Princess Cruises Offers China Itineraries in 2014

Today Carnival Corporation & plc announced it is introducing its Princess Cruises brand to China in 2014, naming Shanghai as home port for Sapphire Princess during a four-month season expected to carry 70,000 passengers.

The new roundtrip cruises, which begin next May, will bring a new cruise experience to the China vacation market. Princess placed China foremost in the company’s deployment plans due to the market’s burgeoning economy and increasingly discerning travelers seeking a premium cruise vacation. Demonstrating the importance of the market, Carnival Corporation & plc, parent group of Princess Cruises, opened offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

The 2014 China season will host four different itineraries ranging from three to seven days. The seven-day Sapphire Princess itinerary will take passengers to the Korean capital of Seoul, on to the beach resort of Busan and finishing at the Island of Jeju, before returning to Shanghai. The five-day cruise will call at Jeju and Inchon; the four-day itinerary will call at Busan and Jeju, while the three-day cruise calls at Jeju.

In addition to the international cruise experience offered by Princess around the world, passengers on the new China-based cruises will be treated to unique cultural, culinary and entertainment programs including world leader dinners, sommelier wine excursions, daily English high tea, the only 24-hour buffet at sea, Tai Chi and Zumba at sea, a “Princess Night” bedtime experience and a shopping experience. Designed to appeal to multigenerational groups, “Touch of Class” personal enrichment courses will also be offered for adults and children.

The 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess carries 2,670 passengers and, at 952 feet long, has 18 decks and 28 premium suites with private balconies. The 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, a golf putting course and more.

For more information, visit www.princess.com.