Princess to Add Swan Hellenic´s Minerva II to Fleet in 2007

Princess Cruises is expanding its fleet with the addition of a 680-passenger, 30,000-ton ship it will call Royal Princess.

The ship is currently cruising as Swan Hellenic´s Minerva II and will enter service with Princess in April 2007, joining the line´s other small-ship vessels, the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess ships. The future Royal Princess´ first itineraries will be 12-day European sailings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

The Minerva II is Swan Hellenic´s sole ship. Julie Benson, a spokeswoman for Princess, said that Princess would only say that Carnival UK is considering future options for Swan Hellenic but that nothing is confirmed at this stage.