Princess has earned the ire of scores of passengers by making changes to the voyages on the Crown Princess, affecting thousands of holidays.
The line has told agents and passengers the ship will be sent to drydock for maintenance at a time when the line, one of Australia’s favourites which once fielded five ships in a season, has its lowest deployment in memory.
Social media exploded with angry passenger dismayed by what the company maintained was one cancelled voyage and seven curtailed or changes itineraries.
Princess Cruises sent out a statement saying: “Due to a change in the scheduled dry dock maintenance for Crown Princess, we are altering a small number of Crown Princess itineraries departing from Australia between 26 September 2025 through to 12 January 2026.
“All impacted guests and travel advisors are being directly notified. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.”
The line told Cruise Passenger the ship would be in dry dock between 29th Nov to 18 December. The dry dock had been scheduled – but would now take place later than planned.
The line declined to comment on agents telling their clients 14 itineraries were affected.
The line insisted Crown Princess will continue with the rest of her planned Brisbane deployment after the dry dock and there were no changes to Discovery Princess‘ deployment from Sydney.
Crown Princess replaced some of the Grand Princess cruises, after that ship pulled out of the season.
The Crown Princess itineraries were set to depart from Australia and Asia between September 26, 2025 and January 12, 2026.
An email from the line said: “We extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding.
“Where a replacement voyage is available listed below, guests will be automatically rebooked onto the replacement voyage and will receive a new booking reference by September 13, 2024.”
“Where the fare on the replacement voyage is higher, guests will be rebooked on the original fare paid. Where the fare on the replacement voyage is lower, guests will receive the new lower fare. Shore excursions and spa and dining reservations will be cancelled and refunded, and guests will need to rebook on Cruise Personalizer/ Manage My Booking.
“In addition, guests will receive the following air credit of up to $300 per person and onboard credit of up to $200 per person (max $400 per stateroom) per as the table below.
“Any guests booked on cancelled voyages where a replacement voyage is not available will have their bookings automatically cancelled with a refund to their original form of payment.”
Several cruisers had three back-to-back cruises, including a Christmas voyage, cancelled.
And while some have been offered alternatives, other passengers on the same voyage have not been offered a similar itinerary.
Judy Mason said, “Our Singapore to Sydney 4th November 2025 also cancelled – are saying that our booking will automatically be transferred to a voyage with a similar itinerary, plus extra onboard and air credits, if this offer is taken up.”
But responses to her post from fellow cruisers said they were being offered nothing
“We’re on the same itinerary and we did not get that option. I just notification that it’s cancelled.”
Marie Smith wrote, “We have one booked on Crown for April 2025. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Princess cancel the whole lot from Australia. Just recently had our 38-night one from Sydney to Hawaii return cancelled.
“No option of another cruise to replace it. We were told the reason was logistics. Needed the ship for Mexico. If the one in April goes ahead it will be my last one with Princess. Obviously, they don’t want our business. Well, I don’t want theirs.”
Earlier this year, Princess announced the Grand Princess will no longer sail Down Under in Australia for the 2025/26 season. And at the present moment for the entire 2025/26 season, Discovery Princess will be the only ship to service the APAC area.
This is a stark contrast to the 2023/24 season which saw four Princess ships sailing in Australia: Majestic Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Coral Princess. The four ships had capacity for 11,770 passengers.
“It was going to be Discovery Princess and Crown Princess,” wrote Peter Gaskin.
“That will leave Discovery Princess to fly the flag for Princess in the 25/26 cruise season. Devastating for the Australian cruise industry.”
If you’ve been affected, click here to find out more.
