Princess Cruises outlines expanded Asia-Pacific deployment
Sapphire Princess will debut from Fremantle as the cruise line adds regional itineraries and home ports.
Princess Cruises plans to deploy one-third of its fleet in the Asia-Pacific region during both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, according to Matt Rutherford, the company’s vice president for Asia Pacific.
Rutherford said the cruise line would introduce itineraries linking Australia with Asia, operate from a wider range of Australian home ports and increase calls in New Zealand. Sapphire Princess is scheduled to spend its first Fremantle season there from October 2027 to February 2028, offering Northern Explorer voyages around Australia’s Top End, shorter coastal sailings and cruises to Singapore and Bali.
The plans follow Crown Princess’s return to Australia during a world cruise that departed Sydney in May. Royal Princess and Grand Princess were also due to follow.
From November 2026, Grand Princess is scheduled to operate longer voyages. Its program includes 29-night Australian circumnavigations in April and October 2027 and March 2028, a 43-night Australia and New Zealand itinerary in October 2027, and Pacific Circle sailings of 79 nights in June 2027 and 94 nights in June 2028.
Princess has also introduced its Sanctuary Collection aboard Sphere-class ships Sun Princess and Star Princess, launched in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The line says guests booking Sanctuary-class suites receive access to a private restaurant, sundeck, pool and lounge, alongside benefits including specialty dining, drinks packages, Wi-Fi and excursion credits.
