By
Rebecca Gibson |
Princess Cruises is to increase its presence in the Australian market by adding the 3,082-guest Emerald Princess to its Australia-based fleet in late 2016.
Emerald Princess will begin her first-ever Australia season in November 2016 and will sail a series of cruises from Sydney to destinations in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific until April 2017.
The 113,000gt ship will be one of the youngest ships to be deployed in the region and will increase the line’s Australasian capacity to five ships and a record 11,800 berths.
Four other Princess ships will continue to offer programmes from the Australian ports of Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle and Sydney.
“Since Princess first based a ship in Australia for summer 2002, we have been embraced by Australians who love our exciting itineraries and destinations as well as the quality cruise experience we provide, so we’re thrilled to be expanding further,” said Stuart Allison, vice president of Australia and New Zealand, Princess Cruises. “With three ships cruising our waters full time and two mega liners visiting for the summer, the 2016 season will offer more exciting options for Australian and New Zealand cruisers.”
Full details of the 2016-2017 programmes will be released in March and will go on sale in April.