Princess Cruises has recently announced their plans for the 2021 cruising season and where they have decided to position their 18+ vessels. We are excited to report that they will be increasing the number of ships based in Europe from the three vessels that we should expect next year (Grand Princess, Island Princess and Crown Princess) to five. The latest two vessels to join the European fleet are the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess, both of which will be Medallion Class by that time.

What is included in Medallion Class Ships?

For anyone who doesn't know, Medallion Class ships are those that boast Princess Cruises' latest innovation, the Ocean Medallion, and a range of other tech enhancements. The idea of the medallion is that guests have plenty of ways to interact with the ship, including using it as the key their stateroom and other areas of the ship. Other features of Medallion Class ships include MedallionNet, giving you access to the ship's Wi-Fi (at an affordable price); OceanNow, allowing you to order drinks to your exact location; and Ocean Compass, an app that helps you can keep track of your friends and find your way around the ship. Finally, a chip in the medallion serves as your way of purchasing everything on board, from gift in the shops to food in the dining venues - you won't have to worry about carrying money with you.

All three of the ships based in the UK have received renovations over the last two years, whilst Grand Princess and Island Princess await their MedallionClass upgrades on 29th March and 20th December 2020 respectively. Each vessel offers a refreshing experience, whether you prefer more intimate moments or looking for the all singing and dancing package, there will be something for you in the UK.

As the largest Princess Cruises vessel to leave the UK, Crown Princess has nearly 900 balconies and a jaw-dropping three-storey Atrium. In total, there are 16 dining options on board, with six included restaurants, an additional three Princess-exclusive venues and seven speciality dining venues.

Grand Princess has received many changes to the top deck during her 2019 refurbishment, including new dining options Slice Pizzeria, The Mix, Salty Dog Grill and Coffee & Cones. These all add to the astonishing existing features like Movies Under the Stars and Broadway-style shows in the Princess Theatre.

Being the smallest of the three, Island Princess invites cruisers to enjoy a more intimate experience without losing the touches of a modern vessel. During the day, passengers can choose from relaxing in their own private retreat or seeking out the world's wonders through mouth-watering cuisine.  

Where are they sailing to?

Finally, the important part, where they will be sailing too. Boasting the longest season out of the three, Grand Princess is taking guests on a mixture of voyages around the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Canada & New England from April to November 2021. The smaller Island Princess will sail out of Southampton during 2021, soaking up the remarkable scenery in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Lastly, Crown Princess will sail on 14 different itineraries around the British Isles from April to October, including overnight stays in Dublin and Edinburgh.

Included as part of 2021 sailings, there will be an additional five new itineraries for Grand Princess and Island Princess. These include a 24-day sailing to Canada and New England, with notable stops in Boston, Charlottetown and Halifax and an overnight in Quebec. A six-day half-term sailing in May visits Guernsey, La Rochelle and Bilbao, whilst an eight-day Scandinavia cruise can take you to both Oslo and Copenhagen.

Islands Princess offers two new itineraries, including the highly anticipated 'Oktoberfest European Capitals' with guests being able to visit top cities like Hamburg and Gothenburg, before heading onto iconic capitals like Copenhagen and Oslo. This will then be followed by a 24-day Grand European Explorer sailing, taking guests to the Eastern Mediterranean to relish countries like Turkey, Israel, Malta and plenty more.

If you would like to learn more about the sailings that Princess Cruises or any other cruise line has to offer, contact our friendly sales team via the freephone number above or complete the online enquiry form.