: April 27, 2022 Region: Panama Canal Homeport: Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles (United States) Length: 14 nights First itinerary: Cartagena, Panama Canal (old locks), Puntarenas, San Juan del Sur, Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta
Diamond Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: April 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Yokohama (Japan) Length: 6 nights First itinerary: Nagasaki, Busan and Kagoshima
Royal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: May 2, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Vancouver (Canada) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Ketchikan and Victoria
Crown Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: May 7, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Seattle (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Glacier Bay Park, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria
Sapphire Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: August 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Hong Kong to Fremantle (Australia) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Nha Trang, Phu My, Singapore and Lombok
Coral Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: September 3, 2022 Region: Australia Homeport: Sydney (Australia) Length: 35 nights First itinerary: New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific
Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas will sail a program out of Singapore starting from April 2022, which is six months ahead of the previous schedule. This was reported by the Singapore Cruise Society.
The 4,200-passenger Quantum Ultra-class ship was originally poised to begin the Singapore-based season in October 2022. It was last engaged in a season of short domestic sailings to nowhere, exclusive for Hong Kong residents. But, after a mid-January update to local COVID-19 prevention policies by local authorities, the cruise line started cancelling Hong Kong voyages onboard the Spectrum.
According to Singapore Cruise Society, Spectrum’s older fleet mate, the Quantum of the Seas, which was most recently operating sailings out of Singapore, will be redeployed for a season of voyages in Alaska, starting in May.