Princess Cruises in big Asian expansion targeting Aussie fly-cruisers

• Princess Cruises will deploy Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess to Singapore between 2027 and 2030, doubling sailings.
• The move is expected to attract fly-cruisers seeking longer Southeast Asia and Japan itineraries.
• The expansion adds to a growing range of fly-cruise options in Southeast Asia.

Princess Cruises has announced a big new three-year partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board to expand the line’s presence in Singapore, doubling sailings by 2030.

The move is in response to the growing trend towards the fly-cruise market. Australia has strong air links with Singapore, and is seen as a prime target.

The line will deploy three ships, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess, to Singapore, with an array of new itineraries.

Supported by Singapore’s Cruise Development Fund, the ships will offer extended itineraries of 10 to 28 days, giving travellers more time to explore destinations across the region. Itineraries will feature round-trip sailings to destinations like Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, alongside longer voyages between Singapore and Japan.

Travellers can expect a diverse variety of shore excursions across the region, like a mangrove cruise along the Kilim River in Langkawi, ancient temple visits in Hoi An and visiting the mountaintop Buddhist retreat at Fokuangshan Monastery in Kaohsiung.

The expanded deployment is expected to attract more than 150,000 passengers and further accelerate growth in the fly-cruise segment, attracting a strong base of international cruise passengers from mid to long-haul markets like Australia.

“With Asia Pacific emerging as a key growth region for cruising, Singapore is well-positioned to capture fly-cruise demand and connect the world to the best of Asia,” said Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board. “We look forward to Princess Cruises bringing their exciting cruise itineraries to more travellers.”

Ng added, “This three-year partnership with Princess Cruises is testament to Singapore’s position as Asia’s premier cruise hub. Princess Cruises’ expanded deployment broadens our premium cruise experiences and supports our Tourism 2040 vision to drive quality tourism growth through a strong pipeline of differentiated products.”

Aussie travellers a major target

The partnerships spells exciting news for Australian fly-cruisers keen on immersive cruise experiences in Asia.

While Singapore’s cruise market is dominated by shorter two-to-five night sailings, Princess Cruises focuses on longer itineraries that align well with Australian travel preferences.

For many Australian travellers, longer voyages are generally seen as offering better value and a more rewarding holiday experience, especially when combining multiple Asian destinations in a single trip.

Princess Cruises believes Singapore is perfectly positioned to lead a shift to longer voyages in Asia Pacific.

“We’re seeing growing demand for longer, more immersive journeys, and this programme allows us to deliver richer itineraries across Southeast Asia and beyond while attracting more international guests to the region,” says Matthew Rutherford, Vice President Asia Pacific, Princess Cruises.

He added, “Singapore is a cornerstone of our Asia Pacific strategy and an exceptional homeport from which to expand regional footprint. This multi-year deployment underscores our confidence in Singapore’s connectivity and strong cruise ecosystem.”

Singapore cruise is booming

Singapore’s appeal as a fly-cruise hub is being reinforced by a rise of major cruise brands operating from the city-state.

Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas makes her Singapore debut in October 2026 through March 2027, featuring 3- to 12-night itineraries to Penang, Langkawi, Phuket, and Bangkok. Spectrum of the Seas will also make her much anticipated return in 2028.

Disney Adventure homeports year-round in Singapore, with 3 and 4-night cruises to nowhere. The ship is marketed as the attraction, with Broadway-style shows, Marvel rides, original dining concepts and the longest roller coaster at sea.

StarDream Cruises’ Genting Dream offers a variety of 2 to 5-night sailings from Singapore, to destinations such as Melaka, Phuket, Penang, Bangkok and Bali.

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