Princess Cruises announced that the Discovery Princess will homeport in Sydney during the 2025-26 summer Australia season.
The Discovery Princess will be the cruise line’s biggest ship to ever homeport in Australia in its 50-year history of cruising down under. The ship will make its debut in Sydney in October 2025.
Princess Cruises’ President John Padgett said: “Nearly half a century has passed since Princess Cruises introduced the Pacific Princess ship to Sydney’s shores. In commemoration of this milestone, we are delighted to unveil the future deployment of the Discovery Princess today, further solidifying our belief in the Australian market.
“We are confident that both our international and Australian guests will be excited about the spectacular experience aboard Discovery Princess as she sails from Sydney in late 2025.”
Padgett added the cruise line is thrilled to add the Discovery Princess to its Australian fleet for the 2025-26 summer season. The ship will join the Crown Princess and the Grand Princess as part of the summer program, which will be revealed in full next month including the longest World Cruise yet.
“Discovery Princess will continue to set new standards for premium cruising when she sails from Australia in the 2025-26 summer season. She’s an incredible ship with many wonderful features for our guests, from superb cuisine to world-class entertainment and facilities.”
Instead, it will head straight to Japan, spending a total of ten days at sea before arriving in the port of Otaru.
“In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center, we are monitoring a low-pressure system in the greater Alaska region which is forecasted to create unusually high swells and strong winds that will impact the first part of our itinerary,” the company said in a statement given to guests onboard.
“To maintain a safe distance from the storm, we must sail south of the low-pressure system. Therefore, it will not be possible to visit Alaska,” Carnival added.
The original itinerary of the repositioning cruise included visits to Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, in addition to scenic cruising at the Hubbard Glacier.
“Everyone’s safety is our priority, and we really have no choice other than to change our itinerary. We know you were looking forward to visiting Alaska as part of this unique adventure and we share your disappointment,” the statement remarked.
“To make it up to you, we will be posting a $200, per stateroom, onboard credit to your Sail & Sign account to enjoy a little something on us,” Carnival added.
The company will also reimburse any pre-purchased shore excursions for the destinations that are no longer being visited.
Now sailing directly to Asia, the Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to arrive in Japan earlier than planned and visit an additional port in the country. To accommodate the extra port of call, however, Carnival also cancelled a visit to Kushiro.
Following the revised itinerary, the 2009-built ship is scheduled to arrive in Otaru on Sep. 25, before heading to Hakodate on Sep. 26.
The remainder of the cruise, which also includes visits to three other ports in Japan and additional visits to Indonesia and the Philippines, hasn’t changed.
Spending the 2023-2024 winter in Australia, the Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to arrive in Brisbane on Oct. 15.
With a fleet of 25 cruise ships and a global reach, Carnival Cruise Line is sailing from all major U.S. homeports in addition to having a presence in Europe and Australia.
Cruise Industry News selected some of the most interesting cruises being offered by the U.S.-based company still to take place in 2023.
Greenland and Canada from Baltimore Ship: Carnival Legend Date: August 13, 2023 Length: 14 nights Homeports: Baltimore (United States) Complete Itinerary: Sydney, St. Anthony and Corner Brook (Canada); Qaqortoq and Nanortalik (Greenland)
The Carnival Legend will offer a series of unique 14-night cruises to Greenland and Canada in August and September. Departing from Baltimore, the vessel is set to sail to the Arctic region, with itineraries that include visits to at least five ports.
On August 13, for instance, the vessel sails from Maryland on a two-week voyage that features stops at Sydney, St. Anthony and Corner Brook, in Canada, as well as Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, in Greenland.
British Islands and Ireland Ship: Carnival Pride Date: September 1, 2023 Length: Nine nights Homeports: Dover (England) Complete Itinerary: Greenock (Scotland); Dublin and Cork (Ireland); Belfast (Northern Ireland); Liverpool (England); and Holyhead (Wales)
Sailing roundtrip from the Port of Dover, in England, the port-intensive itinerary sails to all of the major countries that are part of the United Kingdom, in addition to Ireland. Destinations set to be visited include Greenock, Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool, Holyhead and more.
Southern Caribbean with the Carnival Celebration Ship: Carnival Celebration Date: September 9, 2023 Length: Eight nights Homeports: Miami (United States) Complete Itinerary: Oranjestad (Aruba); Kralendijk (Bonaire); and Willemstad (Curaçao)
Adding more destinations to its regular cruise schedule, the Carnival Celebration is offering a few longer sailings to the Southern Caribbean during the remainder of the year.
Sailing from Carnival’s Terminal F in PortMiami, this eight-night cruise, for instance, is set to depart in September and features visits to the ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Return to Mobile Ship: Carnival Spirit Date: October 6, 2023 Length: Eight nights Homeports: Mobile (United States) Complete Itinerary: Bimini, Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas)
The first cruise of the program, for example, is an all-Bahamian trip that features visits to Bimini, Freeport and Nassau. Before returning to Mobile, the eight-night cruise also pays a visit to Half Moon Cay, one of Carnival Corporation’s private destinations in the country.
Mexican Riviera with La Paz Ship: Carnival Panorama Date: November 18, 2023 Length: Eight nights Homeports: Long Beach (United States) Complete Itinerary: La Paz, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta (Mexico)
Stepping away from its regular seven-night itinerary to the Mexican Riviera, the Carnival Panorama is offering a few longer sailings later this year.
On November 18, for instance, the ship sails from Long Beach on an eight-night cruise that, in addition to Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, adds a visit to another port of call: La Paz.
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