Thread: Princess Announces the Exotics schedule (finally)

6/7/2010

Princess Cruises Announces 2011-12 Worldwide Sailing Schedules
"Exotics" Voyages Explore the Globe with Journeys to Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 7, 2010) -- True to its destination cruising heritage, Princess Cruises has just released its 2011-2012 schedule for worldwide voyages featuring intriguing itineraries to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, India, and South America.
The "Exotics" program will give passengers the opportunity to explore these fascinating destinations aboard intimate small ships or spectacular larger vessels.


Among the program highlights is a new roundtrip 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa itinerary from Los Angeles aboard Sapphire Princess, giving passengers an extended South Pacific experience. In South America, the line will expand capacity on sailings around Cape Horn by 50 percent, enabling more travelers the opportunity to make this fabled passage.
The Exotics season runs from September 2011 to May 2012 and includes:


Asia, Africa & India -- A passenger favorite, the 16-day Southeast Asia itinerary between Beijing and Singapore returns in the fall and spring aboard Diamond Princess. Travelers can also choose to sail between Asia and Alaska or Australia, for two-continent adventures. Passengers can explore further with a collection of connoisseur voyages aboard Ocean Princess, visiting unique locations in Asia, the Indian Ocean and West Africa.

Australia & New Zealand -- Princess offers a wide range of options for exploring "down under" with a season of Australia & New Zealand sailings aboard Diamond Princess, connoisseur cruises on Ocean Princess, and "Aussie-style" cruising aboard Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane.


South America -- Princess offers even more opportunities in 2012 for a sailing rite of passage -- rounding Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America. Star Princess departs on more cruises for a 50 percent increase in capacity on this celebrated route. The ship also sails on a Brazilian Adventure from Rio, and Pacific Princess takes passengers exploring down the mighty Amazon River.



Hawaii & Tahiti -- A new 28-day roundtrip Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa cruise debuts on Sapphire Princess, offering a new option from Los Angeles. Sapphire Princess joins Golden Princess sailing to the Hawaiian Islands on the line's popular 14-day roundtrip Los Angeles itinerary. Ocean Princess also sails on a series of 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia and 11-day Hawaii & Tahiti voyages.
Princess' Exotics program cruises open for sale on June 17, 2010.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at Princess Cruises® : Official Cruise Line Website.

Actual sailing dates are up on the website yet.

Well, this is a start, isn't it?

Yep. Now I have to that five years plus without a cruise is wearing thin on hubby and that he won't get too many more furlough days (all the city workers are basically getting a major pay cut two years in a row (and more than that w/o the contracted pay raises). And he works in public safety too.

As an additional incentive, air fare to Australia from LA is about the same as air fare from NYC to Europe. It is crazy.

Sounds good to me! I have never sailed Princess but now I might consider it.

Originally Posted by nealberk

As an additional incentive, air fare to Australia from LA is about the same as air fare from NYC to Europe. It is crazy.

Wow. I checked out the airfare to Australia a couple of years ago just in case hubby, who is interested in the Aussie-NZ cruise, says "let's book it." Airfare for the three of us, even with a couple of stops (Hawaii, another island), would have been more than the cruise fares.

Originally Posted by Texashorselady

Sounds good to me! I have never sailed Princess but now I might consider it.

There are some wonderful itineraries on Princess. I imagine one of the "small ships" would fit you. There are some with under 1,000 passengers.

The Sapphire Princess is the biggest ship we've been on (about 116,000 gt), but is very beautiful, and doesn't feel crowded.

Look at the ad on the Qantas page....

Qantas – flights to Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia. Book airfares at qantas.com.