Princess to Base Five Ships in Caribbean for 2011-12

In 2011-12, Princess Cruises will base five ships in the Caribbean. The Ruby Princess will operate seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on Sundays. The itinerary features Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk from Nov. 5, 2011, to April 29, 2012. The ship will also offer a nine-day Southern Caribbean holiday sailing from Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 30, 2011, calling at Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.

The Crown Princess will sail on two new roundtrip seven-day itineraries departing on Saturdays between Nov. 5, 2011, and April 28, 2012. Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale will visit Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. The new Southern Caribbean route includes Princess Cays, Curacao and Aruba.

The Caribbean Princess will sail from San Juan on two alternating seven-day itineraries on Sundays. The “Classic Southern Caribbean” route sails to St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, Dominica and Barbados, while “Southern Caribbean Explorer” sailings travel to St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. The cruises will sail between Nov. 20, 2011, and April 29, 2012.

The ship starts the season with a 10-day “Caribbean Islander” sailing from New York to Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 29, 2011, featuring calls at San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua and Aruba. Caribbean Princess also offers two sailings, a 10-day Southern Caribbean holiday cruise from San Juan to St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Grenada, Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba on Dec. 18, 2011, and a six-day “Classic Southern Caribbean” voyage to St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua and Barbados roundtrip from San Juan on Jan. 2, 2012.

The Emerald Princess offers alternating 10-day roundtrips to the Southern Caribbean and the Eastern Caribbean. The “Southern Caribbean Medley” itinerary calls at Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Dominica, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. The “Eastern Caribbean Voyager” itinerary calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Princess Cays. Emerald Princess will sail between Sept. 29, 2011, and April 26, 2012.

The Grand Princess will operate a 14-day “Caribbean Collection” itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale between Nov. 19, 2011, and April 21, 2012. The ship sails to Aruba, Curacao (or Bonaire), Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Princess Cays (or Grand Turk).