One of the world's largest cruise companies has announced it's planning to launch one of its longest cruises ever from Aotearoa.
Princess Cruises' latest programme features a 110-night global cruise departing in April 2024, when both the Majestic Princess and Royal Princess will be calling Australia and New Zealand home.
The company says it's "a move that reflects strong demand for bucket list destinations".
The new programme will be one of the largest that Princess Cruises has offered in Aotearoa, with 10 different cruises sailing to Australia, Hawaii and Tahiti, and around New Zealand.
Many of the cruises will be on the Royal Princess - the first of Princess' flagship Royal-class vessels to ever offer roundtrip sailings from New Zealand.
With a capacity of 3560, the ship's features include a massive selection of dining and entertainment options, Princess' largest-ever top deck pool and a spectacular SeaWalk glass-panelled walkway that promises panoramic views.
The company's sales and marketing director Nick Ferguson said it is announcing the cruises so far in advance due to a predicted surge in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We know our guests are looking forward to being onboard our beautiful ships again and enjoy all the comforts of a cruise holiday as they travel to ports around our region and the world," Ferguson said.
"This latest programme is packed with some fantastic itineraries designed to inspire our New Zealand guests as we prepare to cruise together again."
Ferguson said Coral Princess' record-breaking world cruise was a highlight of the programme, with stops at 47 ports across 32 countries including overnight stays in Russia's St Petersburg as well as Lima, Peru and New York in the US.
Fares for a balcony stateroom on the 110-night cruise will start at NZ$43,159 per person twin share.
Other Princesses Pacific highlights in 2023/24 include:
- A 31-night Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific voyage from Sydney to South Pacific on Coral Princess departing March 26, 2024.
- A 17-night Australia and New Zealand round trip voyage from Auckland on Royal Princess departing February 14, 2024 with port calls include Bay of Islands, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Wellington and Tauranga.
- Three 13-night summer roundtrip cruises from Auckland around New Zealand on Royal Princess during January and February 2024.
- A 13-night New Zealand voyage from Auckland to Sydney on Royal Princess departing March 2, 2024.
Bookings will open in early December, an unprecedented 11 months ahead of schedule.
