Princess Announces 2008-09 Season for Asia and Australia and New Zealand Cruises
From the jeweled palaces of Bangkok and the grandeur of China's Great Wall to the unique wildlife of Tasmania and the towering fjords of New Zealand, each year Princess passengers delight in the many unique destinations offered on cruises to Asia and Australia/New Zealand. The 2008-09 season will be no exception as the line will once again return to these exotic destinations with a full program of sailings, aboard the amenity-filled Diamond Princess. In addition, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess will be based in Australia for a series of unique voyages.
In total, Princess will now offer more than double the Australia and New Zealand capacity of any other cruise line, and will feature more capacity in Asia on voyages longer than 10days.
The 116,000-ton Diamond Princess will offer 16 Asia and Australia/New Zealand sailings with a choice of five different itineraries traveling to some of the region's most intriguing ports. The season features more departures on the favorite Southeast Asia and China itinerary, and offers several spring sailings in addition to the traditional fall cruise options - representing a 33 percent increase in Asia capacity. A passenger favorite, Diamond Princess will be the largest and most feature-rich vessel sailing in the region, with more than 50 percent of staterooms offering a private balcony, perfect for enjoying the dramatic harbor views found on these itineraries.
Rounding out the program with new options, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess will sail between Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia, including an expanded series of cruises around the continent and new home ports in Melbourne and Perth.
"The wonder of Asia and beauty of Australia continue to delight our passengers year after year," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "We're dedicated to providing our passengers with these rich exotic itineraries that never fail to create memories that last a lifetime."