Royal Princess sets one day booking record as Crown Princess is UK bound in 2013 .
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Princess Cruise achieved the biggest booking day in its history for the inaugural season of Royal Princess’s debut season when it went for sale last week. Interest in the new ship reached an all-time record with the most bookings of any ship’s maiden season.
The 3600-passenger ship is currently under construction. Among the new features onboard will be a greatly expanded atrium, which becomes the social hub of the ship; the over–water SeaWalk , a top-deck glass-bottomed enclosed walkway on the starboard side which extends more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water ; a dazzling water and light show; an expanded version of Princess’s signature adults-only haven, The Sanctuary; and the popular poolside theatre, Movies under the Stars. 80 percent of all staterooms will feature balconies.
The ship’s 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice begin on 23 June 2013. Preceding these cruises, Royal Princess sails on her maiden voyage, a seven-day Iberia cruise from Southampton to Barcelona on June 16, 2013.
“It’s the importance to us of UK cruisers and UK travel agents that lead to planning Royal Princess’s very first port of call here in Southampton,” added Paul Ludlow , Princess Cruises UK director. “We have seen great bookings already from the UK on the Maiden Voyage from Southampton, and this is giving us high expectations for the two three-night Advance Preview sailings which will go on sale when the inaugural programme in Southampton has been finalised.”
In another announcement Princess Cruises confirmed that its Crown Princess will take over as the UK dedicated ship from Grand Princess in 2013, this increasing capacity from the existing 2610 passengers to 3080 passenger. This announcement is on the heels of Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Carnival who have all recently announced significant increases in the ex UK capacity for 2013. The vast increase in capacity signals new confidence by the lines in UK’s no-fly segment , many suggest that the high cost of flying coupled with the convenience of cruising from a home port with aggressive pricing will drive UK holiday makers to a cruise option and attract many new-to-cruise clients. Princess Cruises will operate seven ships in Europe in 2013, providing potential passengers with a vast choice of itinerary options.