Princess Cruises to sail first Los Angeles to Shanghai cruise

Princess Cruises has launched its first 60-day return voyage from Los Angeles in the US to Shanghai in China, which will include calls at 22 destinations.

The first part of the voyage on the 1,970-guest Coral Princess will start from Los Angeles on 19 September and visit 11 ports over 28 days. The sailing includes a four-day cruise through Alaska before crossing the International Date Line to visit various destinations in North Asia ahead of her arrival in Shanghai. Returning from Shanghai to Los Angeles on 18 October, Coral Princess will visit 10 ports in North Asia, Southeast Asia and Hawaii on a 32-day cruise.

Princess has also launched other maiden voyages from Asia this year.

This March, Sapphire Princess sailed the cruise line’s first-ever cruise from Singapore to Southampton after the ship was renovated in Singapore. Sapphire Princess has now started her first homeporting season from Southampton, UK, offering sailings in Northern European and the Mediterranean. Sapphire Princess will then embark on her inaugural Southampton to Singapore voyage on 21 October and commence her fifth homeporting season in Singapore in November.

Golden Princess’s 29-day ‘Epic Adventure’ voyage from Singapore to Alaska, which started on 15 April, was also a first for Princess Cruises. Golden Princess is now homeporting in Alaska until September after which she will reposition to Australia.

“Princess Cruises launched our new line-up of maiden voyages from Asia to meet the growing demand from guests in this region,” said Farriek Tawfik, director Southeast Asia at Princess Cruises. “Fly-Cruise programmes are gaining popularity among travellers from Asia who are now more open to flying to another destination to embark on a cruise. We see this trend growing among Asians who love the sense of adventure and the glamour of cruising.”