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Royal Princess countdown to maiden West Coast season

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Royal Princess will be welcomed to the Port of Los Angeles with great fanfare in March 2019
Princess Cruises started with a single ship sailing from the Port of Los Angeles to Mexico in 1965. In 200 days, the cruise line welcomes Royal Princess, one of its large, newer ships that debuted in 2013.

Royal Princess made a big splash for its naming by godmother Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, her royal highness, the duchess of Cambridge. Her late mother-in-law, Diana, princess of Wales, christened the original Royal Princess in 1984.

Maiden Mexican Riviera voyage

The ship is due to arrive with great fanfare to the City of Angels and embark on its maiden Mexican Riviera voyage March 23, 2019.

'The anticipation of the arrival of Royal Princess is growing as we officially announce the 200-day countdown that will welcome one of our newest, most elegant ships in our global fleet to the US West Coast and long-term home at the Port of Los Angeles,' Princess president Jan Swartz said.

Spate of new West Coast ships

Royal Princess is among several new, large ships charting the West Coast. Among them: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss and, coming in 2019 from its current China home, Norwegian Joy, as well as Carnival Cruise Line's new Carnival Panorama, debuting in Long Beach in December next year.