Crown Princess to Debut Line's First Roundtrip Caribbean Sailings from New York
New Ship Marks Princess' Return to Bermuda, Introduces Two New Ports of Call

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (March 10, 2004) -- When Crown Princess debuts next summer, the vessel will introduce Princess' first ever roundtrip Caribbean sailings from New York. This inaugural sailing season will feature nine-day roundtrip voyages to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean and will include Princess' return to Bermuda.

Beginning June 14 and running through October 18, 2006, Crown Princess will offer 10 sailings on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary with calls at Bermuda (West End), San Juan, St. Thomas and a new port of call for Princess, Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition, the lineup includes five sailings on a Western Caribbean itinerary with stops at another new port for Princess, Port Canaveral, as well as Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Grand Turk.

"Having Crown Princess sail from New York during her inaugural season is tremendously exciting and offers a brand new cruise option for our customers," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "We're especially pleased to once again offer passengers a regular opportunity to enjoy the British flavor and pink sand beaches of Bermuda plus introduce our passengers to Grand Turk and Port Canaveral."

Princess last offered regularly scheduled calls in Bermuda in 2002. On this new itinerary, Crown Princess will call on the island during weekends, offering a less congested experience for passengers as most cruise ships make Bermuda calls during the week.

In Grand Turk, Crown Princess will be one of the first cruise ships to call upon the completion of the island's new cruise terminal and welcome center, which will offer a variety of guest services and attractions, including a recreational area with private beach and swimming pool. The terminal will serve as the gateway to an unspoiled, remote island experience featuring some dramatic diving/snorkeling opportunities. Port Canaveral calls will enable passengers to explore the nearby Kennedy Space Center and other local attractions.

The 116,000-ton Crown Princess will introduce a number of new design innovations to the Princess fleet, including a dramatic new piazza-style atrium, new casual dining venues and expansion of some favorite shipboard areas. Within the new street café environment of the atrium, passengers will find an International Café serving up fresh pastries and baked goods in the morning and assorted other offerings throughout the day, as well as a wine and seafood bar. Several signature Princess venues have been further enhanced, including an expanded Trattoria Sabatini with a new piano lounge area and the addition of pub fare to the trademark Wheelhouse Bar. A new Steak and Seafood restaurant expands on the Sterling Steakhouse concept with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs will custom-prepare steamed shellfish and cooked-to-order steaks and chops.

The ship will also feature the many hallmark features that define the Princess experience, including the dramatic Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, multiple dining and entertainment options, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating, a two-story Lotus Spa with fitness center, an extensive children and teen's center, a wedding chapel and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.

Crown Princess sailings will be open for booking on April 1, 2005. Additional information about Crown Princess is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

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Originally posted by Thad:
Is the Crown Princess and exact sister of the Carribean Princess, or does she incorporate some of the differences of the Diamond and Sapphire Princesses? Those two have a covered pool, and the rendering I saw of the Crown looked more like them with the sky lounge integrated into the back of the funnel. Any one know?

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Originally posted by CGT:

The CROWN PRINCESS will be like the DIAMOND PRINCESS and SAPPHIRE PRINCESS with the Skywalkers lounge forward (no shopping cart handle). I make the assumption that the MUTS will be installed in place of the covered conservatory pool, as on CARIBBEAN PRINCESS.

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Unfortunately - the Crown Princess is a sister to the Caribbean Princess (Grand class with an extra deck of passengers). Princess is making a few design changes but the space ratio will be similiar to the Caribbean Princess as opposed to the Diamond/Sapphire.

Here is some info:

http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na722

Though as CGT said - they are moving Skywalkers similiar to the Diamond/Sapphire.

So, it will have the space ratio of the Caribbean Princess with some design features of both the Caribbean and Diamond/Sapphire but it is still a sister to the Caribbean Princess. How confusing!

[ 03-11-2005: Message edited by: Coral ]

Whilst I know that we can easily fly to Miami to join a cruise, I am tempted by the idea of the shorter transatlantic flight and the idea of a pre- or post-cruise stay in NY would be appealing

Shame about there being no covered pool, though. Then again, I am more of a Hot Tub man myself, and even though I am in the cold north-west of the UK my garden hot tub still gets a lot of use in the winter (its great when there's snow on the ground, steam rising from the hot tub, cold beer within reach.............)

Whoops- back to reality:

CGT: I wouldn't mind a stop at Port Canaveral and a chance to visit the space centre; I sailed on RC Mariner of the Seas last November from Port Canaveral but our flights did not allow time to visit the "big birds"

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Originally posted by Meldrew of the Seas:
...(but then sneaking liqor onboard is kinda important to us poor Brits)

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