What began as the little cruise line that could, operating one small luxury liner between Los Angeles and the Mexican Riviera (and later Alaska) in 1965, evolved into a cruise industry giant, with 14 ships sailing on more than 150 global itineraries ranging from seven to 72 days.
Princess now ranks as one of the top mass-market cruise lines, with a reputation for being a force for change in the industry. An example of this is the 2006 addition of its Northeast Motorcoach Program — four roundtrip routes to and from the Brooklyn Cruise terminal. This innovation allows passengers from throughout the Northeast to easily reach their port destination.
Princess features a well-maintained fleet that ranges from the mega-sized “post Panamax” ships—so-named for being too wide to fit through the Panama Canal—to more intimate, 680-passenger vessels. In 2007, Princess will debut its newest ship -- the 116,000 ton Caribbean Princess 3 .
Princess Cruises is part of the industry’s giant Carnival Corporation, a move that occurred when Princess’ parent company, P&O Cruises, was acquired by Carnival.
Life Onboard
On the onboard front, Princess Cruises is known for introducing innovative features, amenities and programs. For example, the company has also emphasized an affordable verandah strategy, particularly on its Grand- and Coral-class ships and beyond. Another highlight is “Personal Choice Dining,” a program allowing passengers to opt for either traditional set-seating dining or a more flexible open-seating plan. Available on almost all of the line’s ships, it continues to evolve as one of Princess’ strongest features.
ScholarShip@Sea offers numerous educational and hobby-oriented learning experiences, and 24-hour Internet cafés have been installed on all but two ships (which offer laptop rentals only). And the “Movies at Sea” program, with movies shown on a giant LED screen above the main pool, is on every ship with a Caribbean itinerary.
In 2006, Princess expanded its popular "Tie the Knot At Sea" wedding program to its entire fleet (it was originally offered only on the larger vessels). Marriages are performed by the ship's captain under the legal authority of the ship's Bermuda registry.
Princess Cruises is known for running one of the best supervised children's programs at sea, available on all ships during holiday and vacation periods.
Fellow Passengers
Princess Cruises attracts quite a widespread passenger demographic. However, since its ships vary so widely in style and services, it's a good idea to choose carefully. The Island-, Grand-, and Sun-class ships attract broad multi-generational demographics -- everyone from solo travelers to family groups will find something to like. On ships like Regal and Royal Princess, travelers skew older, while Tahitian Princess has become the line's "couples" ship and is particularly popular with honeymooners.
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