Princess Cruises, Australia’s favourite line, has announced the Grand Princess will no longer sail in Australia for the 2025/2026 season.
This means Princess will have just two ships in the region, Crown Princess and Discovery Princess.
A range of Princess 2025/2026 sailings have been cancelled. And further sailings have been moved onto Crown and Discovery. Many cruisers’ holiday plans are suddenly in jeopardy after the shock news.
In a statement that seemed to suggest the move was a boon to Australian cruisers, the line said: “We know that Australians love to sail with Princess all over the world and with the expansion of our fleet with Sun Princess this year and Star Princess in 2025 comes many more opportunities to cruise with Princess.”
Last season four Princess ships were sailing in Australia: Majestic Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Coral Princess. The four ships totalled can hold up to 11,770 passengers.
For the 2025/2026 season, Princess will deploy Discovery Princess and Crown Princess. Together, they can hold just 6740 passengers, representing a 43% decrease.
In the 2021-2022 Australia season, Princess had five ships in Australian waters, including the debut of the Coral Princess.
The premium brand offered 95 different departure dates with homeport options in Brisbane and Sydney.
The Princess move is emblematic of a potentially tumultuous period in Australian cruising. Many major Australian cruise lines are reducing capacity. There are worries over decreasing cruise numbers in New Zealand as well.
Norwegian Cruise Lines, Virgin Voyages and Cunard have all recently withdrawn plans to homeport ships in Australia.
Leading agent speaks out about the Princess 2025/2026 season
Michelle Feilberg, owner of Luxury Cruise and Travel and the administrator of a Princess Cruises Facebook Group with 8000 users says the news is not only a disappointment, but also part of a worrying trend.
“It is very disappointing to see a reduction of ships being homeported in Australia for the 2025/26 season. I don’t believe that there is one single driver, but rather a combination of a lack of infrastructure in Sydney which remains the most popular departure port, the increased port charges in Melbourne, and potentially a lack of variety in available ports of interest in the region.
“Whilst the CLIA 2024 State of the Industry report indicates that cruising is stronger than ever here in Australia, so too is that demand for key locations like the Caribbean and West Coast for North American Residents. There are also some amazing Europe/Mediterranean cruise itineraries also.”
Feilberg understands it feels ‘unfair’ that Aussies are seeing less ships coming despite high demand.
“It does feel unfair to have less ships coming, given the trend report, as well as sales, indicates strong demand. There are also signs that many ships are departing full.
“I administer a large Princess Cruises fan group on Facebook and know that many are prepared to book in advance, and appreciate the newer ships coming, whilst also still enjoying some of the older fleet favourites.”
Feilberg also says she’s seen disappointment from faithful passengers of other cruise lines as major lines lower their Australian deployments.
“Royal Caribbean fans, in particular, were very hopeful that if we were to only have two ships here this year. They were hopeful they would stay year-round, and were greatly disappointed when this didn’t eventuate.”
“It’s a horrible feeling” – cruiser reaction
Cruiser Carol Caton is feeling the brunt of the cancellations, after having one cruise moved and another cancelled due to the redeployment.
“It’s a horrible feeling – from being totally organised, to all of a sudden having to start again. And, unfortunately, a lot of cruises are booked out now over a similar period. I looked at four and none had any balconies available.”
Caton had a cruise to Papua New Guinea booked that has been outright cancelled. Another Tasmania cruise that was she was offered to change to a different date. But the date didn’t work for her plans.
“My Tasmania cruise was moved but they were making it mid-January instead of early December. It’s not my favourite time to cruise over school holidays in January, whereas the December dates would have missed the holidays.”
On the Grand Princess being moved to the Caribbean, Caton had this to say.
“I guess they are taking the ships where they think the big bucks are – disappointing but that’s the cruise industry.”
More comments from Princess cruisers
Another Aussie cruiser had seven back-to-back cruises booked, all of which have been now been cancelled.
“I have seven back-to-back on the Grand which all but one, a four-night cruise Vancouver to LA have been cancelled. And then 10 on the Discovery, not sure at this stage how many have been changed
“We are now scrambling to find out what we are going to do.”
Some cruisers like Darly Pearce are feeling hard done by and fed up due to the news.
“Princess are doing this because they care more about profits than their loyal customers.
“They made a profit here in Australia but figured they’d make more by going to a different country.”
Cruises like Bobbie Baxter-Thompson are left devastated by the news after having her circumnavigation of Australia cancelled. And they have not been offered a replacement.
“I’m devastated our huge cruise in October next year looks to be cancelled. This was a bucket list cruise ticking off so many ports we never imagined we would visit. Looks like it’s still a dream for now.”
Related Posts
-
Guests will be able to combine a Voyage of the Glaciers, the cruise line's seven-day voyage, with rail travel as well as stays in the cruise line’s wilderness lodges.
-
The line will launch its first river ships in 2027 and the new brand, Celebrity River Cruises will start to take bookings this year for European itineraries.
-
An Aussie favourite, Grand Princess has bid adieu to Australian shores as it heads to Puerto Rico. While she sadly won't be here for Australia's next cruise season, the good…
-
Princess has cancelled 14 voyages on the Crown Princess, citing that the ship will be sent to drydock for nearly four months for maintenance.
Thanks Princess for ruining our plans for a Hawaii cruise yet again.
If I could load up on your company with heaps of #%$@%#$# I would.
Cruising is a global market and so we are competing against the rest of the world, and so we now miss out. Australia hasnt invested in the infrastructure needed for cruise ships (other than Brisbane who now get more cruises) and especially the new larger ships. We have a lot of great destinations but you cannot rely on tenders due to weather and ship sizes. The melbourne port facilities are terrible. Infrastructure takes a long time to build in Australia and environmental concerns will be difficult and time consuming to navigate and so nothing will happen quickly. Last year I visited Kangaroo Island on a P&O ship and they told me they had over 25 ships stopping over that summer – that pumps a lot of money into their economy. Now its being reduced. Time to pressure the politicians and tourism reps to get some action.
As a Long time customer of Princess Cruises, Elite member, I am Very disappointed and frustrated with the way Princess Cruises are treating Australian customers. They do not seem to care at all about how removing their ships from Australia and cancelling so many cruises from Sydney in 2024 and 2025, how badly it affects and impacts so many Australians and destroys their holiday plans completely. You have now destroyed my plans for a Hawaiian Cruise in October, 2025, with my wife.
Very Very Disappointed, Annoyed and Frustrated with Princess Cruises for doing this.
It is disappointing that Michelle from Luxury Cruise and Travel has accepted and taken at face value all the spin from Princess Cruises that the reduction in capacity from Sydney and Brisbane is due to port infrastructure etc. She also failed to mention that Grand Princess was home-ported from Melbourne for the past two years and the reason for the Princess announcement in December last year for ceasing cruises from Melbourne was allegedly due to a (modest) increase in port costs Nothing could be further from the truth as according to Princess Cruises US sailing schedules from over a year ago Grand Princess was scheduled to sail from US West Coast ports over the 2024/25 northern hemisphere winter season. The reality is Melbourne Port costs are competitive with other Australian and international ports but Carnival group prefer to blame an increase in port costs (which they recoup in any event from passengers as a tax)as a reason to withdraw from Australia. The true reason is the insatiable US demand for cruising which is far more profitable for the line as Australian passengers dislike the nickel and dime-ing in paying US dollars for extras when these amounts are expensed to their credit cards in $AUD at a poor exchange rate with the $USD. What is disappointing is that Princess have now withdrawn Grand Princess from our 2025 and 2026 season and reducing Australian capacity accordingly without giving the true reasons for the decision.
Why cant Princess cruises use Port of Geelong now they dont berth in Melbourne. Much more convenient for cruisers from the southern states.
An easy drive from Adelaide for those who don’t wish to fly.
We need more cruises from Melbourne and Adelaide.
Princess and P&O, listen to the consumers.
The so called Governments of this country should all be kicked out.
They wouldn’t know an opportunity if they fell over it.
Australia is one of the most sought after cruise destinations on the planet and yet we have third world Cruise ship berths and facilities(maybe Brisbane is the exception).
Sydney is a joke, I stare at ageing, rusting grey warships parked at Garden Island for at least 11 months of the year, bizarre. Both the NSW and Federal(Navy) continue to stick their heads in the sand over converting Garden Island to cruise ships and moving the grey hulks to Jervis Bay.
Heaven help us if we have expanded military conflicts in this crazy world we live in, if the Government doesn’t think Garden Island(in the CBD of Australia’s largest city) will be a target they are dreaming.
Wake up Politicians and do your job.
I have been a regular cruiser with Princess since 2011 – with a credit of 51 cruises to date. I have 2 more cruises booked for this year and one each for 2025 and 2026.
I have now been advised that the “Crown Princess” will be repositioning from Sydney in January 2026. I had a cruise booked to Tasmania which has now been cancelled, and that Princess Cruises would look for an alternative cruise.
My online account still shows this booking however when I checked my Medallion App
it shows that they have booked me on the same ship (Crown Princess) sailing on the same date from Brisbane to Vanuatu and New Caledonia. I will now have to cancel this booking as I do not want to go to the South Pacific again as I have been there many times, and as I am in my 80’s I now want to stay closer to home.
I am really amazed by their decision as they are showing on their website that the “Crown Princess” is still scheduled to do the same cruise to Tasmania in April 2026 just 3 months later.
I too have noticed a decline with Princess Cruises since the pandemic, so it looks as though my cruising days are over
So disappointed. Booked Hawaii cruise Oct 25 and been cancelled. Was my dream cruise and looks like it won’t be offered again. Shame
HI,
The reality is that Carnival Corporation have large debts from Covid 19. They need to get revenue to service these debts. They are a business not a social service. The industry takes bookings into the future to ensure ships sail full. At a shareholders meeting Carnival announced $9billion in future sales and an expectation of $7billion in on board spend by passengers.
An analyst has taken this into consideration. Perhaps Australians don’t spend as much on board? Certainly some rail against gratuities and take them off when on board. Princess tried to overcome this by rolling the gratuities into the fares for local cruises.
All the points made about lack of infrastructure in Australian ports are valid. The tourist infrastructure in Australia is woeful. Australians are masterful at getting deals and avoiding spending money they don’t have. The investment just isn’t there in accommodation, activities or tours. Australia doesn’t have the historical significance of Europe of South America. It doesn’t have the natural splendor, to the extent, of Alaska, Antarctica of the Northern fiords within easy reach of cruise destinations.
Personally I have done 30+ cruises with Princess and have 3 more booked this year. The crew are fantastic. The bigger ships are introducing a vibe similar to Carnival and P&O. So why pay more for Princess? MSC and Virgin are offering to match loyalty status from Princess. So if one has to fly for Princess, then consider these other lines. Alternatively look at other lines and vote with your feet and bank account.
When booking overseas look at overseas agencies like Vacations to go, Priceline etc. If you are booking on line you may as well, its not like you are sat in a shop front agency somewhere?
Ergo Princess’s strategy.
Very disappointed, as an Elite passenger we are very limited with cruises leaving Melbourne.
We have always enjoyed the Xmas and new year cruises but princess no longer has one available. Very disappointing.
You mean to tell me that Grand Princess 35nt on 18 October 2025 Syd to Honolulu Round Trip is cancelled?? Please advise asap!
My wife and myself have been on two Proncess cruises. Both time have contacted pneumonia. My wife finished up in hospital on Mothers day.
Contacted Princess Cruises however did not get any replies. Princess Cruies is on my black list
Now I know why I can’t find cruises leaving from Adelaide. So disappointing. I’m introducing someone new to cruising, looks like it’ll have to be P&O
We have only cruised on Princess once, which we enjoyed, however this major disruption certainly makes us re-consider taking another Princess cruise.
I do agree that as regular cruisers we are destination driven and are always looking for an interesting itinerary. There is alot of “sameness” with the ports visited on Australian cruises and I agree this could be part of the problem, and maybe the cruise companies think passengers will move to more land-based holidays if they cant get any variety.
I definitely think the cruise companies need to mix it up a bit and find some new ports to explore.
I am so disappointed I booked 2 cabins for 13th of March for 3 nights as a surprise for my daughters birthday I do hope it hasn’t been cancelled please tell me that it hasn’t been cancelled
As an Elite cruiser with Princess, I have been less than happy with them post-COVID. The stateroom provisions have been reduce a lot and so have the non-alcoholic drink packages and coffee cards. The remaining packages have gone up so much in prices that its cheaper to book Princess Plus, which is probably their aim to get everyone purchasing that or the dearer package. I live in WA and previously did lots of cruises from here, often to Asia in winter/spring where it is the best weather in Asia, not over our summer which is their wet season. Now there are very few cruises that even come to Perth and they are all more expensive pd than cruises to/from Sydney/Brisbane. I had booked 4 back-to-back cruises on Crown Princes for 21/2 to 1/4/2026, with the last cruise returning to Perth (Fremantle). I was going to catch the train over as my neck/back don’t like flying. Now the first 3 cruises have been cancelled and I have been offered 3 alternate cruises on Discovery, but not consecutive. There is about 2 weeks between each, which doesn’t work if I live in WA. Also there are less ports and my favourite ones have been dropped. So far the last cruise from Sydney to Perth hasn’t been cancelled but as Crown isn’t in Australia for the 3 before I can’t see how that will go either. I have down 9 cruises with Princess since 2022 and had another 6 booked, but 3(and probably 40 have now been cancelled. Discovery isn’t coming to WA. It looks like the end of my time with Princess.
Shame on you Princess although you probably don’t care, this is no way to treat your loyal Australian customers
Very disappointed with Princess cruises to leave out Melbourne and other Australian cruises.
I have spent 100s of ks and this is the reward for loyalty.Looks like vacations will be land travel within Australia.
I hope the bean counters regret their decisions.
there is no crying in Cruising, stop whining
Is the cruise that I and a lady are booked on and paid deposit for the 27 Jan 2025 to NZ on the Diamond Princess still a go ahead or what?
The eastern states have created their own problems with cruise lines.Having only two Australian home ports was never going to work they are so congested and greedy that they are killing the fatted calf so to speak.
Cruisers are fed up going to NZ & Pacific Islands.
Open your eyes and cruise this vast island of ours.Let fresh visits happen all around our coast line.️
Well done Minister Horne as representing Victorian Government. You have made a large contribution to this State losing this industry. In addition, your promise of other lines like Disney and Virgin to fill the expected gap in cruise numbers has been shot down by Virgin. This is yet another failure in your too regular Ministerial stuff ups .
That is very very disappointing. Princess is my favourite cruise line. I’m on the crown Princess in February so I’m lucky at this stage that is still going ahead.
We are veteran cruises on Princess. They are now forcing us to fly to destinations ( with the added expense) while paying more for cruises which our American counterparts by buy much more cheaply. A very disappointing move from Princess.
The problem is twofold: (1) limited number of people to cruise; and (2) limited places to cruise to (especially for large cruise ships).
First, over the last two years, Australia and New Zealand benefited from both large domestic interest in cruising post-Pandemic, and increased ‘bucketlist’ international cruisers. Most of the bucket list cruisers have now done Australia and New Zealand and aren’t necessarily coming back in the near future. The majority of domestic cruisers don’t usually do multiple cruises in a season; or they are interested in going somewhere different (like the South Pacific) rather than Tasmania or New Zealand again.
Second, many Australian and New Zealand ports have extremely limited facilities or activities available – especially for very large cruise ships. This makes sense because often the larger ships essentially double the local population (eg 4000-5000 guests). There are only so many people who can drive buses or run tours in small ports. However, guests don’t necessarily understand why all the tours are sold out…
It’s useful to remember that as little as 10 years ago most cruise ships only left from Sydney and only went to the South Pacific (New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji). And few spent the winter in Australian waters. So these changes are arguably a return to a previous norm.
Hundreds of Queensland passengers who booked on the Princess 2025 World Cruise are up-in-arms after being told that despite at the time of booking that they could embark at the port of Brisbane, they are now expected to fly to Sydney to board the ship. Ordinarily this might not be such a problem but having to haul luggage on a plane & bus for a 115 day extended cruise will be a nightmare.
Cut princess out from ANY further cruises.