Cruise Lines
                                      Princess Cruises...

About
                         Princess Cruises...
What began as the little cruise line that could -- operating one small luxury liner between Los Angeles and the Mexican Riviera in 1965 (and later Alaska) -- has evolved into a cruise industry giant. Princess Cruises has 14 ships sailing the globe on more than 150 itineraries that range from seven to 72 days and visit some 260 ports. Happy 40th birthday Princess (the milestone will be celebrated throughout 2005)!

Princess' big news in 2004 was its near-unprecedented new ship expansion. In the space of about three months the cruise line added three new vessels. Diamond Princess, the fleet's new biggest-ship-ever (at 116,000 tons), christened at the end of February; followed by Caribbean Princess and then, finally, Diamond's sister ship -- Sapphire Princess.

Fleet expansion hasn't been limited to 2004, of course. In 2003, the company launched sister ships Coral Princess and Island Princess. In 2002, the company acquired two vessels from now-defunct Renaissance Cruises and, after minor refurbishments, introduced Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess. Star Princess, sister to Grand Princess, also joined the fleet in 2002. Two new ships are under construction, both 116,000 tons, the Crown Princess (due in 2006) and the Caribbean Princess 3 (due in 2007).

Princess is now part of the industry's giant Carnival Corporation a move that occurred when Carnival acquired the cruise line's parent company -- U.K.-based P&O Cruises. And even though Princess Cruises is now part of the world's largest cruise corporation. While some repeaters say they are starting to notice the Carnival influence, from what we've seen the operation of the line has, by and large, remained the same.