Princess Cruises Unveils Biggest-Ever UK and Europe Season

Princess Cruises Island Princess
Island Princess in Panama Canal

Princess Cruises has announced that 2024 is set to be the biggest UK and Europe season in the cruise line’s history with five ships based in the region, including the brand new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess.

The line has also revealed details of the all-new 360 experience on its ships Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess, as well as upgrades to its MedallionClass technology which enables passengers to personalise their holiday through a wearable medallion the size of a 10p coin that interacts with an app.

The 2024 season will increase Princess Cruises’ European programme by 28%, compared to 2023, with 85 itineraries available on vessels including the new Sphere-class vessel Sun Princess launching in 2024. It will be the first ship in the Princess fleet powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest marine fuel currently available, and is being heralded as the most sustainable Princess vessel to date.

Sun Princess will spend an inaugural season in Europe, with 10-night Grand Mediterranean and Western Grand Mediterranean itineraries departing from Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia), and seven-night cruises departing from Rome, Barcelona or Athens. These seven-night cruises can also be combined to create a 21-night Mediterranean voyage. Additionally, Sun Princess will visit to Southampton for an overnight stay in September 2024.

Island Princess will join Sun Princess in the Mediterranean, sailing on 10 to 20-night cruises, with some itineraries featuring visits to the Holy Land.

Princess Cruises MedallionClass app
Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass app

Three other Princess ships, Sky, Regal and Caribbean Princess, will sail out of Southampton in 2024, marking the line’s largest ever round-trip Southampton deployment with a host of no-fly cruises aimed at UK passengers.

Destinations include round-Britain sailings – with the chance to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo – and cruises to destinations including the Mediterranean, Norway and Iceland – with Midnight Sun and Summer Solstice itineraries – and a 31-night cruise to New England and Canada which will include overnights in both New York and Quebec, a first for the line.

Announcing the news Eithne Williamson, Vice President Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said:

“Europe is the most popular holiday destination for our UK guests, so we are delighted to have five Princess ships based in Europe in 2024, including the brand new Sun Princess, offering more choice for guests to experience the Princess difference than ever before. In addition, with three Princess Cruises ships based in the UK between March and November, 2024 will see our longest-ever roundtrip Southampton season.”

In other news she also spoke about the new 360 experience that has been unveiled on Discovery and Enchanted Princess. Diners can embark on a virtual journey around the globe in a circular restaurant surrounded by a video screen focusing on a specific destination that includes interviews with artisan farmers and wine producers followed by regional dishes linked to the destination and showcasing their produce.

Williamson added that the MedallionClass app, which enables passenger to book shore excursions, make dining reservations, keep in touch with friends and family also on board, and order food and drink anywhere on the ship, had been simplified and improved, saying:

“We have listened to customer feedback, and we want to evolve. We provide a big cruise experience with a personal touch.”

Author Bio:

Known as the ‘River Cruise Queen’, Jeannine Williamson is an award-winning travel writer, cruise expert and our cruise correspondent, who has clocked up thousands of nautical miles.

Photographs courtesy of Princess Cruises

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