Princess Cruise Lines

Princess Cruise Lines is one of the oldest cruise line companies in America. It started as a modest American cruise line in 1965. It was founded by Stanley MacDonald. The first ship to be chartered was the Princess Patricia or Princess Pat as she was fondly called from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. However the 6,000 ton converted ferry was not equipped for tropical cruising so the cruise was ended in favor of Italia which was specifically designed for tropical cruising.

Today, Princess Cruises Lines has evolved into a giant in the cruise industry. It has 16 ships sailing all over the world which carries more than 800,000 passengers each year and it travels to more destinations than any other major cruise line.

Princess is one of the most contemporary cruise lines as more than half its ships were built in the 21st century. Their ships are designed keeping passenger’s comfort and luxury in mind. The public spaces are intimate, cozy and has a very modern-day interior which allows the passengers to live up to the present day life style.

Princess Cruise Lines acquired three vessels from the now non-operational Renaissance Cruises in 2002; Pacific Princess, Royal Princess and the rechristened Tahitian Princess (this ship will be renamed as Ocean Princess in November 2009). The Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess were launched as recently as 2007.

Britain's Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) had acquired Princess cruises back in 1974 becoming its parent company. Then in April 2003, a Miami based Carnival Corporation merged with P & O to form the largest cruise company in the world. That is when Princess became a part of Carnival Corporation. In spite of the merger, the operation of Princess has still remained the same.

Princess Cruises has become one of the most popular and well accepted cruise lines because it is known for its innovative features, amenities and programs. This cruise line not only offers the ultimate comfort and luxury to its passengers but also makes them feel at home with their famous anytime dining feature which gives the passengers loads of freedom.

Princess Cruise Lines’ ships vary widely in style and services; therefore you need to choose carefully so that you can fit into a cruise which best suits your needs. Large and mid-ranged cruises (the Grand-class or Panamax classes) usually attract all types of travelers from solo to family groups.

But if you are looking for some adventure in your oceanic voyage then smaller ships will cater to you needs as they have longer itineraries, exotic ports and fewer family-oriented elements. All in all Princess cruises, is a culmination of comfort, convenience, luxury and entertainment.