Discovery Princess arrives in Sydney to celebrate 50 years of Princess sailings

• Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess arrived in Sydney this morning in spectacular style.
• The Royal Class vessel is here to start her first season and to celebrate 50 years of Princess sailings in Australia.
• Discovery Princess will be sailing to New Zealand and other locations.

Discovery Princess, the newest and largest ship ever deployed by Princess Cruises in Australian waters, sailed through the Heads into Sydney Harbour this morning to begin her much-anticipated inaugural season Down Under.

The 145,000-ton Royal-class vessel, which first launched in 2022, marks a milestone moment not just for the line, but for the Australian cruise market.

Her arrival coincides with Princess Cruises’ 50th anniversary in Australia, a market the brand first entered in 1975 with the now-iconic original Pacific Princess. To honour the landmark year, Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha flew into Sydney to welcome Discovery Princess as she made her maiden call at Circular Quay.

“Australia holds a truly special place in the heart of Princess Cruises. We are honoured to
have been part of so many cherished memories for millions of guests, and we look forward
to creating many more together in the years ahead,” Mr Antorcha said.

“We have a long and successful history in Australia and New Zealand, and we understand
the preferences of Australian guests.”

He added: “We’ve recently announced exciting growth in the region, including Sapphire Princess
homeporting in Western Australia for the 2027-28 season – a significant expansion. We look
forward to continuing our strong partnerships with state and federal governments, supporting
the cruise industry’s growth and delivering economic benefits to local communities across
Australia.”

Vice-President Asia Pacific Matthew Rutherford added: “For 50 years, we’ve proudly shared the wonder of cruising with Australians who love to explore their own background and beyond.”

Discovery Princess is a state-of-the-art vessel that will be homeported in Sydney until
April 7, 2026.

Mr Rutherford said she showcased Princess Cruises’ “unwavering commitment to the region and our guests, crew, partners and suppliers who have made every voyage memorable.”

See Cruise Passenger’s first-person review of Discovery Princess here.

A record-setting ship for a record-setting season

Discovery Princess carries 3,660 guests and features Princess MedallionClass technology, more than 1,300 balconies, and an array of celebrated Princess venues including Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, The Sanctuary and the aft-facing Wake View Terrace.

The ship will operate a series of voyages from Sydney and Melbourne throughout the summer season, offering itineraries to New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, and the South Pacific. Princess is forecasting one of its strongest seasons in a decade, buoyed by post-pandemic demand and the growing Australian appetite for premium, resort-style cruising.

Discovery Princess will source significant volumes of local Australian produce throughout her season, supporting farmers and suppliers nationwide. On a typical 7–14 day deployment, the ship consumes:

• 6,000+ kilograms of fresh fruit weekly
• Over 4,000 kilograms of vegetables
• More than 1,500 dozen eggs
• Up to 2,000 kilograms of beef, chicken and seafood

Local producers from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania will provide everything from dairy and prime meats to specialty greens and orchard fruit.

“Our culinary operation is enormous,” said Executive Chef Denis Soriano. “Australians expect exceptional quality, and we’re committed to showcasing local flavours wherever possible.”

A golden anniversary

Princess Cruises’ relationship with Australia spans five decades, and Discovery Princess’ arrival anchors a broader year-long programme of celebrations across the fleet, including special menus, onboard events, and commemorative 50-year merchandise.

The decision signals Princess Cruises’ confidence in Australia’s long-term potential. The return of large-scale, premium ships is also expected to boost tourism for home ports such as Sydney, with each ship call injecting millions into the local visitor economy. Regional home porting has been greeted with delight in Western Australia.

50 Years of Princess Cruises in Australia: A Quick History

Princess Cruises first entered the Australian market in 1975 with the legendary Pacific Princess, a ship that soon became a household name thanks to its starring role in The Love Boat. Over the decades, Princess gradually expanded its deployment, recognising Australia as one of the world’s highest-per-capita cruise markets.

Key Milestones

• 1975: Pacific Princess makes the line’s first cruises from Australia.
• 1980s–1990s: Regular seasonal deployments begin, building an early loyal following.
• 2000s: Princess bases Sun Princess and Dawn Princess here, pioneering longer world voyages and round-Australia itineraries.
• 2013: Australia becomes one of Princess’ largest international home markets.
• 2020s: The line introduces MedallionClass technology and increases capacity across the region.
• 2025: Discovery Princess becomes the newest and largest Princess ship ever to sail in Australia, marking the brand’s 50-year anniversary.

Princess now carries hundreds of thousands of Australian and New Zealand passengers annually — a remarkable evolution from its modest early deployments.

For more, go here.