53 Photo: credit Princess aims to connect guests to their destination through experiences with local experts and artisans through the experience for guests while they’re onshore, says Thornton. “Our approach combines carefully curated destinations with enriching onboard and onshore experiences, ensuring guests connect meaningfully with the people, places and cultures we visit,” he explains. “One way we stand out is through our ‘Local Connections’ programme, where we collaborate with local experts, artisans and guides to offer shore excursions. These excursions allow guests to experience culture, cuisine and traditions, giving them deeper insights into each destination.” Princess also looks to extend the time guests can spend in a port during a visit compared to its competitors’ itineraries, offering more overnight stays or late departures in key cities. “This focus on extended stays provides a more relaxed and immersive experience compared to shorter port visits that are common with other cruise lines,” says Thornton. The cruise line is also making efforts to ensure the communities it visits benefits from the industry, says Thornton. “Building relationships with stakeholders in the destinations we visit is key to our success in each region,” he says. “From government officials to shore excursion operators, we strive to maintain great partnerships with the people who give us the ability to take guests to beautiful destinations all over the world. We often invite local stakeholders to visit our ships to understand how we operate and, on some itineraries, we bring locals onboard to engage with guests as part of our programming.” As he looks ahead to the cruise line’s upcoming itineraries Thornton highlights the addition of Port Canaveral in Florida as a homeport as an important new development for Princess in North America. “Princess begins sailing from Port Canaveral for the first time ever with Caribbean Princess this winter, and in 2025, Sky Princess will sail Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from the port,” he says. “This further expands our North America presence to another location that guests can conveniently access from major drive markets all over the Southeast USA region.” Princess will also further strengthen its Caribbean offering with a series of cruises from the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, between October 2025 and March 2026. A new ship, Star Princess, is then set to join the cruise line’s fleet in autumn 2025, before sailing to Thornton’s favourite destination in 2026: Alaska. “I always look forward to the Alaska season – we are the number one cruise line in Alaska, with seven ships sailing there,” he says. “The cruise tours we offer, combining land, rail and sea, are just unbeatable. We see guests return to Alaska with us time and time again to experience something new on every visit.” Photo: Princess Cruises
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