An Historical Look at Princess Cruises

Do you remember the Island Princess and Pacific Princess? These are cruise ships featured in the hit television series The Love Boat, which is shown from 1977 until 1986.

The passengers and crew had a romantic and funny adventure inside the ship with luxurious and pleasurable amenities.

However, if you think that these ships are merely props on the series, it is not. These two cruise ships are formerly owned by the Princess Cruises, an American cruise line. With so many major lines in cruise industry, Princess Cruises distinguishes itself by sailing more worldwide cruise destinations.

It is History

Princess Cruises started its cruise operation in the middle of 1960's when Stanley MacDonald rented Princess Patricia which is a ferry owned by the Canadian Pacific Limited for cruises from Los Angeles.

However, Princess Pat was never designed to withstand tropical cruising conditions. Her charter ended in favor of the cruise ship Italia.

Italia had been one of the first cruise ships to have modern design elements like lifeboats mounted lower on the ship. It allows the ship engine to be installed far in the rear, creating a spacious public room.

However, after its launching, its builders and owners declared bankruptcy. Italia was passed to a bank and consequently acquired by the Princess.

Princess renamed Italia as Princess Italia and used her for Alaskan cruises from San Francisco. However, in 1973, the chartered was canceled, and it returned to Europe to charter cruise destinations of Costa Cruise Line.

Their third charter cruise ship is the Costa's Carla. It was purchased in the late 1960's immediately after rebuilding. It was chartered to Princess, and later renamed as Princess Carla.

Princess Carla together with the Sun Princess acquired by the Princess from the Norwegian Cruise Lines is included in some of the scenes of the television series Love Boat.

In 1974, the acquisition of the Sea Venture and the Island Venture from Flagship Cruises, which later on became Pacific Princess and Island Princess, bolstered Princess' fleet of ships.

The seventh ship acquired by the Princess is the Kungsholm, a former Swedish transatlantic liner owned by Flagship Cruises. It was restyled and rebuilt in Bremen by their engineers and ship designers and renamed it as the Sea Princess.

Its eight ship, the Royal Princess, was the first purpose-built cruise ship. Its release in 1984 made it one of the first British passenger ships to completely dispense with interior cabins.

Princess also acquired Sitmar Line in 1988, transferring all its ships to the Princess fleet. The Crown Princess and Regal Princess entered the cruise service in 1990, completes the Princess' fleet of ten deluxe cruise ships.

Princess, as mentioned earlier, had distinguished itself from other lines by cruising through popular destinations such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Panama Canal.

It proves itself a provider of the best cruise package possible for a reasonable price. They are trying to give their customers the luxury of a cruise travel without costing a leg or an arm.

Princess' fleet of ships offers different amenities such as dance classes, sporting activities, spa treatment centers, evening entertainments, and plenty of stuffs to do on-board.

There is no reason for you to be bored. You will be getting busy with different activities and at the same time enjoying it. They also offer traditional and modern dining, which means you can now eat your favorite food anywhere and anytime you want.

Princess Cruises in the Caribbean

If you prefer cruising through the Caribbean, they also provide different choices. There are three options, to be exact. These options are the Eastern Caribbean, the Southern Caribbean, and the Western Caribbean.

Some of the places you can visit while your cruise ship is dock on the pier are Charlotte Amalie and St. Maarten. You can also visit other parts of the Caribbean through the ports of call where you will be going.

Some things that you can do while on the Caribbean are snorkeling and diving, taking a drive, and fishing. It is a perfect place where you can do lot of things or nothing at all.

Princess Cruises will schedule shore excursions or you may opt to explore the place on your own.

There are more reasons why you need to go on-board with the Princess Cruises. Try it and experience memorable cruising.