One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises first set sail in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico.
Today, the line has grown to become the third largest cruise line in the world, renowned for innovative ships, an array of on-board options, and an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers approximately 1.3 million passengers each year the opportunity to escape to the top destinations around the globe, aboard a fleet of 17 modern vessels.
Princess Cruises rose to fame in 1977 when one of its ships, Pacific Princess, was cast in a starring role on a new television show called "The Love Boat." The hit network series, which introduced millions of viewers to the concept of a sea-going cruise vacation, was a top rated show and both the companies name and its "Seawitch" logo have remained synonymous with cruising to this day. The show, which is syndicated around the world, has been widely credited with fueling the dramatic growth of the cruise vacation industry.
He went to sea, to see the sea … yes, I did indeed. My first 24 years were spent growing or struggling up in the “smoke” as we used to colloquially call it – London. The expectancy of the ‘60s developed into the dreariness of the ‘70s and, after some tough familial experiences, I graduatedContinue Reading
The phone ringing on the bedside table jolted us awake. My wife, Freda, silenced the beast by picking up the receiver on the third ring. I was trying to gather my wits, barely able to recollect where we were. Glancing at the digital clock on the table nearest my side of the bed, I couldContinue Reading
Being a longtime cruise writer, I have had the privilege of experiencing many of the world’s great ports. But not all – never will I see them all. And Iceland has long been on my must-see list. Just a few weeks ago, on Sept. 19, that finally happened. My husband, Chet, and I arrivedContinue Reading
I did not leave my heart in San Francisco, as the old song goes. It came home with me, joined to my new husband as we started our married life together. San Francisco left something of itself with me in the form of an enduring memory of the wonderful time I spent there on myContinue Reading
My sister and I have cruised with Princess 12 times. These excursions have taken us to many different countries with many different experiences. Last year, we were aboard Caribbean Princess for a tour of Canada and New England. Caribbean Princess anchored in Boston, Massachusetts on a bright, sunny day with just a nip of fallContinue Reading
It made perfect sense to my traveling companions and me that, during a cruise to Antarctica, we were deciding on our next journey—a tropical adventure. As our cruise ship skirted the coldest place on earth—itself a destination for the bucket list—we talked excitedly about one day going to Cambodia’s long-hidden temple city, Angkor Wat. IContinue Reading
Alaska was at the top of my bucket list for as long as I can remember. My father had fostered my love of wildlife and wilderness during my childhood in Pennsylvania, and I expected that Alaska would hold an abundance of both. Well, I was right. In 1983, at the age of 28, I followedContinue Reading
For more than 20 years I dreamed of sitting on a beach in the Caribbean. Finally, I booked an Eastern Caribbean cruise along with four of my friends, and sailed away aboard Ruby Princess to make my dream come true! After boarding the ship in Fort Lauderdale and settling in, we rushed to the backContinue Reading
This story was written by Bob Simpson AO, AM Former Australian Test Cricket Captain Cricket has enabled me to travel to many parts of the world, such as England, Scotland, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, The West Indies, Nepal, The Nederlands, Denmark, Malta, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. But my favourite destination is Bermuda, where IContinue Reading
As someone who travels for a living, I have favorite destinations on every continent. But if you asked me which place out of all that I have seen is at the top of my list, I would have to say Hong Kong. It’s been 23 years since I’ve visited Hong Kong … an eternity! ButContinue Reading
The writer W. Somerset Maugham in “The Moon And Sixpence” wonders about one of his characters. “Perhaps when he went to Paris, he was too old to fall a victim to the glamour of his environment.” Maugham doesn’t mention Cannes, but I believe that one is never too old to be entranced by the beautyContinue Reading
It’s rare that a business trip leads to magical travel memories. Usually you could be anywhere, tucked away in meeting rooms. But Prague was the exception for me, and remains a special discovery to this day. I was just appointed National Accounts Manager and was traveling to Budapest and Prague, two jewels of Eastern Europe,Continue Reading
If I ever left my heart in a city, it would have to be Vancouver. Like my wife, Dawn, Vancouver for me was love at first sight. This beautiful Canadian city has been the backdrop for some of my most cherished life moments and I anticipate many visits and meaningful experiences there in the future.Continue Reading
For my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday she had dreamed about a family cruise to Alaska. Knowing this my husband and I had to make it happen. So after months of planning our trip was finally booked. In July 2010 we were off to Alaska on a 7-day cruise aboard Diamond Princess. It was our first timeContinue Reading
Almost 30 years ago, Pitcairn Island captured my imagination while reading “Mutiny on the Bounty”—is there really such a place?—do people still live there?—what are they like?—how do they survive on a tiny island in the Pacific, a world away from civilization? Thus began my journey, which culminated this April when Royal Princess (onContinue Reading
I always knew that my husband, an automobile mechanic, would be eager to visit the Panama Canal, a masterpiece of engineering and one of the so-called Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Before we had our three sons, Steven and I were in the habit of taking holiday-season cruises together, so when the opportunity aroseContinue Reading
In November of 2003 we were aboard Star Princess on a lovely cruise from Los Angeles to Sydney. We had enjoyed stops at Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, American Samoa and Fiji and were pulling into the harbor at Tauranga, New Zealand, when I noticed crowds of people on shore. There was a ferry boat dockedContinue Reading
Some places take hold of your imagination and capture you from afar, conjuring curiosity and wonderment over oceans and continents. Since school days, Egypt has been that magical place for me. It was the pyramids that initially seized my imagination. I had so many questions about them. Who built the pyramids? Why did they buildContinue Reading
Having worked and lived in San Francisco for some 40 years, (but now retired and living in Southern California) on my occasional visits back, I’m always determined not to act like a tourist. You know something?… it never works. What is special about “The City” captivates almost everyone, even this former advertising/newspaper guy who can’tContinue Reading
Amsterdam is a city of canals, historic row houses and freewheeling social policies that attract visitors from the world over. As I discovered, it’s also a city of very determined cyclists and committed distance walkers. In October 2005, I traveled to Amsterdam for a few days to meet a wing of my family that I’dContinue Reading
