Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess heads to South East Asia

Sapphire Princess cruise ship will be deployed to South East Asia for a four-month cruise season from November 2014 to February 2015 as a response to vast potential of the Indonesian and Southeast Asian cruise market by bringing the Sapphire Princess to Southeast Asia for a four-month season from November 2014 to February 2015. This will enable American owned cruise line Princess Cruises to tab vast Indonesia market where the number of cruise passengers increased significantly and Princess Cruises is newly entering. According to the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy, 112,882 visitors came to Indonesia by 214 cruise calls in 2012. This year, the Ministry is expecting a jump in cruise calls to 308 calls and a rise of in the number of passengers to 147,134 people, and this number is forecast to increase in the future.

The total economic impact to Indonesia is expected to be considerable, based on passenger and crew spending in each port, port and other local costs as well as travel agent commissions and marketing costs.

“We are excited to have Princess Cruises sail to Indonesia. With its abundance of unique cultural and natural attractions, Indonesia offers an appealing range of destinations for cruise vacationers,” said Farriek Tawfik, Director for Southeast Asia, Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises will offer itineraries custom-designed for the diverse Asia vacation market. Cruises will call at 7 countries and 16 ports in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Brunei.

The wide range of cruise lengths will run from three to 11 days, providing passengers with a wide array of vacation experiences. The highlight for Indonesia is a 10-day sailing that visits Jakarta, Bali, Komodo Island and Lombok.

Approximately 40,000 passengers are expected to be carried during this first season of cruising. Passengers will be sourced from Indonesia and throughout Asia, in addition to international markets including North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

These itineraries have also been designed with the option of being combined to offer passengers a choice of 25 cruises of up to 21 days in length, with a rich array of ports in one seamless experience. For example, the 10-day Indonesia cruise can be combined with the three-day Straits of Malacca cruise for a 13-day itinerary with six ports.

The 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess carries 2,670 passengers and features more than 200 suites and mini-suites with private balconies, Lotus Spa, Sterling Steakhouse, Sabatini's trattoria, wine bar, patisserie, pizzeria, boutiques, and Internet café among other amenities.

The new Princess Cruises Indonesia itineraries is to include a total of 16 ports in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lombok, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In April 2013, Princess Cruises has announced that it will position Sapphire Princess cruise liner in Singapore between November 2014 and February 2015. The cruise ship will homeport in Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Centre and offer 15 round-trip departures. Sapphire Princess will offer cruises as short as a three-day trip from Singapore to Malaysia and as long as 11-day voyages from Singapore to Vietnam and back with stops in Brunei and Bangkok. It will also offer itineraries such as a 10-day Indonesia trip and five-day tours of Thailand. All itineraries will include shore excursions.

In conjunction with this new program Princess Cruises has launched a version of the on-demand, on-line training program called Princess Academy, which will enable travel agents in Indonesia and the region to become experts on cruise sales, the Princess fleet, destinations and programs. Globally, over 50,000 travel agents are active participants in Princess Academy, making it one of the largest online travel universities in the world.

“We definitely look forward a good working relationship with our partners in Indonesia such as the travel agents and authorities, especially the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy to bring international passengers to the shores of Indonesia,” added Mr Tawfik.

Cruise from Shanghai in 2014 by Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess of Princess Cruises will home port in Shanghai in 2014, announced by Carnival Corporation. Beginning in May 2014, Sapphire Princess will start round trip cruises from Shanghai in 3 to 7 days which - according to Princess research - shows is the ideal number of vacation days for the Chinese market.

The 7-day cruises from Shanghai will head to Korean capital of Seoul, on to the culturally rich beach resort of Busan and finishing at the magical Island of Jeju, before returning to Shanghai. The four-day cruise will call at Busan and Jeju, the five-day cruise will call at Jeju and Inchon, while the three-day cruise calls at Jeju.

Quickly expanding throughout the Asia region, Princess Cruises has placed China foremost in the company’s deployment plans. Carnival Corporation, parent group of Princess Cruises, has already opened offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

Passengers on the new China-based cruises will be treated to numerous programs including world leader dinners, sommelier wine excursions, daily English high tea, a 24-hour buffet, Tai Chi and Zumba, a “Princess Night” bedtime experience, and a complete shopping experience. Personal enrichment courses will also be offered for adults and children.

Alan Buckelew, President and CEO of Princess Cruises said, “We’re excited to bring a new premium cruise travel experience to China’s shores. Though we have carried thousands of Chinese travelers on our ships over many years, we think the time is right for a new premium cruise experience that offers a new type of vacation experience for the Chinese consumer, sailing from China.”

Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess cruise ship, which has 18 decks and 28 premium suites with private balconies, can carry 2,670 passengers. The cruise ship also includes a casino, duty-free shops, fitness center and spa, sports deck, children’s and teen’s centers, library, internet café, wedding chapel, art gallery and a golf putting course, among other features.

Beginning November 2014 through February 2015, Sapphire Princess will sail roundtrip Asia cruises out of Singapore

Princess’ new 2014 season of cruises will go on sale to the public on 1 November 2013. The line is currently inviting charter opportunities through 1 October 2013.

Princess Cruises 2014-15 Exotics Cruises

 Global cruise and tour company Princess Cruises offers many great cruises along Asia, Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Tahiti & the South Pacific, and South America in their 2014-15 exotics program. The lineup in 2014-2015 will also includes Princess Cruises’ first-ever World Cruise sailing round-trip from North America and additional capacity in Tahiti & the South Pacific. In Australia, Princess will continue to offer the biggest choice of ships, home-ports and itineraries with four ships deployed in the region. The West Africa itinerary, returning to the lineup due to popular demand, will add a new port to Princess’ roster of more than 300 around the world, with a maiden call to the island nation of São Tomé.

In total, the fall 2014 to spring 2015 program spans six continents and calls to more than 145 worldwide destinations. Eight ships will cover the globe with 114 departures of 37 itinerary options.

“Worldwide cruising has long been a Princess specialty,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Our expertise in these exciting destinations offers passengers the perfect way to check that ‘must-see’ place off their bucket list.”

Princess Cruises’ 2014-15 Exotics program

Asia & Africa
Sapphire Princess in Asia - Sailing between Beijing and Bangkok or Singapore, Sapphire Princess with her 2,670 passengers capacity will offer a 17-day Grand Asia itinerary. Sapphire Princess will offer three departures in Asia in fall 2014. Each cruise wil include an overnight stay in spectacular Hong Kong as well as calls to Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Busan, and Nagasaki. Cruise departures run from October 7 to November 10, 2014.

Ocean Princess to Asia and Africa – Small ship Ocean Princess sails through the Indian Ocean along the coast of West Africa in spring 2015. The ship’s 32-day Singapore to Cape Town voyage is followed by a 30-day Cape Town to London (Dover) voyage featuring visits to a number of intriguing destinations in West Africa. True world travelers can combine these voyages for a 62-day cruise to a variety of exotic calls such as Ghana, Togo, Namibia, Senegal, and Princess’ maiden call to the island nation of São Tomé. Sailings depart April 3 and May 5, 2015.

Land & Sea Vacations – In Asia, passengers can add to their cruise with a land tour to the top attractions in China – including UNESCO sites like Beijing’s Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, The Great Wall, Xian and the Terra Cotta Warriors – as well as three nights on a Yangtze River cruise.

Sapphire Princess cruise ship will be in Asia in 2014-2015.

Australia & New Zealand
Diamond Princess in Australia & New Zealand – The ship once again sails on this favorite itinerary between Sydney and Auckland. The 12- or 13-day voyages include calls in both countries, and spectacular cruising through the dramatic Fiordland National Park. Departures run from December 16, 2014 through February 15, 2015.

Diamond Princess Round Australia – For the first time, Diamond Princess offer a full 28-day circumnavigation of the Australian continent. Featuring Princess’ largest ship ever on this route, the Sydney to Sydney voyage offers two departures – November 18, 2014 and February 27, 2015.

Australia Homeport Cruising – Sun Princess, Sea Princess and Dawn Princess will offer sailings from three homeports – Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne – on a series of New Zealand, Fiji, South Pacific and Tasmania cruises geared especially for local tastes.

Australia & Asia – Diamond Princess and Ocean Princess offer Australia & Asia departures between Sydney and Singapore featuring the Northern Territory, Queensland as well as ports in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Land & Sea Vacations – Travelers can add more of the wonders of Australia with land tours that visit iconic UNESCO sites such as Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kakadu National Park in the Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, and cosmopolitan Sydney.

Tahiti & South Pacific 
Small Ship Cruising in French Polynesia – Princess returns to the blue waters of Tahiti & Polynesia with two ships for increased capacity in to this beautiful destination. Intimate sister ships Pacific Princess and Ocean Princess offer the small ship cruising experience in fall and spring on a 10-day Tahiti & French Polynesia itinerary roundtrip from Tahiti (Papeete). Each departure includes two full days in Bora Bora as well as Moorea, Rangiroa, Raiatea, Huahine – all selected in Condé Nast Traveler’s 10 best islands in the South Pacific. Sailings depart between October 9, 2014 and February 16, 2015.

Pacific Princess to Marquesas & Polynesia – Pacific Princess will also feature three departures of a 10-day Marquesas & Polynesia itinerary featuring the remote island of Nuku Hiva – famed as the island where Herman Melville penned his first book, Typee, about life on a Polynesian island. Departures are offered on October 29, November 28 and December 28, 2014.

South America & the Caribbean 
Golden Princess in South America – Two itineraries aboard Golden Princess offer passengers the best of Southern Hemisphere cruising. Sailing between Santiago (Valparaiso) and either Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, the Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan or Route to Rio itineraries each include the dramatic cruising of the southernmost tip of South America and the Chilean Fjords. Sailings depart between December 20, 2014 and February 28, 2015.

Golden Princess Andes & South America – At the beginning and end of the season, Golden Princess will also sail between two continents and cross the Equator on two departures of a Andes & South America itinerary between Los Angeles and Santiago, featuring calls in Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and an optional overland tour to magnificent Machu Picchu. Departures are offered on December 3, 2014 and March 14, 2015.

Ocean Princess Caribbean Connoisseur – A special 14-day Caribbean Connoisseur voyage aboard Ocean Princess over the holidays adds a new sailing choice from Ft. Lauderdale. A unique opportunity to enjoy small ship-cruising in the Caribbean, this voyage includes calls at small gems such as St. Barts, Martinique and Virgin Gorda. Ocean Princess departs on December 19, 2014.

Land & Sea Vacations – Land tour options offer the opportunity to explore dramatic UNESCO sites like Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian-Argentine border or mysterious Machu Picchu in the Andes in addition to a South America cruise.

World Cruise 
World Cruise on Pacific Princess – For the first time, Princess’ World Cruise will depart and return from North America. The 111-day voyage aboard Pacific Princess sails roundtrip from Los Angeles, with an option for a 94-day itinerary from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. Spanning six continents and featuring more than 34 destinations to 25 countries, this unique World Cruise includes four overnight calls in Sydney, Hong Kong, Dubai and Barcelona. Overland excursions and day excursions will be available to see some of the most iconic destinations such as Sydney Harbour, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal and Mexico’s Copper Canyon. Pacific Princess sets sail on January 23, 2015.

Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess will cruise from Singapore in 2014-2015

Princess Cruises, British-American owned cruise line based in Santa Clarita, will position Sapphire Princess cruise liner in Singapore between November 2014 and February 2015. 2,670-passenger cruise ship will homeport in Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Centre and offer 15 round-trip departures. Sapphire Princess will offer cruises as short as a three-day trip from Singapore to Malaysia and as long as 11-day voyages from Singapore to Vietnam and back with stops in Brunei and Bangkok. It will also offer itineraries such as a 10-day Indonesia trip and five-day tours of Thailand. All itineraries will include shore excursions.

“Princess Cruises will be the first premium cruise line to have ships based in Singapore for an extended period,” said Alan Buckelew, the line’s president and CEO. “Our new Singapore-based deployment features superior itineraries specifically designed for the regional market which we believe will prove extremely popular and will help to introduce cruise vacations to a growing number of Southeast Asia vacationers.”

Explaining why Singapore was chosen, Jan Swartz, executive vice president for sales, marketing & customer service, Princess Cruises, said: “We see the growing awareness of cruise tourism in Singapore, which gives us an opportunity to grow.” She added that the cruises from Singapore were also expected to draw strong interest from neighbouring countries like Malaysia, India and Indonesia.

Sapphire Princess currently sails alternating Northbound & Southbound Voyage of the Glacier cruises in the summer and in the winter sails Mexico, Hawaii & California Coastal cruises. Sapphire Princess is fitted with over 700 balconies from which passengers can step out and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze and offers   amenities such as spa, fitness centre, casino and several dining and night life locations.

Sapphire Princess will homeport in Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Centre and offer cruises to
Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Princess Cruises' parent company,  Carnival Cruises, already has a presence in China through its Costa Cruises brand, while Princess Cruises is setting up shop in Japan this month. "As cruise lines are being deployed into the market, the market starts to develop. Slowly at first, but then they reach a critical mass," Alan Buckelew, chief executive and president of Princess Cruises.

"Our ships move to where we believe the demand is strongest." Singapore, a regional aviation hub, has also taken steps to gain a bigger slice of the growing cruise travel market. In October, it opened a new cruise terminal capable of berthing the world's biggest luxury liners.