Princess Cruises has announced plans to double its summer presence in the Caribbean in 2026 by homeporting one ship in Port Canaveral and another in Fort Lauderdale. This expansion marks the first time Princess will offer summer sailings from Port Canaveral, with a total of 90-plus cruises being scheduled out of the two ports. This move represents Princess’ largest summer Caribbean cruise season ever.
The Caribbean Princess will set sail from Port Canaveral on seven-day cruises to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Meanwhile, the Regal Princess will depart from Fort Lauderdale on seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, as well as eight-day cruises to the Southern Caribbean. Notably, each ship will also offer one open-jaw Southern Caribbean itinerary.
On April 28, 2026, the Caribbean Princess will embark on a 13-day journey from Fort Lauderdale to Port Canaveral, stopping at Princess Cays, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, San Juan, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Nassau along the way. Later in the season, on September 5, 2026, the Regal Princess will sail on a 14-day itinerary from Fort Lauderdale to New York, with ports of call in Curacao, Aruba, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Maarten, and San Juan.
In light of these new developments, Princess Cruises recently made the decision to cancel several months’ worth of cruises departing from Australia on the Crown Princess. The cancellations, spanning from September 26, 2025, to January 12, 2026, were necessitated by a change in the scheduled drydock maintenance for the Crown Princess. This unfortunate change impacts the travel plans of many passengers who were looking forward to cruising on this particular ship during the affected time frame.
Overall, Princess Cruises’ decision to expand its summer presence in the Caribbean represents an exciting opportunity for travelers to explore new destinations and enjoy unique itineraries. While the cancellations in Australia may be disappointing for some passengers, the addition of more Caribbean cruises is sure to attract a new wave of guests seeking unforgettable vacation experiences at sea.
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