Princess Cruises will bring Emerald Princess back to Australian waters for the first time since the 2016–17 season, as part of a three-ship deployment featuring more than 90 departures across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in 2028–29.
The cruise line has unveiled its latest regional program, which will see Emerald Princess, Grand Princess and Royal Princess operate 72 itineraries ranging from two to 46 nights.
The announcement also includes renewed seasonal homeporting in Melbourne, an expanded New Zealand program and three Round Australia voyages, with 14 departure options.
The three ships will visit 42 destinations across six countries, with departures available from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Auckland.
The deployment comes as fellow Carnival Corporation brand Carnival Cruise Line prepares to withdraw Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa from Australia in March 2028, amid concerns about the country’s operating and regulatory environment.
Record-breaking world cruise announced
Princess has also unveiled its longest-ever world cruise from Australia, with Grand Princess set to embark on a 129-night voyage in 2029.
The Grand World Odyssey will cover approximately 37,300 nautical miles, visiting 61 destinations across 31 countries and five continents.
Highlights include calls to New York, Miami, Reykjavik, Lisbon, Barcelona and Copenhagen, alongside full transits of the Panama Canal’s new locks.
Passengers will have access to more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with nine extended port experiences, including an overnight stay in Lima and late-night calls in Lisbon and New York.
The world cruise will offer departure options from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle and Adelaide, as well as Dover in the UK.
“From the return of Emerald Princess to Sydney and more opportunities to explore Australia and New Zealand, to the most ambitious World Cruise we have ever offered from this region, our 2028–2029 program showcases the extraordinary breadth of experiences available with Princess,” Princess Cruises vice president Asia Pacific Matthew Rutherford said.
Bookings open in November
The 2028–29 regional season will also feature 11 extended port experiences, including late-night and overnight stays, with itineraries exploring destinations such as the Kimberley Coast, Tasmania and New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park.
All voyages go on sale on 11 November 2026.
Princess is offering early booking incentives for the Australia and New Zealand program, including up to AU$750 in savings and AU$750 in onboard spending money per stateroom, a stateroom location upgrade and half-priced deposits.
The offers will be available for bookings made between 11 November and 11 December 2026.
World cruise passengers can also receive up to AU$3,000 in onboard spending money per stateroom, while past passengers are eligible for up to an additional AU$3,000 in savings.
The world cruise offers are available for bookings made between 11 November 2026 and 31 August 2027.
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