Princess Cruises’ Flagship to Homeport in Sydney

Princess Cruises has revealed that the company’s flagship, Discovery Princess, their most ambitious vessel in a half-century, will be based in Sydney, Australia for the 2025/26 summer season.

Discovery Princess Down Under

In an announcement that should please cruise holiday enthusiasts, Princess Cruises’ most impressive ship to date, the 145,000-gross-ton Discovery Princess, will spend its inaugural summer season in Australia, sailing out of Sydney. 

Discovery Princess’ arrival Down Under marks a pivotal moment for the company; almost fifty years earlier Princess Cruises first introduced Pacific Princess (built in Germany in 1971) to the enchanting shores of Sydney. 

Commemorating this significant event, company president John Padgett shared the highly anticipated news of Discovery Princess making Sydney its home port in late 2025.

“In commemoration of this milestone, we are delighted to unveil the future deployment of the Discovery Princess today, further solidifying our belief in the Australian market,” said Padgett.

This strategic decision to homeport the line’s flagship in Sydney underscores the company’s unwavering confidence in the lucrative Australian market. Holidays in this part of the world promise wonderful cruise-based experiences for both international globetrotters as well as local travelers who want to get to know their own backyard.

“We are confident that both our international and Australian guests will be excited about the spectacular experience aboard Discovery Princess as she sails from Sydney in late 2025,” said Padgett.

The 19-deck Discovery Princess, launched in 2022 and able to accommodate up to 3,660 passengers, was engineered with Princess MedallionClass technology. This Royal-Class ship joins an outstanding pedigree of cruising vessels, including Enchanted Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, and Sky Princess.

Princess MedallionClass technology offers personalized cruise experiences through a small wearable device called the OceanMedallion. It streamlines different processes for guests, including providing keyless room entry, interactive features, effortless onboard transactions, and easy boarding, which enhances the passenger experience overall.

From the iconic city of Sydney, Discovery Princess will embark on a series of captivating itineraries during its 2025/26 Australian summer season, offering unparalleled maritime odysseys. This will come after the ship spends the 2025 northern summer sailing in Alaska, homeported from Seattle, Washington.

Guests will never go hungry aboard Discovery Princess either. The ship comes with an array of amenities, including 14 restaurants, 10 bars, and many different entertainment options. 

Some dining highlights include The Catch by Rudi, Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Trattoria, and Gigi’s Pizzeria. The ship also features the SeaWalk, a glass-bottomed walkway extending beyond the ship’s edge, which will be a big thrill for many, although perhaps not for the faint of heart (or people who suffer from vertigo).

Princess Cruises in Australia and the South Pacific

In addition to Discovery Princess, Princess Cruises plans to operate Crown Princess and Grand Princess as part of the company’s summer program in Australia and the South Pacific during the 2025/26 season. 

Complete 2025/26 summer sailing itineraries for all three vessels will be released on November 15, 2023, and then become available for booking toward the end of the month, on November 29.

For guests who don’t want to wait to book a fantastic Australian or South Pacific cruise, Princess Cruises is planning a busy sailing 2023/24 season for its guests in the region as well.

The 142,229-ton Royal Princess debuted in New Zealand on October 19, 2023, kicking off Princess Cruises’ operations Down Under. She will be exploring destinations like Brisbane, Sydney, Port Douglas, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Noumea on France’s New Caledonia Island, plus many other popular vacation spots.

Royal Princess will be joined by several other Princess ships for the 2023/2024 season. Grand Princess arrived in Auckland on October 17, 2023. Coral Princess and Majestic Princess are also slated to sail in Australian and New Zealand waters in 2023 and 2024, offering the cruise line’s guests even more seafaring adventures, and the chance to explore this part of the Southern Hemisphere.