Princess Cruises Presents Majestic Princess, The Newest And Most Luxurious Ship In Its Global Fleet.

Designs and Key Features Unveiled

 For Newest Ship in the Growing Fleet

Princess Cruises today unveiled

 designs and announced key features of Majestic Princess, the

 newest and most luxurious ship in

 the global fleet. Departing April 4,

 Majestic Princess will sail on her

 inaugural voyage, a five-day Adriatic

 Sea cruise roundtrip from Rome with

 stops in Kotor and Corfu.

Following her maiden cruise, Majestic

 Princess will tour Europe, offering

 guests a chance to experience

 the ship on 7, 14, 21 and 28 day cruises departing from Rome, Barcelona or Athens. A repositioning

 voyage will depart Barcelona on May 14, 2017, visiting Dubai and Singapore before arriving in

 Shanghai, her new home. Majestic Princess will begin her first cruise from its home-port in Shanghai 

on July 11, 2017, carrying 3,560 guests to a variety of destinations in Japan and Korea.

"Over the past 50 years, we have developed a mastery of global travel, delivering a truly international

 cruise vacation experience to our guests," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "With the debut

 of Majestic Princess, first in Europe and then in China, we invite guests to indulge in a world-class

 experience that allows them to completely relax, unwind and ultimately 'come back new.'"

Majestic Princess, a sister cruise ship to Regal Princess and Royal Princess, will offer its guests

 a variety of enticing features and experiences, including:

Global Cuisine – Exceptional culinary offerings are a pillar of the Princess guest experience, designed

 and executed by masterfully trained chefs from France, Italy, the United States, Australia, China and

 Japan, among others. They create memorable dining experiences inspired by the more than 360 

exotic ports of call visited by the line annually. This is why Princess Cruises has been named "Best 

Cruise Line for Food Lovers" by Food & Wine Magazine.

Popular culinary offerings from sister ships Royal Princess and Regal Princess will be aboard Majestic

 Princess including:

• The exclusive Chef's Table Lumiere, a unique and engaging dining experience personally
•  hosted by our Princess Executive Chef which includes a private galley tour and a multicourse
•  dinner served at a grand custom-designed table where guests are surrounded by a glimmering
•  curtain of light.
• The award-winning Crown Grill & Bar, an American steakhouse, preparing top-quality cuts of
•  beef, chops and seafood in an open-kitchen served in a classically elegant restaurant setting.
• Alfredo's, named after Princess Cruises' award-winning Master Chef Alfredo Marzi, offers a
•  selection of classic Italian and signature Neapolitan-style pizzas (voted "Best Pizza at Sea"),
•  along with baked pasta dishes and specialty appetizers and desserts.

Two new specialty restaurants will be introduced onboard Majestic Princess. They include:

• Harmony, created in partnership with Chef Richard Chen formerly of Wynn Las Vegas "Wing
•  Lei" (the first Chinese restaurant in North America awarded a Michelin star). Harmony will
•  feature haute Chinese cuisine paired with pristine ocean views and modern décor, serving
•  Chef Chen's interpretation of classic Cantonese dishes.
• Le Bistrot, located in the lively atrium, offers casual French home-style dining with a modern
•  twist. Harkening back to an authentic Parisian bistrot, guests will enjoy traditional Escargots
•  Casseroles, Braised Ox Tongue and Mushroom Ragout, along with baquettes, tartines,
•  tourtes and French Patisseries.

To top it off, there will also be a wide selection of all-day gastronomy in the World Fresh Marketplace

 (Horizon Court buffet on other ships), where guests can taste flavors from diverse food stations

 around the world ranging from Mediterranean dishes, a pasta specialty counter, colorful farmer's

 market salads and fresh fruits and a new "East Meets West" street food specialty counter. The

 Bakery inside the World Fresh Marketplace will serve Western, European and Asian pastries and

 Danishes.

Modern & Stylish Cruise Ship Design – Influenced by fashion, art and history, the interior designs

 of Majestic Princess present a sophisticated and stylish visual experience representative of traveling

 the world. Exquisite designs use metal, glass and inlaid wood through-out to welcome guests who 

appreciate the elegance and glamour of premium cruising. European marble, mosaic tile floors,

 polished woods and sumptuous fabrics are featured onboard the ship. Plush custom-designed

 carpets in the guest corridors feature floral motifs that represent an Asian-inspired beauty and

 grace. Hand tufted area rugs also mirror floral motifs located at the entrances to the main dining rooms.

Modern & Stylish Stateroom Design – More than 80 percent of Majestic Princess' staterooms include

 a private balcony. All staterooms feature the new Princess Luxury bed, featuring a custom-made

 mattress developed by Dr. Michael Breus, the board-certified sleep expert recognized as "The Sleep

 Doctor." The bed also includes luxury linens designed by Candice Olson, the Canadian design-star

 of the hit HGTV shows "Candice Tells All" and "Divine Design." The superb bedding system is

 exclusively designed for the Princess SLEEP program.

World-Class Entertainment – The first two shows to be seen on Majestic Princess will be "Fiera"

 and "Fantastic Journey" both have been met with enthusiastic acclaim by international audiences

 across the Princess fleet.  These musical shows feature a world-class cast of singers and dancers

 along with some of the most elaborate production numbers, costumes and advanced multimedia

 stage technology ever produced at sea.  It also features Movies Under the Stars on the largest

 outdoor screen at sea, as well as Water Color Fantasy, a cruise industry first presenting a dazzling

 water and light show at sea.

Onboard Experience – Onboard Majestic Princess, guests will also experience the signature SeaWalk,

 the industry's first glass floor walkway at sea, and SeaView Bar featuring "flair" bartending with the

 best views at sea.  The Piazza Atrium, the central focal point of the ship features live entertainment

 throughout the day and evening.  It is a grand spectacle surrounded by The Shops of Princess,

 nearly 1,100 square meters of luxury boutiques which include designer brand shops from Cartier,

 Bvlgari and Chopard, leather goods from Burberry and Gucci, along with watches by these luxury

 brands as well as Montblanc, Longines, Rado and Tissot to name a few. 

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel

 consultant, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at

 princess.com.

About Princess Cruises: 
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise line and tour company

 operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of

 choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided with the experience of exceptional

 customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.7 million guests

 each year to more than 360 destinations around the globe on more than 150 itineraries ranging

 in length from three to 111 days. The company is part of Carnival

 Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Princess Cruises' New Ship To Be Based In China Year Round

Carnival Corporation & plc, the largest cruise company in the world, announced that the new ship currently under construction for Princess Cruises will be based in China year-round when introduced in summer 2017. Based in Shanghai, the ship will be the first year-round international luxury vessel designed and built specifically for Chinese guests.

The as-yet-unnamed ship is being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, and will carry approximately 3,600 guests on a variety of itineraries, to be announced at a later date. Based on the design of its highly-acclaimed ships Royal Princess and Regal Princess, the new vessel will feature a number of new innovations customized for the growing number of Chinese cruise vacationers.

"Deploying our next new ship in China underscores our strong commitment to growing the China cruise market and providing discerning travelers with amazing vacation experiences at sea," said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

Princess ships began home port cruising in China just last year, with a successful inaugural season of Shanghai-based cruises aboard Sapphire Princess. This ship returns for a second China season which begins on June 4 and runs through October 2015.

The ship will be based on the design of the company's new Royal Princess and Regal Princess which have been enthusiastically received by guests from all over the world for their luxurious and beautifully-designed spaces, array of entertainment and activity options, and multiple culinary venues.

The new ship will share many of these special features which include a dramatic multi-story atrium serving as the social hub of the ship; an over-the-ocean SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; the Princess Live! interactive studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef's Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; Princess Watercolor Fantasy, a fountain and music show; Movies Under the Stars featuring the largest outdoor screen at sea; and balconies on all outside staterooms. Accommodations will be configured to appeal to families and multi-generational travelers.
In addition, the new ship will showcase the exclusive Princess Class experience designed specifically for the Chinese market that the company introduced during its first season. Delivered by the ship's dedicated and caring crew, Princess Class enriches the travel experience of each cruise guest, enabling them to participate in unique cultural, culinary, entertaining and inspiring programs including the World Leaders Dinner, traditional English afternoon tea, a Lobster Grill, Ultimate Balcony Dining, an ocean-view hot pot dinner option, ballroom dancing, and an unparalleled duty-free shopping experience.

Additionally guests will enjoy the international flavor of cruising with Princess, including experiencing cuisines from China, Japan, Italy, France, and North and South America among other regions; as well as an array of international festivals re-created to celebrate cultures around the world.

"And as this ship is still in the design phase we are looking forward to creating other new and exciting venues and experiences catering to the Chinese vacationer, which we will reveal in the coming months," Swartz added.

Carnival's Most Innovative Ship To Operate Year-Round Caribbean Cruises From Miami

PortMiami will be the year-round homeport for Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship to date, the 133,500-ton Carnival Vista, when it launches six- to eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in December 2016.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Vista will take cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world's first IMAX® Theatre on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line's first water tube slide; and RedFrog Pub, including the line's first onboard brewery.

Carnival will further bolster its leadership position in Galveston, repositioning Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty to Texas in 2016, joining Carnival Freedom which arrives in Galveston this Saturday. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty will replace Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, respectively, in Galveston. Details on new homeports for Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, as well as year-round departures from San Juan, will be provided over the coming weeks.

With Carnival Breeze, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom, Galveston will be home to three of the line's most innovative ships offering the widest array of cruise durations and itineraries to top destinations in Mexico, Belize, Isla Roatan and The Bahamas. These three ships will carry 600,000 passengers annually from Galveston – more than any other cruise operator.

"Miami and Galveston are among our most popular points of embarkation and deploying our newest, most innovative ships to these homeports speaks volumes about our confidence in growing these markets," said Christine Duffy, Carnival's president. "These ships not only offer our guests incredible on-board experiences but also provide our valued travel agent partners with exciting new choices to market to their clients," she added.

Island-Intensive Caribbean Cruises from Miami on Carnival Vista
Carnival Vista kicks off its new schedule from PortMiami with a special four-day cruise to Grand Turk departing Nov. 29, 2016. The ship will then launch year-round six- and eight-day cruises beginning with an eight-day voyage departing Dec. 3, 2016. Six-day cruises feature Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while a mix of different eight-day itineraries visit some of the Caribbean's most sought-after destinations, including Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and La Romana (Dominican Republic).

The ship will also offer a combination of one-time voyages, including a five-day cruise departing Dec. 11 and seven-day voyages departing Dec. 17 and 24, 2016, that offer an exciting selection of ports including the Caribbean's newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, as well as Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk, Belize, San Juan, St. Thomas and Cozumel, depending on the itinerary.

In addition to visiting breathtaking Caribbean destinations, guests can experience all the Carnival Vista has to offer – from the colorful Havana area with tropics-inspired staterooms and suites and Family Harbor with special accommodations and a new family concierge to delicious choices like Seafood Shack and new al fresco options at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top, featuring a mixed-to-order premium ice cream bar.

Three- to 11-Day Carnival Vista Sailings from the Big Apple
Prior to the start-up of year-round service from Miami, Carnival Vista will operate a pair of voyages round-trip from New York beginning with a three-day cruise November 4-7, 2016, followed by an 11-day voyage departing Nov. 7, 2016, and visiting Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten. Carnival Vista will then offer a spectacular 11-day cruise from New York to Miami Nov. 18-29, 2016, with calls at Grand Turk, Bonaire, Aruba and St. Maarten, an unmatched combination of great destinations not available on any other cruise from New York.

Carnival Vista is slated to operate an inaugural season of European cruises May to October 2016 before repositioning to New York, then launching year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami in November 2016.
Exciting New Options in Galveston

Carnival Liberty and Carnival Breeze will shift to Galveston in 2016, providing consumers with Texas-sized fun on departures from the Lone Star State.

Carnival Liberty will launch year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico from Galveston beginning March 21, 2016. Four-day "long weekend" cruises depart Thursdays and feature a stop at Cozumel, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays visiting Cozumel and Progreso. Prior to the start-up of its new Texas-based program, Carnival Liberty will offer a special three-day cruise round-trip from Galveston March 18-21, 2016.

Carnival Breeze – the line's newest ship – will offer three different week-long itineraries visiting popular ports in the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida beginning Dec. 11, 2016. Western Caribbean voyages call at either Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel or Belize, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan) and Cozumel, while a Bahamas/Florida route includes Nassau, Freeport, and Key West. Carnival Breeze will also offer a special two-day cruise from Galveston Dec. 9-11, 2016, before kicking off its new year-round seven-day schedule.

Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty bring exciting new choices to Galveston, each with an array of on-board features. Carnival Breeze offers such innovations as a multi-dimensional cinema experience called Thrill Theater, Bonsai Sushi full-service Asian restaurant and WaterWorks highlighted by a 312-foot-long slide, while Carnival Liberty offers a classic American steakhouse, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar and a 14,500-square-foot spa.

New Value-Packed 12-day Cruises Offer Exciting Destinations
In preparation for their new deployments, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Breeze will each operate a unique 12-day cruise in 2016, visiting a variety of exotic Caribbean destinations. These departures have been created especially for those guests who are looking for a longer-length cruise vacation providing more time to enjoy the ships' wide range of amenities while visiting less frequently traveled islands throughout the Caribbean.

Carnival Liberty will offer a 12-day cruise from San Juan to Galveston March 6-18, 2016, calling at St. Thomas, Barbados, Tobago, Grenada, Aruba and Grand Cayman. Carnival Breeze will operate a 12-day cruise departing Miami Nov. 27, 2016, and arriving in Galveston Dec. 9, 2016. Featured ports on this one-time voyage include St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Curacao, Aruba and Cozumel.

Travelore News: Koningsdam Joins Holland America Line

Holland America Line’s MS Koningsdam is due for delivery in February 2016. Now open for reservations, the first sailings of the line’s new flagship will be one seven-day cruise followed by a six cruise series of 12-day itineraries throughout the Mediterranean.

At the heart of the ship, Koningsdam’s central atrium is pure visual drama and soars three decks high.

The atrium is capped by a ceiling that serves as a backdrop for subtly changing high-definition projections. Look up by day to see wispy cirrus clouds floating overhead or perhaps soothing colors of water and light. By evening, the atrium takes on dramatic lighting hues or reflects the clear constellations of the night sky.

The main dining will span two floors and be framed by views of the sea. A bright interior will be inspired by a modern, global design and sets the stage for the exceptional culinary experience to come. Speaking of culinary experiences, the CULINARY ARTS CENTER PRESENTED BY FOOD & WINE® MAGAZINE, a groundbreaking concept blends guests' love for food and entertaining into a unique, interactive experience. Explore regional fresh ideas in food and entertaining while you sail. Discover your inner sous chef or how to choose the perfect wine. Raise a glass to new talents.

At the heart of the Culinary Arts Center is an innovative show kitchen outfitted with multiple plasma video screens to capture fine details close up.

Now spanning two floors, the Queen’s Lounge will host the popular B.B. King’s Blues Club, showcasing the sounds of Memphis performed by an eight-piece brand. By day, the beautiful room hosts presentations, speakers, and other activities, and can also accommodate special entertainment events.

With a sophisticated color palette and the freedom to design from the ground up based on guest feedback, ms Koningsdam’s staterooms and suites feature a host of modern functional details such as bedside USB ports, along with custom casework and frameless glass shower doors that feel luxurious and upscale.

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Travelore News: First Look At The Princess Cruises' New Regal Princess

SANTORINI, Greece — What's it like on Princess Cruises' newest ship, the 3,560-passenger Regal Princess? Click through the carousel above for our first photos from the vessel, which is on its inaugural sailing in the Mediterranean.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste, Italy, the 141,000-ton Regal Princess is a sister to the 11-month-old Royal Princess — the line's largest ship ever — and boasts similar features including a cantilevered, glass-enclosed walkway over the ocean called the SeaWalk.

RELATED: USA TODAY's guide to the new ships of 2014

Highlights of the Regal Princess also include an expansion pool deck that transforms at night into a stage for an elaborate water and light show and a working television studio/performance venue that seats 280 people — both features that made their debut on the Royal Princess. Like the Royal Princess, the vessel also features a greatly expanded version of the line's signature Piazza, a central atrium area with food outlets and entertainment.

The Regal Princess will spend the summer in the Mediterranean operating six- to 20-night voyages starting at $1,199 per person before moving to the Caribbean for the winter.

Contributed by Gene Sloan, USA TODAY