Carnival Corp. Sells Two More Cruise Ships

Carnival Corporation's Princess Cruises has announced the sale of two of its ships, Sun Princess and Sea Princess, to undisclosed buyers.

The sale of these vessels is in line with parent company Carnival Corporation’s plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

“Sun Princess and Sea Princess contributed to significant growth in Australian cruising,” said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. “Both ships defined the premium cruise experience with Australians and New Zealanders spending close to 14 million nights aboard these ships. While it is never easy to say goodbye to any ship in our fleet, this will allow us to deploy newer ships enhancing our offerings for Australia cruisers and focus on bringing into service exciting newbuilds like the upcoming delivery of Enchanted Princess.”

The first ship in the Sun Class, Sun Princess was introduced in 1995 debuting in the Caribbean and was among the largest ships in the world at the time.

The 2,000-guest Sun Princess also sailed in Alaska and Panama Canal, among other destinations, before being homeported in Australia in October 2007.

"The Sun Princess also helped us open the Japanese market in 2013 as the first foreign-flagged cruise ship to offer cruises designed specifically for the Japanese," the company said, in a statement.

The 2,000-guest Sea Princess meanwhile became synonymous with World Cruises, having completed six full world cruises since 2013. Prior to joining the Sun Princess in Australia, the Sea Princess sailed in Europe and Alaska as well as the Caribbean, including serving as a homeport ship in Barbados in the mid- to late-2000s.

Due to the imminent departure of these two ships from the fleet, Princess Cruises will cancel published itineraries which include:

• Sun Princess sailings from December 28, 2020, through August 14, 2021
• Sea Princess sailings from December 23, 2020, through November 9, 2021

Guests with bookings will be notified, and along with their travel advisors, will receive information on how to book another Princess Cruise when operations resume. Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated.

 

Princess Cancels Two 2021 World Cruises

Princess Cruises is cancelling its early 2021 World Cruises and Circle South America cruises on two ships:

• Island Princess 2021 World Cruise sailing from North America, including associated segments and remaining voyages sailing immediately prior .
• Pacific Princess 2021 Circle South America sailing from Australia, including associated positioning cruises.

Princess cited o restrictions and limitations with border and port access determined by government and health authorities and the continued uncertainty of airline travel.

"We share in the disappointment of this cancellation for guests of our world cruises because it's a pinnacle cruise vacation experience, booked by some of our most loyal guests," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages will receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare paid. To receive the above FCCs, no action is required by the guest or their travel advisor.

Alternatively, guests can forfeit the bonus FCC offer and request a refund for all money paid on their booking by using this online form. Guests have until September 30, 2020 to elect a refund, or they will automatically receive the default offer listed above.

Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full, in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line's business and success.

Princess cancels cruises through Dec. 15

The Diamond Princess' pool deck.

Princess Cruises is extending its suspension of nearly all cruise operations through mid-December.

Sailings in Asia, the Caribbean, California, Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America and Antarctica, Japan, and Tahiti and the South Pacific are paused through Dec. 15. 

Cruises in and out of Australia are paused through Oct. 31.

“We share in our guests’ disappointment in cancelling these cruises,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We look forward to the days when we can return to travel and the happiness it brings to all who cruise.”

Princess will protect travel advisors’ commissions on bookings that were paid in full.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week extended the No Sail Order for cruise ships from U.S. ports through Sept. 30. CLIA member lines had already decided last month to voluntarily suspend operations until at least Sept. 15, saying that it was “increasingly clear that more time will be needed to resolve barriers to a resumption in the United States.”

Princess Issues RFP to Clean and Sanitize Diamond Princess

Princess Cruises announced today a global search for a service provider with advanced, scientifically proven cleaning and disinfection capabilities to perform work onboard the Diamond Princess.

The work will begin after the guests and crew have disembarked, following the quarantine of the ship in Yokohama.

Princess is seeking proposals and estimates from the most technologically advanced service providers in this business, the company said.

The company is in action to manage an extensive out of service cleaning, disinfection and refurbishment period. The exact location of the project will be announced soon.

“Our focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of our guests and crew. We are seeking to identify the best resources to partner with to clean and disinfect the ship from bow to stern,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “To accomplish this critically important undertaking, Princess will engage a vendor that has experience in significant cleaning and disinfection projects and experience in the use of the disinfectant agent Virox®, which is well-known to be an effective disinfectant. The expert use of personal protective equipment is also a requirement for the chosen service provider.”

The company has detailed the areas and requirements for cleaning and disinfecting which include, but are not limited to, the following locations and all surfaces: 

• Staterooms: the removal and proper disposal of all towels (bath, face, hand), bed linens, mattress pads, pillows, duvets, shower curtains, and mattresses
• Carpets, draperies, and other soft furnishings
• All corridors and handrails
• Housekeeping storage and service areas
• Galleys, pantries, dishes, service ware
• Restaurant and food and beverage areas
• Entertainment areas
• Public venues (retail shops, spa, salon, fitness centre, etc.)
• Technical and machine spaces
• All crew living areas
• All deck areas and handrails
• Medical Center
• Air handling units and ventilation: Cleaning and disinfecting of air handling units including ducts, fan rooms, coils and systems will be developed by Princess’ Technical Services separately using specialist cleaning contractors.
• All marine, hotel and operations equipment
• Any other areas required after an appropriate assessment

Companies who wish to submit a proposal should be prepared to comply with detailed standards set forth by experts in health protocols and administration such as the Japanese Ministry of Health, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, in addition to the operational standards established by Princess Cruises.

Sixty-six more passengers on Diamond Princess test positive for coronavirus

Sixty-six more passengers on Diamond Princess test positive for coronavirus

A further 66 passengers onboard Diamond Princess have contracted coronavirus, taking the total number of people infected to 136.

The Japanese health ministry confirmed the cases over the weekend and on Monday following further testing.

The ship is believed to be the largest centre of cases outside China.

The new cases are from Australia (four), Canada (one), UK (one), Japan (45), Philippines (three), Ukraine (one) and USA (eleven).

The ship, carrying 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew, has been placed under quarantine in Yokohama for 14 days with two cruises cancelled.

The line said it was “not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine”.

It said it was following guidance from the Japan Ministry of Health on plans for disembarkation to provide medical care for the new cases.

The quarantine end date is February 19 “unless there are any unforeseen developments”, the line added.

Separately, ten guests were taken off the ship for non-coronavirus related medical reasons over the weekend and transferred to local hospitals, the line said.

The line’s president Jan Swartz issued a video statement over the weekend and said the company was working with the Japanese authorities to distribute medication to guests not relating to coronavirus, based on medical priority.

Telephone counselling is also being offered to all guests.

The line said guests will receive a full refund for their cruise fare, including air travel, hotel, ground transportation, pre-paid shore excursions and gratuities.

They will also receive cruise credit to use on a future sailing.

Meanwhile, thousands of passengers who were kept on board the World Dream cruise ship in Hong Kong for four days have been allowed to disembark.

Around 3,600 passengers and crew on the ship were quarantined amid fears some staff could have contracted the virus on an earlier voyage but tests for coronavirus came back negative.

There have been more than 37,000 cases of the virus globally, mostly in China, where it originated, overtaking the Sars epidemic.

The number of people in the UK who have contracted coronavirus has doubled to eight.

On Monday the UK government declared coronavirus a “serious and imminent threat” to public health.

Princess puts a tagline on ship investments

LOS ANGELES — Princess Cruises has grouped a package of initiatives and ship upgrades into a program called “The Come Back New Promise.”

The program will encompass $450 million of investments in premium bedding, new restaurants, Broadway shows and other improvements it will make through partnerships with outside innovators.

“Our promise is to provide guests with joyful, memorable moments,” Princess President Jan Swartz said at a dockside function aboard the Ruby Princess here.

Many of the investments, such as a new customized bed and a specialty restaurant by Australian chef Curtis Stone, have been previously disclosed.  

Other elements are the Salty Dog Gastropub designed by Argentinian chef Ernesto Uchimura, the “Magic to Do” show crafted by composer Steven Schwartz, a version of “The Voice” singing competition called “The Voice at Sea” and the Chocolate Journeys program of confections from pastry chef Norman Love.

Further, the program includes “Festivals of the World” with shipboard parties, activities and musical performances themed to festivals such as Rio de Janeiro's Carnival and its partnerships with regional brewers to produce custom beers for individual vessels.

Princess Cruises to put new build in China

Photo of the Regal Princess.

Princess Cruises said its 3,600-passenger ship under construction for delivery in 2017 will be deployed to China full time, with special modifications for the Chinese market.

The announcement makes Princess the second line, and the first owned by Carnival Corp., to commit an as-yet unfinished ship to China.

Royal Caribbean International broke the mold by announcing last year that the Quantum of the Seas would be stationed year-round in Shanghai after a six-month season in New York. More recently, it said a third ship in the Quantum class, the Ovation of the Seas, would also be devoted to China and Australia.

With the news, Princess Cruises dramatically increases its involvement in China. To date, Costa Cruises has been the main Carnival Corp. vehicle for China-sourced business, with the Sapphire Princess stationed in China only last year for a four-month summer season.

"Deploying our next new ship in China underscores our strong commitment to growing the China cruise market," said Princess President Jan Swartz.

The new ship, as yet unnamed, is based on the same platform as the Royal and Regal Princess. However, it will also include distinctive features created for the Sapphire Princess, such as the World Leaders Dinner, traditional English afternoon tea, a Lobster Grill, Ultimate Balcony Dining, an ocean-view hot pot dinner option, ballroom dancing and an unparalleled duty-free shopping experience.

"And as this ship is still in the design phase we are looking forward to creating other new and exciting venues and experiences catering to the Chinese vacationer, which we will reveal in the coming months," Swartz added.

Princess partners with Discovery Channel parent for shore excursions

Princess partners with Discovery Channel parent for shore excursionsPrincess Cruises in early 2015 will introduce Discovery at Sea, onboard activities and shore excursions based on programming from Discovery Communications, the parent company of the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and the Science Channel.

Some of the integrations guests will experience are based on popular themes and programs such as “Shark Week,” “Mythbusters” and “Deadliest Catch.”

For example, the Shark Week at Sea activity will “challenge adults and kids alike, testing their knowledge of the ocean with trivia games.”

On shore, guests will see a destination’s native animals up close during Animal Planet tours. Guests will pan for gold in an excursion inspired by the Discovery Channel show “Gold Rush.”

“This is such an exciting partnership between our two companies because we are both passionate about exploring the world,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises campaign includes TV ads

By Tom Stieghorst

Princess Cruises will return to television for the first time in a decade with a $20 million ad campaign built around the slogan “Come Back New.”

The campaign will unfold in national and regional magazines, on radio and in digital formats, but the bulk of the spending will go to broadcast and cable television.

The ads will focus on personal experiences at sea, with photography to capture the idea that “a moment can transform you forever.”

Princess President Jan Swartz said they were inspired by passenger stories, “about how they return from their cruise vacation feeling rejuvenated and more closely connected with their loved ones, and with fresh perspectives stimulated by the beauty of the ocean, of the world and other cultures they visited, and their onboard experiences.”

The new TV spots will launch during the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards Red Carpet Show airing on the CW Network on Jan. 16.

The ads show a father carrying his happily exhausted daughter along the Promenade Deck. Other ads show couples who discover the value of time together, and how a day exploring Italy can inspire a surprising twist from the expected.

The parallel print campaign will "evoke the enriching possibilities of Princess’ worldwide cruise destinations,” an announcement said.

The campaign was created by the Goodby, Silverstein & Partners agency in San Francisco.

Princess Cruises assures agents it's 'business as usual'

By Phil Davies

UK agents have been assured that it is ‘business as usual’ despite management changes at the top of Princess Cruises.

The new structure will see Jan Swartz (pictured) step up to succeed Alan Buckelew as president of Princess Cruises.

With Buckelew moving to become chief operations officer for parent company  Swartz will report to Stein Kruse, who has been promoted to president and chief executive of the newly-formed Holland America Group.

Kruse will provide "commercial and operations oversight" to Princess, Holland America, Seabourn and our Alaska land operations, Swartz said.

Swartz, who has been sales, marketing and customer service executive vice president at Princess for four years, said: “Paul Ludlow, UK director, will continue to lead the Princess Cruises brand in the UK.

“For our travel agent partners, it will be business as usual, and all plans we have discussed regarding 2014 will proceed as agreed.

“I want to assure you that travel agents will continue to play a key role in the success of our company.”

She stressed that there is “absolutely no intention” to combine Princess and Holland America Line.

“In fact, our work together will focus on how to keep them as unique and distinct as possible,” added Swartz.

“I look forward to working with Stein, who is an experienced and dynamic leader, as we focus our team to take Princess Cruises to the next level of success and growth.”