Princess Cruises is marking a major milestone this year, celebrating 50 years of sailing Down Under and half a century of creating unforgettable holidays across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
The brand’s journey in this region began in 1975, when Pacific Princess sailed Down Under for the very first time. Since then, Princess Cruises has grown into one of Australia’s most recognisable and trusted cruise lines.
This anniversary has coincided with the arrival of Discovery Princess, now homeporting in Sydney and officially the newest ship ever to be based at Circular Quay. Sailing local waters through April 2026, she represents the next evolution of the Princess experience and a clear signal of the line’s long‑term commitment to the Australian market.
As the latest Royal‑Class ship to visit the region, Discovery Princess brings a fresh, contemporary take on cruising. Travellers can expect elevated design, stylish spaces and experiences shaped with Australian tastes in mind. Guests can enjoy signature dining favourites such as Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and The Catch by Rudi, alongside 360: An Extraordinary Experience – a fully immersive, multi‑sensory culinary journey found only on Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess.
For Princess Cruises, the 50‑year milestone is more than a celebration of the past – it’s a reiteration of the brand’s commitment to the region and its ongoing investment in delivering memorable, enriching holidays for travellers.
And importantly, the celebration extends to the trade community. To recognise the role travel agents have played in building Princess Cruises’ success over the decades, the line has launched a special incentive featuring 50 prizes – one for every year since Princess first arrived Down Under.
At the heart of the incentive are 15 Major Prizes, each offering a Premium Princess Experience, including a local Seacation cruise in a Balcony Stateroom, a scenic Sydney Seaplanes flight over Sydney Harbour, and a Sydney hotel 4-star hotel stay. It’s a curated showcase of the experiences that have shaped Princess Cruises’ story down under. A further 35 Minor Prizes of $50 gift cards ensure even more agents can share in the celebration. Agents can enter here by making a Princess Premier or Princess Plus booking, deposited or paid in full, between 19 January and 15 April, and submitting a 25‑words or less response.
Princess Premier and Princess Plus continue to be strong selling points for agents, offering bundled inclusions that enhance value and simplify the onboard experience. Princess Plus includes 15 drinks per day (up to AUD $22 each), four Casual Dining meals per guest, OceanNow® delivery, room service delivery and Wi‑Fi for one device.
Princess Premier offers unlimited drinks (up to AUD $30 each), unlimited Casual Dining meals, specialty dining meals, OceanNow® delivery, room service delivery, Wi‑Fi for four devices, up to $300 shore excursion credit per guest, professional photos and reserved theatre seating. A suite of flyers and short‑form videos is available on OneSource here to support travel agents.
Princess Cruises is also inviting agents onboard with a series of ship inspections across major Australian capital cities. These hosted days include a guided tour and a three‑course lunch. This offers an opportunity for agents to experience the Princess product firsthand, including the amazing service our crew delivers. Registrations are open now via OneSource here.
Celebrating 50 years in Australia, Princess Cruises is excited to deliver more unforgettable holidays across Australia and New Zealand, with our trade partners remaining an essential part of our journey.
