Princess Reveals 2026-27 Deployment in Australia and South Pacific – Cruise Industry News

Princess Cruises is deploying three ships in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the 2026-27 season, the company announced in a press release.

One of the highlights of the deployment, which will see the Royal Princess, the Crown Princess and the Grand Princess sailing in the region, is the return of the Circle Pacific Voyage.

Described by Princess as an epic 79-night roundtrip cruise, the itinerary spans three continents and covers more than 23,600 nautical miles.

Running between October 2026 and August 2027, the season includes 42 unique itineraries and 62 departures.

According to Princess, the itineraries were designed to connect guests with local cultures and hidden gem destinations while sailing to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

“Among the hottest trends in travel is exploring ‘detour destinations’ that really cater to travelers looking for authenticity and unique experiences beyond the typical tourist spots,” said Terry Thornton, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer.

“Our 2026-27 Australia and Circle Pacific Adventure itineraries are designed to cater to these desires, combining iconic destinations with off-the-beaten-path locales for the ultimate travel experience.”

Itinerary options include short getaway cruises as well as longer cruises departing from five Australian ports: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth (Fremantle) and Adelaide.

The Royal Princess will be based in Sydney for the season, while the Grand Princess will sail from Brisbane.

Before repositioning to North America, the Crown Princess is scheduled to offer a 28-day Round Australia cruise from Sydney.

According to Princess, the cruises will include visits to “legendary cities” such as Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Adelaide, as well as to hidden gems that include Broome in Western Australia, Burnie in Tasmania and Port Lincoln in South Australia.

Other destinations set to be visited include Picton on the South Island of New Zealand, in addition to Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.