Princess Cruises Unveils Expanded Australia & New Zealand Programme for 2028-29, Including Record-Breaking World Cruise

## Princess Cruises Commits Three Ships to Australia & New Zealand for 2028-29 Season Princess Cruises has unveiled an ambitious 2028-29 deployment programme for Australia and New Zealand, marking one of the line's most significant commitments to the South Pacific market to date. The season will see three vessels operating in the region, alongside the launch of what the carrier describes as the longest-ever roundtrip world cruise to originate from Australia. According to a company announcement issued via PR Newswire, the headline offering is a grand voyage visiting 61 destinations across 31 countries — a milestone itinerary that underscores the growing appetite among Australian and New Zealand travellers for extended, immersive ocean voyages. ### Strategic Significance for the Region The three-ship deployment represents a notable uplift in capacity for the Australian cruise market, which has continued its post-pandemic recovery trajectory and is increasingly attracting major international operators seeking to capitalise on strong domestic demand. Australia consistently ranks among the world's top cruise-consuming nations on a per-capita basis, making it a strategically important market for global cruise lines. By homeporting a world cruise from Australia rather than routing it as a fly-cruise product from a Northern Hemisphere port, Princess Cruises is directly addressing the preferences of Australian consumers who have historically been underserved by roundtrip long-voyage options. ### Itinerary Scope The 2028-29 season programme spans both Australia and New Zealand, with the three-vessel operation providing a range of itinerary lengths and destinations to suit varying traveller profiles — from shorter coastal voyages to the flagship world cruise. Full port-by-port details for all sailings are expected to be made available to travel trade partners and consumers as the booking window opens. ### Industry Context The announcement reflects a broader industry trend of cruise operators making longer-range deployment commitments to secure preferred berth agreements, marketing lead time, and consumer confidence. Announcing a 2028-29 season in late 2026 gives Princess Cruises a significant runway to build brand awareness and drive early bookings in a competitive market. For Australian ports — including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle — increased vessel calls from a three-ship deployment will translate into meaningful economic activity, including passenger spend, provisioning, and port fees. Princess Cruises is a brand within the Carnival Corporation & plc portfolio, the world's largest cruise company by passenger capacity.