Explore Ancient Civilisations with a Modern Princess

Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana won’t be there but the ancient city of Troy will be among new destinations for Princess Cruises in 2007 when the line embarks on its biggest-ever program in Europe.

The Hollywood stars featured in the epic 2004 movie, Troy, which recounted the 10 year-Trojan War that left the great Bronze Age city of Troy in ruins 4000 years ago. The ancient remains, which are close to the ANZAC birthplace, Gallipoli, on the Dardanelles Strait, were discovered near the Turkish town of Canakkale in 1822.

Canakkale will join Ravenna in Italy, Split in Croatia and Kotor in Montenegro as new ports for Princess Cruises in 2007.

A record five state-of-the-art ships will offer 81 luxury cruises from seven to 24 days to an unprecedented 110 destinations on the Crimean Coast and in the Holy Land, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, British Isles, Baltic, Iceland and Egypt between April and December next year. The five ships will offer a total of almost 3000 balcony cabins – the most of any fleet in Europe.

The ships include the two latest vessels for Princess Cruises – the 680-passenger boutique liner Royal Princess and the brand new 3100-passenger megaliner Emerald Princess.

Princess’ 2007 Europe program offers Australians one of the easiest, most affordable and most comfortable ways to see multiple countries in Europe in one hassle-free holiday, with fares including all main meals and entertainment.

Highlights of Princess’ new 2007 Europe brochure for Australia include:

 The debut of Royal Princess which will offer a series of 12-night voyages featuring Troy, Kotor, Split, Ravenna, Sardinia, Corsica, the castle-studded Crimean coast on the Black Sea and Princess’ first sailings to the Holy Land destinations of Nazareth and Jerusalem in five years.

 The inaugural season of megaliner Emerald Princess which will offer Princess’ popular 12-day voyages between Venice and Barcelona as well as cruises to the ancient Greek ruins of Olympia, the spectacular Roman ruins at Ephesus in Turkey and the beautiful Greek islands.

 Voyages through northern Europe, including Iceland, Norway, Greenland and the British Isles aboard the 2600-passenger Grand Princess.

 Exotic cruises to Russia, Scandinavia, Poland and Germany aboard the 2600-passenger Star Princess.

 A series of seven or 14-day voyages aboard the 1950-passenger Sea Princess from Southampton to some of Europe’s most popular destinations.

Fares are available from A$1439 per person (complete twin cabin) for a seven-night cruise on Sea Princess from Southampton to Spain and France. Balcony cabins are available from A$2349 pp. Air and hotel packages are also available. Conditions apply and fares are subject to availability.