Princess Cruises 2009

The Sanctuary Added to Princess Fleet — Prompted by enthusiastic response from its passengers, Princess Cruises’ ground-breaking “pocket of tranquility” — The Sanctuary — has become such a popular haven for passengers looking to escape to a serene hideaway, that it will be added to the entire fleet of Princess ships. The Sanctuary debuted in 2006 aboard Crown Princess and was an instant success as it gave passengers the perfect place to take a break and indulge in a private getaway in a plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting. The area is complete with massage cabanas, signature beverages, light meals, attentive service and relaxing personal entertainment. The exclusive adults-only retreat is currently also available on Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Island Princess and Star Princess.

Movies Under the Stars Added to More Ships — Princess’ signature “Movies Under the Stars” poolside screens have become such a popular feature since debuting in 2004, that the line will add the dramatic 300-square-foot movie screens feature to most of the fleet over the next several years. Princess was the first cruise line to introduce this unique entertainment experience aboard its ships and Movies Under the Stars has subsequently revolutionized movie-watching at sea.

Caribbean Princess and Golden Princess Enhancements — Following the recent renovations to Star Princess, which dramatically transformed several onboard spaces, Caribbean Princess and Golden Princess will receive similar makeovers in drydocks scheduled for January and April of 2009, respectively. Updates to Caribbean Princess and Golden Princess will not only include turning the ship’s atrium into a vibrant street cafe-like piazza, adding The Sanctuary, and installing a 300-square-foot Movies Under the Stars poolside screen (Golden Princess), but also additional enhancements including a new Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, a new casino area and six additional suites.

Wheelhouse Bar Pub Lunch — After a successful debut aboard Ruby Princess, several other ships will soon offer a special English-style pub lunch on sea days in which the Wheelhouse Bar serves a selection of traditional fare. A menu of British favorites, including bangers & mash, fish & chips, ploughman’s lunch and cottage pie, will complement a selection of traditional pub brews such as Stella Artois, Bass Ale or Guinness. Pub lunch meal service is free of charge and will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sabatini’s Breakfast for Suite Passengers — Also launched on Ruby Princess, a new program for suite passengers will be expanded across the fleet, offering them the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive breakfast in Sabatini’s. Beginning with a “Good Morning Mimosa,” the menu features a variety of breakfast favorites, plus specialty items such as brioche French toast with apple & cinnamon compote, yogurt and super granola parfait with raspberry swirl, soft-poached egg over potato & vegetables with hollandaise sauce, and freshly made Belgian waffles. Suite passengers can enjoy this new amenity, along with the restaurant’s dramatic top-of-ship views, from approximately 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. daily.

A Few Fine Touches — A number of new service touches are being introduced to delight passengers across the fleet. In the Horizon Court buffet, new waffle stations will offer fresh cooked-to-order waffles at breakfast and throughout lunchtime, and the buffet will also begin serving complimentary lemonade as a beverage choice. In the evening, passengers will find a selection of canapes in several of the ship’s public lounges. Passengers arriving back from shore will be greeted with chilled face cloths, and by the pool, “misting stewards” will offer a quick refreshing spritz with Evian to cool off.

New Enrichment Programs — A number of new ScholarShip@Sea enrichment programs will expand passengers’ horizons, whether they aspire to host the perfect party or increase their maritime knowledge. The Art of Entertaining offers passengers the opportunity to learn party-planning tips from lifestyle expert Susie Coelho via a multimedia presentation hosted by the cruise director. Navigation@Sea focuses on the history of navigation as well as the complexities of plotting the route of a modern cruise ship, with a presentation by the ship’s navigator. Mixology@Sea lets passengers channel their inner bartender with a hands-on course taught by the ship’s bar manager. For star gazers, the new Astronomy@Sea program provides passengers with the opportunity to explore the night sky through a telescope on the top deck, with the expert guidance of a ship’s bridge officer. Developed in conjunction with Dr. Thomai Serdari, Professor of Art History and Director of Research Collections for New York University, Art History@Sea: Botticelli to Warhol, The Evolution of Art makes 500 years of art come to life with a special hour-long presentation.

Most Extensive Europe Season Ever in 2009 — Princess will feature more sailings and new opportunities for cruisers to explore Europe in 2009 with additional departures to the historic Holy Land, and nine new itineraries and 11 new ports of call. In total, Princess’ 2009 Europe program features a six-ship fleet sailing on 90 voyages of 36 different itineraries to 132 ports and destinations. Sailing choices range from seven to 31 days, during a season that runs from April 10 to November 30.

Tahitian Princess in Northern Europe — Tahitian Princess introduces a lineup of brand new adventures in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea in 2009, with visits to places such as Iceland, Greenland, Scandinavia, the British Isles, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. Choices include a new 12-day Emerald Isles & Russian Splendors itinerary between Stockholm and Dublin; an 18-day Land of the Midnight Sun journey above the Arctic Circle that includes calls in Murmansk, Russia and Spitsbergen, Norway; and a Connoisseur’s Scandinavia & Russia itinerary traveling to new ports on the Gulf of Bothnia and in Lithuania.

50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood — Princess celebrates Alaska’s 50th anniversary in 2009 with a full season of cruisetour and cruise itineraries showcasing the best of the state, including the incomparable Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park. Complete land and sea vacations feature the line’s own wilderness lodges and Direct to the Wilderness rail travel, and the company’s eight-ship Alaska fleet sails the state’s dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast and scenic Inside Passage.

Tahitian Princess to be Renamed Ocean Princess — Tahitian Princess, one of the small ships in the Princess fleet, will be renamed in 2009, becoming Ocean Princess. The new name is intended to reflect the ship’s new deployment on worldwide itineraries. The renaming will take place while the ship is out of service during a routine maintenance period in Singapore in November 2009.

New Sailings to Asia, India and Africa — Tahitian Princess will sail on one last Africa, India and Southeast Asia itinerary from Cape Town to Singapore before being transformed into the new Ocean Princess. The newly renamed ship will then set off on a series of cruises through Asia, including new itineraries such as the Treasures of Southeast Asia between Singapore and Shanghai, South China Sea Explorer between Shanghai and Bangkok, and China & Japan Explorer between Shanghai and Tokyo. The ship will end the season with an Africa, India and Southeast Asia voyage from Singapore to Cape Town and a West Africa Adventure from Cape Town to London (Dover). Sailings depart between September 17, 2009 and May 7, 2010.

Two-Day Canal Experience — To give travelers more time in Panama, Princess Cruises is introducing a new “Two-day Canal Experience” on all 2009-10 Panama Canal transits of 15 days or longer, featuring a second day in port so passengers can enjoy both the engineering wonder of the Canal and further discover the country. The Two-day Canal Experience will feature the full Canal transit plus a day with the ship at anchor at Fuerte Amador, on the Canal’s Pacific side. Passengers can take advantage of this day to enjoy a variety of shore excursion options including the Panama Canal Railway, Panama City, Soberania National Park Rainforest or a visit to an authentic Embera Indian Village.

New ports for 2009-10 — The Princess lineup will include 23 new ports around the world in 2009-10. In Europe, they include Sochi, a Russian resort city on the eastern shores of the Black Sea which will be home to the 2014 Olympics; Murmansk (Russia), the largest city north of the Arctic Circle; Lule? (Sweden), the gateway to Lapland, located in the Gulf of Bothnia; Mariehamn (Finland), a charming destination on ?land Island, between Sweden and Finland; Klaipeda (Lithuania), Lithuania’s primary seaport; Barrow, for visits to England’s picturesque Lake District; Seydisfjordur (Iceland), noted for its picturesque community of well-preserved wooden buildings; Grundarfjordur (Iceland), known for dramatic natural beauty, particularly the impressive Sn?fellsjokull Glacier; Kristiansand, a historic Norwegian seaport; Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city in Morocco; and St. Pierre et Miquelon, a bit of France off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. On Exotic itineraries new ports include Muscat, the capital of Oman; Yangon in Myanmar; Qingdao, a beautiful seaside city in China; Fukuoka, western Japan’s major cultural center; Phillip Island in southern Australia, where visitors can watch the local penguins on their daily parade; Newcastle, Australia; the Caribbean island of Nevis; and on the world cruise Topolobampo, the gateway to the majestic Copper Canyon in Mexico; Picton, New Zealand at the head of the South Island’s lovely Queen Charlotte Sound; Halong Bay/Hanoi (Cai Lan) in Vietnam; and Sharm el-Sheik, a resort city on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. On Panama Canal itineraries, the port of Puerto Chiapas in Mexico debuts, the gateway to the rich culture of the Mayan region featuring opportunities to explore coffee plantations and architectural landmarks.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 4th December 2008.

Princess Receive Top Honors

Princess Cruises has received top honors in three categories of Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2008 Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The line won Best Central American Itineraries, Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries, and Best Onboard Shopping.

The awards represent the eighth year in a row that the line has been recognized in an itinerary category and the second year that Princess took top honors as having the best Central American itineraries.

“We’re very pleased that Porthole readers continue to think of Princess for itinerary excellence,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “Princess ships have been traveling the globe for decades, and our experience has enabled us to create the very best itineraries.”

In 2009-10, Princess’ Central American itineraries will include a new “Two-day Canal Experience” on Panama Canal transits of 15 days or longer, featuring a second day in port so passengers can enjoy both the engineering wonder of the Canal and further discover the country of Panama.

Down Under, Princess will continue its program of Australia/New Zealand sailings with a series of cruises between Sydney and Auckland aboard Diamond Princess, plus two ships, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess, based in the region year round.

“And we’re also delighted that Porthole readers singled out our outstanding onboard boutiques,” said Swartz. Offering a wide selection of gifts and cruise memories, Princess’ onboard boutiques offer duty-free shopping for jewelry, accessories, fragrances, cosmetics, apparel, fine gifts, liquor, cruise souvenirs and sundries.

Porthole, a bimonthly magazine published for experienced cruise passengers, reaches more than three million readers annually. For more information on Porthole Cruise Magazine, visit www.porthole.com.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 20th November 2008.

Princess Cruises Festive Season

As the holidays draw near, Princess ships are preparing for another festive season at sea, and weather conditions are again pointing to unusual snow flurries onboard. After an extremely popular debut last year, snow will again magically fall in the ship’s atriums, transforming the vessels into a winter wonderland throughout December.

“What’s better than the romance of a white Christmas, especially when it’s an unexpected surprise?” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “Our snowfalls were such a huge hit last year that this has now become a new tradition on Princess ships.”

The innovative snow-making process creates falling flakes that vanish on contact, letting passengers enjoy the excitement of snow flurries without the need to bundle up. Princess’ daily snowfall will occur on all ships except for the lines’ three small vessels — Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess — which do not have large, multi-story atriums.

Even when the snow isn’t coming down, Princess ships will feature a merry atmosphere. Vessels are decked out in holiday décor — even including a Christmas tree on the vessels’ masts — and strolling carolers fill the air with the sounds of the season.

Passengers can once again participate in a “gingerbread challenge,” where teams test their holiday housebuilding skills in a fun-filled competition to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Or they can test their holiday craft skills by creating a personalized photo ornament. And new this year is a turkey-carving demonstration from the onboard culinary experts to prepare passengers to do the honors at their next holiday feast.

Special events also include a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by either the captain or cruise director, and a holiday variety show adds a seasonal element to the ship’s entertainment offerings. For those who can’t get enough of Christmas carols, the ships’ Princess Pop Star talent show will feature a holiday edition where competitors can croon their favorite seasonal songs.

Religious services are held as well, and passengers can attend midnight mass or an inter-denominational church service performed by onboard clergy. Passengers will receive a stocking turndown gift and can enjoy classic holiday films or even relax in front of a traditional burning Yule log … on their stateroom television!

Holiday Feasts — Each Princess ship’s culinary team will delight the senses with spectacular holiday displays and will serve up several delicious feasts. A sumptuous Christmas brunch includes complimentary eggnog. On Christmas Day, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare including roast turkey and all the trimmings. Freshly prepared stolen and Christmas cookies (even some for Santa) round out the seasonal treats.

Christmas For Children — Junior cruisers can count down to the big day with special holiday activities. Santa Claus makes an appearance with his sack full of toys, and a fun-filled holiday fair in the atrium offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at Christmas cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions. The youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree. Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers. For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Hanukkah — Ships will also offer festivities for passengers celebrating the Festival of Lights. A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in Hanukkah events and ships will display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in blue, silver and white. Children will enjoy themed arts and crafts pertinent to the holiday.

Happy New Year — Passengers will ring in a fun-filled 2009 with festive New Year’s Eve parties, complete with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop to count down to the new year. Earlier in the evening, the dinner menu will feature special treats just for New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, football fans will be pleased to know they won’t miss the holiday’s traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (as available by satellite) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels’ giant Movies Under the Stars top-deck screen.

The 17-ship Princess fleet will cover the globe this holiday season, with sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 1st December 2008.

Ruby Princess Christened

In a “ruby red” themed ceremony celebrating romance, Princess Cruises today named its newest ship, Ruby Princess. America’s reigning reality couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter of The Bachelorette did the honors, breaking the traditional bottle of champagne to mark the ship’s launch, and their own fifth anniversary. The new godparents were surrounded by hundreds of guests decked out in ruby red-tie formal attire, and a ruby-haired singer serenaded the crowd. As befitting the most romantic cruise line, and an event celebrating “romantic moments and milestones,” the official naming was followed by the ultimate romantic milestone — a wedding in the midst of the festivities. The California couple joined in matrimony not only had Trista and Ryan as wedding attendants, but the Love Boat captain himself, Gavin MacLeod, gave away the bride.

Tonight the ship hosts a “Ruby Red Tie” gala and sets sail on a two-night cruise for hundreds of VIP guests who will enjoy a special preview of Princess’ newest vessel. During the mini sailing, the ship will host an array of romantic activities, including a massive renewal of vows for all couples tomorrow while the ship is at sea. Ruby Princess then returns to Port Everglades on November 8 for its inaugural seven-day sailing to the Western Caribbean.

“It’s only fitting that as the most romantic cruise line in the industry, we celebrate the naming of our newest ship with a tribute to ?romantic milestones,’” said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer. “It was exciting to have Trista and Ryan Sutter serve as godparents of Ruby Princess and of course the wedding during the ceremony added an appropriate touch to the festivities.”

Princess Cruises has long been associated with romance on the high seas, dating back to its days as the setting for the now-iconic TV show The Love Boat. Cementing that connection, Princess was just named the “Best Cruise Line for Romance” and “Best Cruise Line for Weddings” in the 2008 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. The Ruby Princess naming ceremony continued the line’s tradition of romance with godparents Trista and Ryan, who were introduced to America in 2003 on the television hit The Bachelorette.

Trista and Ryan Sutter became America’s reigning romantic couple as millions of viewers followed their courtship and witnessed their nationally televised wedding. To this day they are the only couple from the Bachelor or The Bachelorette shows to actually get married. The ceremony fulfilled the dream of yet another couple as Kip Hickman and Danielle Vurpillat tied the knot as part of the ship’s naming ceremony. The couple, from Dunsmuir, Calif., met on a blind date and expressed their desire to be married onboard Ruby Princess during a recent contest held with national newspaper, USA Today. The minister who officiated the nuptials, Phil Roberts, is also a member of Princess Cruises’ Department of Romance.

The Ruby Princess naming ceremony will be available for viewing on line at www.princess.com beginning November 7.

The 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing line-up of street performers. Passengers will also enjoy Princess’ other array of dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill steak house, plus a relaxing oasis just for adults called The Sanctuary. The new ship will also offer the many other innovations that define the Princess experience, including the popular Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating, multiple entertainment venues, a relaxing Asian-style Lotus Spa with fitness center, an extensive children and teen’s center, and a wedding chapel.

During Ruby Princess’ inaugural season she will make seven-day weekly sailings from Fort Lauderdale to the Western Caribbean. Calls include Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico and Princess Cays in the Bahamas. Next spring the ship will move to Europe for 12-day sailings in the Mediterranean and Greek Islands.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 6th November 2008.

Movies Under the Stars

Princess’ signature “Movies Under the Stars” poolside screens have become such a popular feature since debuting in 2004, that the line will add the dramatic 300-square-foot movie screens feature to most of the fleet over the next several years. Princess was the first cruise line to introduce this unique entertainment experience aboard its ships and Movies Under the Stars has subsequently revolutionized movie-watching at sea.

In addition, this month select ships featuring Movies Under the Stars screens will be broadcasting a cruise industry exclusive concert from number-one-selling recording artist Josh Groban. The “Awake Live” performance will join other popular concerts shown on the ships, and will also offer the unique opportunity for those who enjoy the presentation to purchase a DVD/CD of the concert at the ship’s boutiques.

Movies Under the Stars, which shows movies, concerts, sporting events and other special programming throughout the day and evening, will be installed aboard Golden Princess (May 2009), Dawn Princess (June 2009), Coral Princess (October 2009), Sun Princess (April 2010), Island Princess (October 2010), Diamond Princess (November 2010), and Sapphire Princess (2011).

“Movies Under the Stars has become such a popular part of the Princess entertainment experience on those ships that have it, that we were inspired to expand it across the fleet,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “It’s something the whole family can enjoy.”

The movie screens have been a focal point on Princess ships since first debuting on Caribbean Princess in 2004. They are now featured on Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess. The giant LED (Light Emitting Diode) screen is more than 300 square feet in size with a 69,000-watt sound system and has sufficient lighting power to be seen clearly at mid-day and heard even while the ship is moving at full speed — offering passengers a movie experience comparable to the best shoreside movie theater.

In addition to movies, passengers can enjoy a variety of special program on the giant screen, including sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the college football Bowl Championship Series, Academy Awards, video game contests with Nintendo’s Wii, a variety of event concerts with artists such as Tina Turner and Elton John, and even midnight showings of cult films such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

In the evening, the state-of-the-art screen offers a unique way to relax and enjoy current hit films outside on a comfortable poolside lounger with special padded cushions and warm blankets. Princess enhances the viewing experience with signature touches such as complimentary popcorn and a variety of movie-themed cocktail specials and theater-style candy. Nearby eateries also offer a range of casual dining options to round out the ultimate poolside experience.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 5th November 2008.

Ruby Princess in Fort Lauderdale

A spray of ruby-colored water from two escorting fireboats welcomed Ruby Princess, the newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, into Fort Lauderdale today. The ship arrived to begin several days of launch festivities with a distinctly romantic theme, the highlight of which will be its November 6 naming by America’s reigning reality couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter of The Bachelorette in honor of their fifth wedding anniversary. In an industry first, a couple will also be married during the naming ceremony, with Love Boat captain Gavin MacLeod giving away the bride, and Trista and Ryan serving as wedding attendants.

The romantic events continue as Princess hosts a “Ruby Red Tie” gala to celebrate the naming of its new ship, followed by a two-night preview cruise for hundreds of VIP guests. During the sailing, the ship will host an array of “ruby” and romance-themed activities, including a massive renewal of vows for all couples on November 7. Ruby Princess returns to Port Everglades on November 8 for its inaugural seven-day sailing to the Western Caribbean.

The Ruby Princess naming ceremony and wedding will be available for viewing on line at www.princess.com beginning November 7.

The 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing line-up of street performers. Passengers will also enjoy Princess’ other array of dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill steak house, plus a relaxing oasis just for adults called The Sanctuary. The new ship will also offer the many other innovations that define the Princess experience, including the popular Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating, multiple entertainment venues, a relaxing Asian-style Lotus Spa with fitness center, an extensive children and teen’s center, and a wedding chapel. 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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 4th November 2008.

Princess Best Cruise Line

For the fifth year in a row, the travel agent readers of Recommend magazine have chosen Princess Cruises as the “Best Cruise Line — Itineraries.” The honor, part of the magazine’s 12th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizes Princess’ dedication to global cruising.

“Bringing passengers to fascinating destinations around the world has long been one of our hallmarks and we are committed to enabling our passengers to explore fascinating destinations around the globe,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “So, it’s wonderful to see that travel agents continue to think of Princess first when asked to pick their favorite line for itineraries.”

Princess Cruises sails to all seven continents, offering 115 itineraries encompassing 350 ports around the world. The company’s destinations include Alaska, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii/Tahiti, Mexico, Panama Canal, South Pacific, South America, and world cruises. In 2009-10 the line will introduce 23 new ports of call.

Recommend magazine is a leading travel industry publication that is distributed to travel agents in the U.S. and Canada. The magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards survey was conducted electronically with more than 1,150 travel agents represented in the results.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 30th October 2008.

Princess Best For Romance

Princess Cruises has been named the cruise line “Best for Romance” in the 2008 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards, which honor the world’s top cruise lines for outstanding performance in 10 major areas.

The company also won the “Best for Weddings” and the “Best Multi-Generational” categories. The winners were named by the editorial team of CruiseCritic.com, a leading cruise website featuring news, communities and reviews.

“We’re delighted that the editors of Cruise Critic have recognized Princess as the best line for romance, a tradition that goes back to our early days as ?The Love Boat,’” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “And as the company that introduced weddings at sea and has long offered an onboard experience to appeal to all ages, we’re incredibly pleased the editors have recognized our leadership in these areas.”

Princess Cruises will introduce a new ship, Ruby Princess, on November 6 with a romance-themed christening ceremony featuring godparents Trista and Ryan Sutter, who became “romance royalty” following their appearance on the hit television reality series The Bachelorette.

The line has its own Department of Romance, featuring distinguished experts from the worlds of love, dating and marriage, including actor Gavin MacLeod, The Love Boat’s “Captain Stubing;” Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the always-provocative couples therapist; Alex Michel, the first Bachelor on ABC’s hit show; Trish McDermott, vice president of love at Engage.com; and Lisa Light, destination wedding expert and author.

In 1998 Princess introduced the first weddings at sea performed by the ships’ captains, who in the ensuing decade have married more than 5,000 couples in waters around the globe.

An interactive list of all 2008 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards winners is available for download at http://www.cruisecritic.com/editors-picks/newsletter.cfm. Users can also find cruise line and cruise ship reviews, cruise deals and news on CruiseCritic.com.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 27th October 2008.

Delivery Of Ruby Princess

The newest addition to the Princess fleet, Ruby Princess, was delivered to Princess Cruises today in Monfalcone, Italy by the ship’s builder, Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani. The 3,080-passenger vessel has set sail for Fort Lauderdale where she is scheduled to arrive on November 4.

The ship will be christened on November 6 by celebrity couple Trista and Ryan Sutter from ABC’s hit reality series, “The Bachelorette.” In keeping with the launch’s “romantic milestones” theme, Princess will help the duo celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.

Ruby Princess will debut a number of new services and amenities on board, including new dining options such as a pub lunch in the Wheelhouse Bar, unique enrichment programs and the new Ultimate Ship Tour. The vessel also includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers, Princess’ signature adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary, Sabatini’s Italian restaurant, Crown Grill seafood and steak house, “Movies Under the Stars” giant outdoor movie screen, and Hearts & Minds wedding chapel.

Ruby Princess will then set sail on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale on November 8, beginning a program of Western Caribbean sailings taking passengers to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays. Following her inaugural Caribbean season, the ship will offer a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 23rd October 2008.

New Features Aboard Ruby

When Ruby Princess launches on November 8, the ship will introduce a host of new shipboard services and special features, underscoring Princess’ tradition of continually evolving the onboard experience for its passengers. Among the new options is a pub lunch, an exclusive breakfast for suite passengers, unique enrichment programs from astronomy to mixology, two new stage shows, plus expanded wireless Internet and cell phone connectivity.

The 3,070-passenger vessel will feature the familiar favorites that have become passenger pleasers aboard its sister ships Crown Princess and Emerald Princess but, in addition, other special touches and innovations will be found throughout the service, dining and entertainment areas.

“The new features aboard Ruby Princess are a perfect example of our commitment to provide passengers with the widest array of intriguing options to customize their cruise vacation,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president.

Many of the ship’s enhancements are slated to become staples across the Princess fleet following their debut on Princess’ newest ship. Among the new features being introduced on Ruby Princess:

Wheelhouse Bar Pub Lunch — On sea days, Ruby Princess’ Wheelhouse Bar will be transformed into an authentic English-style pub, serving a selection of traditional fare. A menu of British favorites, including bangers & mash, fish & chips, ploughman’s lunch and cottage pie, will complement a selection of traditional pub brews such as Stella Artois, Bass Ale or Guinness. Pub lunch meal service is free of charge and will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sabatini’s Breakfast for Suite Passengers — Suite passengers aboard Ruby Princess will have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive breakfast in Sabatini’s. Beginning with a “Good Morning Mimosa,” the menu features a variety of breakfast favorites, plus specialty items such as brioche French toast with apple & cinnamon compote, yogurt and super granola parfait with raspberry swirl, soft-poached egg over potato & vegetables with hollandaise sauce, and freshly made Belgian waffles. Suite passengers can enjoy this new amenity, along with the restaurant’s dramatic top-of-ship views, from approximately 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Artisan Cheeses at Vines — In addition to serving more than 30 wines by the glass and seafood appetizers that have made Vines a passenger favorite, the atrium-area bar on Ruby Princess will now feature a selection of domestic and imported artisan cheeses. Twelve varieties — including unique choices such as boschetto al tartufo bianchetto, reblochon, and cambozola — will be featured each day for a nominal fee. Vines will also host a series of lively events where passengers can meet members of the ship’s staff, and will continue to offer wine flights and parings.

New Enrichment Programs — A number of new ScholarShip@Sea enrichment programs debut aboard Ruby Princess to expand passengers’ horizons, whether they aspire to host the perfect party or increase their maritime knowledge. The Art of Entertaining offers passengers the opportunity to learn party-planning tips from lifestyle expert Susie Coelho via a multimedia presentation hosted by the cruise director. Navigation@Sea focuses on the history of navigation as well as the complexities of plotting the route of a modern cruise ship, with a presentation by the ship’s navigator. Mixology@Sea lets passengers channel their inner bartender with a hands-on course taught by the ship’s bar manager. For star gazers, the new Astronomy@Sea program provides passengers with the opportunity to explore the night sky through a telescope on the top deck, with the expert guidance of a ship’s bridge officer. Developed in conjunction with Dr. Thomai Serdari, Professor of Art History and Director of Research Collections for New York University, Art History@Sea: Botticelli to Warhol, The Evolution of Art makes 500 years of art come to life with a special hour-long presentation.

Two New Production Shows — Ruby Princess audiences will be able to enjoy two new Princess-produced shows in the ship’s theater. “Broadway Ballroom” presents the music of the ‘Great White Way’ with a ballroom flair, pairing the songs of hit musicals with dance numbers ranging from foxtrot to rumba. The show also features the talents of a costume designer and choreographer from the TV hit “Dancing with the Stars.” Meanwhile, “Once Upon a Dream” uses unique multidimensional cinematic projection to follow a dreamscape unlike anything seen at sea. The audience will accompany a young woman’s journey as she dreams of everything from a tea party in an English garden to singing camels in the desert, and even a trip through a waterfall and brief nightmare before waking to a new day.

The Audience Gets in the Act — A variety of new audience-participation events will also debut on the ship, giving passengers a number of ways to seek their 15 minutes of fame. Karaoke fans can go a bit farther with Love Boat Legends, where they are actually transformed into a famous artist of the past. So You Wanna Be A Rock Star? moves beyond pre-recorded Karaoke tunes to give audience members the opportunity to rock out with a live band on stage. Oceans of Talent puts passenger talent center stage — whether they play a musical instrument or want to try out their comedic timing. The Wake Up Show takes Princess’ popular morning show with the cruise director to a new level with an irreverent talk show format, live band, special guests and an opportunity for passengers to join the “studio” audience, as the show is taped in the evening before its broadcast the next morning.

A Few Fine Touches — A number of new service touches will be introduced to delight passengers. In the Horizon Court buffet, new waffle stations will offer fresh cooked-to-order waffles at breakfast and throughout lunchtime, and the buffet will also begin serving complimentary lemonade as a beverage choice. In the evening, passengers will find a selection of canapés in several of the ship’s public lounges. Passengers arriving back from shore will be greeted with chilled face cloths, and by the pool, “misting stewards” will offer a quick refreshing spritz with Evian to cool off.

Kid Stuff — Young passengers can enjoy a new Wizards Academy, an exclusive presentation from the award-winning California Science Center. This enriching new program lets children explore the connection between science and magic in a fun and participative environment. Kids will also enjoy activities and projects from popular arts and crafts company Klutz, or participate in Yoga for Kids, a healthy and fun course designed specifically for children.

Wireless Internet and Cell Phones — Expanding on Princess’ Internet and phone connectivity, Ruby Princess will offer laptop users additional wireless hotspots around the vessel, including staterooms. The ship will also be equipped so that passengers can use their personal cellular phones, if they have international roaming plans, while onboard.

Ultimate Ship Tour — A new exclusive opportunity to experience an array of “back of house” areas that are key to a ship’s daily operations, the Ultimate Ship Tour will give passengers the unique opportunity to explore beyond the public areas with visits to the ship’s engine control room, medical center, print shop, laundry, photo lab, funnel, bridge and other spaces. In addition to getting a rare insider’s view of many areas typically seen only by the ship’s crew, participants will receive a variety of themed mementos at many of the stops along the route.

Ruby Princess also includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers, Princess’ signature adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary, Sabatini’s Italian restaurant, Crown Grill seafood and steak house, “Movies Under the Stars” giant outdoor movie screen, and Hearts and Minds wedding chapel. The ship will feature an inaugural season of Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, followed by a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009.

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 www.princess.com.

Official Press Release Princess Cruises dated 20th October 2008.

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