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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.
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CRUISECLEVER - PRINCESS
CRUISES
