SANTA CLARITA, Calif.,
Nov. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Princess Cruises was the first cruise line to take guests
through the Panama Canal in 1967, one of the world's most coveted
engineering marvels. Fifty years later, the cruise line marks
another major milestone with the very first mega-cruise ship,
Caribbean Princess, to traverse the newly expanded "Neo-Panamax"
Locks.
Marking the 50th anniversary in 2017, Caribbean
Princess is the first post-Panamax cruise ship to take more than
3,000 guests through the newly opened Agua Clara locks on the
Atlantic side of the canal that opened in June 2016, as part of the 10-year, $5.4 billion "Neo-Panamax" expansion.
Previously, only vessels with a maximum width of 106 feet could
enter the locks. Caribbean Princess with a width of 118 feet,
112,894 tons and carrying 3,200 guests, sailed through the expanded
locks for the first of 13 scheduled crossings on October 26, during the ship's 2017-2018 Panama
Canal schedule.
"Marking our 50th anniversary taking guests to the
Panama Canal in 2017 is a huge milestone so it's equally thrilling
that we will also observed the occasion by being the first cruise
line to sail a mega-ship through the newly expanded locks," said
Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises and
Carnival Australia group president. "The widely anticipated
expansion of the Panama Canal allows us to showcase this
engineering spectacle to more guests than ever on our larger
ships."
Princess guests sail through the epic waterway that shaped the
course of history by linking the world's two mightiest oceans with
an industrial feat that, even 100 years later, remains so
breathtaking and monumental that it was named a "Cruise World
Wonder" by Condé Nast Traveler. Onboard, expert narration
enlightens guests as Princess ships pass through the locks and
authentic Panamanian cuisine is served in the dining rooms. With
port calls in Central America,
South America and the Caribbean, ashore there is everything from
Costa Rican rainforests to old world cities like Cartagena that
recall the age of exploration.
The only cruise line to offer a full season of voyages from fall
through spring, Princess Cruises delivers the most itinerary
options and sailing dates with three ways to experience the Panama
Canal - roundtrip from the East Coast on 10-day sailings, roundtrip
from the West Coast on 19-day sailings, or a full transit from
ocean to ocean on 15-day sailings.
Caribbean Princess recently underwent a multi-million-dollar
renovation that included seven new food and beverage offerings, an
updated youth & teen Center – Camp Discovery, more
interconnecting staterooms, and updated décor.
More information about Panama Canal cruise vacations aboard
Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess can be found
at princess.com/panamacanal.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available
through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or
by visiting the company's website at princess.com.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a
global cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern
cruise ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of
choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided with
the experience of exceptional customer service. Princess carries
two million guests each year to more than 360 destinations around
the globe on more than 150 itineraries ranging in length from three
to 114 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc
(NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Newsroom:
Additional media information is available at princess.com/news.
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SOURCE Princess Cruises