Princess Cruises first set sail in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico. Today, Princess is one of the largest cruise lines in the world, with terrific ships and an array of onboard experiences for all ages.

Princess Cruises was catapulted to stardom in 1977 when one of its ships, Pacific Princess, was cast in a starring role on a new television show called "The Love Boat." The weekly series, which introduced millions of viewers to the concept of a sea-going vacation, was an instant hit and both the company name and the Princess logo have remained synonymous with cruising ever since. The show, which can still seen around the world, has been widely credited with fueling the dramatic expansion of the industry.

Traveling with Children?

Princess Youth and Teen Programs provide state-of-the-art youth center facilities and an array of activities to keep kids and teens entertained. Young passengers enjoy a wide range of fun events for ages 3 to 17, supervised by a dedicated staff of youth activity professionals. The program offers three distinct, age-specific programs:

• Princess Pelicans (ages 3-7)
• Shockwaves (ages 8-12) and
• Remix (ages 13-17).

Each group features an age-appropriate schedule, often with separate facilities. The program includes a number of special features, including Science on the Seas activities from the award-winning California Science Center, Yoga for Kids, and a Jr. CHEF@Sea program. 

New in 2009 is a program in conjunction with Klutz, the publisher of award-winning activity books for children providing high-quality arts and crafts projects for you and your children while onboard. Klutz and Princess collaborated to develop custom-built kits designed to engage your children in fun and creative activities. Unique in the cruise industry, the new activities are available fleetwide.

Children sailing aboard Princess ships will have the opportunity to participate in up to seven Klutz activities during their cruise either during the youth center's regular activities or during the ship's family fun fair in the atrium, where all family members can join in the creative fun. Kids will be able to build their own storybooks; create lanyard bracelets; make "picture tags" for charm bracelets, luggage tags, or pet I.D.s; create fuzzy masterpieces with Velvet Art; craft paper flowers, weave friendship bracelets; or make Thumb Doodle thumbprint art.

New "Movie Club" on
Princess Cruises

Five years ago Princess started its Movies Under the Stars (MUTS) program on the Caribbean Princess. The giant Times Square-style movie screens are currently available on eight ships including the Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess, Golden Princess and Sea Princess and will be added to most other ships in the Princess fleet by 2011. The giant LED screens are more than 300 square feet in size with 69,000-watt sound systems and sufficient lighting power to be seen clearly at mid-day and heard even while the ship is moving at full speed – offering a movie experience at sea that is comparable to the best shoreside movie theater. 

Princess recently announced that it has teamed up with noted film critic and historian Leonard Maltin to launch the Leonard Maltin Movie Club.  The new club will give you the opportunity to join fellow film buffs to discuss motion pictures specially selected by Mr. Maltin. You will not only be able to enjoy the open-air poolside Movies Under the Stars viewing experience, but will also be able to gather for a thought-provoking discussion to gain greater perspective on the film, if you wish. Mr. Maltin will even be onboard select sailings to lead the discussions.

You can also catch up on many popular and classic films with a new Leonard Maltin Movie Channel available in your stateroom.

Different films will be selected each month and announced on the Princess Web site, www.princess.com prior to the sailing, so you will know what Movie Club selection will be featured on your cruise. 

Other special programs presented on the giant screens include sporting events such as the Super Bowl, the college football Bowl Championship Series, video game contests with Nintendo’s Wii, a variety of concert events with artists such as Christina Aguilera and Matchbox Twenty, and even midnight showings of cult films such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

 

Need a Little Peace and Quiet?

The Sanctuary Added to Princess Fleet -- Prompted by enthusiastic response from its passengers, Princess Cruises' ground-breaking "pocket of tranquility" -- The Sanctuary -- has become such a popular haven for passengers looking to escape to a serene hideaway, that it will be added to the entire fleet of Princess ships. The Sanctuary debuted in 2006 aboard Crown Princess and was an instant success as it gave passengers the perfect place to take a break and indulge in a private getaway in a plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting. The area is complete with massage cabanas, signature beverages, light meals, attentive service and relaxing personal entertainment. The exclusive adults-only retreat is currently also available on Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Island Princess and Star Princess.

Alaska 2010 Cruise and Cruisetour Program

Princess Cruises' 2010 Alaska program will offer a diverse array of opportunities to experience the "Great Land," with a  lineup of cruisetour options, more sailings that include the "must see" destination -- Glacier Bay National Park -- and a new "Seattle Air Advantage" package that turns every cruisetour into a convenient roundtrip journey.

The Princess lineup will continue to offer passengers the company's hallmark Alaska experience, whether at sea on board amenity-filled ships or on land with Princess' signature wilderness lodges and exclusive Direct to the Wilderness program, where guests step right from their ship onto luxury railcars that transport them directly to magnificent Denali National Park.

In summer 2010, the Princess fleet will offer a total of 112 Alaska sailings aboard seven ships offering four itinerary options during the May to September season. The lineup includes Diamond Princess, Coral Princess, and Island Princess traveling on the line's popular "Voyage of the Glaciers" route through the scenic Gulf of Alaska; Golden Princess, Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess sailing the Inside Passage from Seattle and San Francisco, and Royal Princess offering the line's small ship experience on an extended 14-day Connoisseur voyage to some of the state's less-visited ports.

Princess cruisetours offer you the opportunity to enjoy an immersive Alaska experience, combining a seven-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise with three to eight additional nights on land exploring Alaska's interior. All Princess cruisetours include the company's exclusive wilderness lodges, rail travel, plus the two top attractions in the state -- Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park, where you can spend at least two nights exploring the wonders of this area.

Cruises -- Princess offers four ways to experience the awe-inspiring glaciers, historic towns and scenic waters of Alaska, with sailings from seven to 14 days.

Voyage of the Glaciers -- The line's famed Gulf of Alaska route between Vancouver and Whittier features calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising in Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord (or Hubbard Glacier on southbound sailings). Three ships, Diamond Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess, will sail on 54 sailings throughout the season.

Inside Passage from Seattle -- Golden Princess and Sapphire Princess offer convenient seven-day roundtrip itineraries from Seattle with calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C. In addition, passengers will enjoy dramatic glacier viewing in Tracy Arm or Glacier Bay National Park. The two ships will sail on 37 departures.  

Inside Passage from San Francisco -- Sea Princess returns to the City by the Bay to offer 13 voyages from San Francisco on 10-day roundtrip cruises to Victoria, Juneau, Ketchikan, and either Skagway, Haines or Icy Strait Point, plus Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm.

Connoisseur Voyage -- The intimate Royal Princess takes over this extended Alaska route featuring a small ship cruising experience on a 14-day voyage from Seattle, featuring the less visited ports of Kodiak, Icy Strait Point and Seward, plus Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C., with daylight cruising of Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. Royal Princess will sail on eight Connoisseur voyages.

Cruisetours -- Princess introduces a new simplified cruisetour lineup, making it easy for passengers tochoose the perfect land/sea Alaska experience with itineraries ranging from three to eight nights. All tour options feature at least two nights in the Denali National Park area, stays at Princess' own riverside wilderness lodges, and a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailing including Glacier Bay National Park.

Direct to the Wilderness -- Princess' exclusive direct rail service between the Whittier cruise terminal and the dramatic Denali wilderness features seven itinerary options offering multiple nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Explorer -- These itineraries enable travelers to explore both Denali and other scenic areas, including the Kenai Peninsula at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park with stays at Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. Passengers can even choose to venture to the state's far north into the Arctic Circle and Prudhoe Bay.

Deluxe Escorted -- Three cruisetour options offer the services of a professional tour director and additional time for passengers to experience the Great Land. Most meals are also included in these extended vacations.

New Seattle Air Advantage-- With this new package, any Princess cruisetour can become a convenient roundtrip vacation from Seattle. This package includes motorcoach transportation between Seattle and Vancouver, airfare between Alaska and Seattle, and an overnight stay in a Seattle-area hotel. Sail Away Adventures will help with your round-trip air arrangements between your hometown and Seattle. 

Reservations Now Available-- Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2010 are now available for reservations. Launch Fares begin at $749 for seven-day voyages, and $1,649 for cruisetours.