Princess Cruises unveils biggest-ever UK and Europe season for 2024

Thursday, Dec 01, 2022 0

Princess Cruises has revealed that 2024 is set to be the biggest UK and Europe season in the line’s history, with almost four million cruise nights available, up 28 per cent compared to 2023 and 42 per cent compared to 2019. 162 departures are available on 85 unique itineraries across five MedallionClass ships, including the new Sphere-class Sun Princess. Cruises go on sale December 14, 2022.

More than 130 destinations in 34 countries are included, with voyages sailing from February through to November 2024. Programme highlights include:

Brand new Sun Princess to stay overnight in Southampton during inaugural season

The 4,300-guest Sun Princess, the line’s newest and most sustainable ship yet, spends her 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 either Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona or Athens. These seven-night cruises are combinable for the ultimate 21-night Mediterranean exploration.

In addition, Sun Princess will make an inaugural visit to Southampton for an overnight stay on September 22 to 23, 2024.

Island Princess joins Sun Princess in the Mediterranean, on 10 to 20-night voyages, with some itineraries featuring visits to the Holy Land.

The line’s largest-ever roundtrip Southampton deployment

Sky Princess returns to Southampton as its homeport for the fourth year running, sailing on a variety of voyages from four to 31 nights to destinations including Iceland and Norway, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean, and a 31-night adventure to New England and Canada with overnights in both New York City and Quebec, a first for the line.

Regal Princess sails roundtrip Southampton on 12-night British Isles voyages featuring Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool, and the Orkney Islands. Guests sailing on the 7 August 2024 departure will have the opportunity to see the awe-inspiring Edinburgh Military Tattoo, as Regal Princess stays overnight in Greenock.

Caribbean Princess joins the Southampton homeport line-up, sailing to destinations throughout Europe, including Northern Europe capital cities on a 12-night ‘Oktoberfest European Capitals’ itinerary, departing 12 September 2024, and above the Arctic Circle on a 14-night ‘Search for Northern Lights’ voyage, departing 24 September 2024.

Furthermore, Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess will spend the Summer Solstice at the top of the world where the sun never sets on a 14-night (Sky Princess) or 16-night (Caribbean Princess) Land of the Midnight Sun and Summer Solstice voyage.

Short Cruises

Sky Princess sails two short five-night cruises from Southampton in 2024. The 3,660-guest ship will offer a ‘Scandinavian Sampler’, calling at Oslo and Skagen, and a ‘European Sampler’ with an overnight in Hamburg. Both five-night itineraries are a first for the line.

Details of the 2024 Europe programme were revealed during an event held in London, attended by journalists and travel agents.

Eithne Williamson, vice president Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said: “With four million cruise nights available, UK guests will have more choice than ever before to sail across Europe with Princess Cruises, and we hope travel agents are as excited as we are to have the brand new Sun Princess based in the Mediterranean for her inaugural season in 2024.

“Sailings from Southampton remain in high demand, and 2024 will see the longest ex-UK season in Princess Cruises’ history. With three ships sailing from Southampton between March and November, we have increased capacity by more than 40 per cent compared to 2022, providing travel agents with even more opportunity to sell with Princess. Furthermore, the addition of two short cruises on Sky Princess provides a perfect opportunity for new guests to sample the Princess Difference for the first time.”