'China ship' Majestic Princess to sail a season from Sydney

Majestic Princess sailed on its maiden voyage in Italy last week. The ship will cruise in Europe and China before heading south to Sydney where it will be homeported from September 2018 through to March 2019, when it returns to China.

During its inaugural Australian season, Majestic Princess will operate 16 cruises to destinations including Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong. Fares start at $1,499 per person, twin share for a balcony room on a six-night round-trip cruise to Tasmania departing Nov. 18, 2018.

Majestic Princess' deployment is a highlight of the line's new 2018-19 Australia and New Zealand program which will go on sale April 27. The program features four Princess ships—Majestic Princess, Golden Princess, Sun Princess and Sea Princess—which together will offer almost 100 cruises from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Auckland over a seven-month period.

Unveiling the program, Stuart Allison, vp Australia & New Zealand for Princess, said the Majestic Princess deployment is testament to Australians' love of cruising and the popularity of the brand in the region.

'Having just experienced her preview voyage, I know Australian cruisers will love all that she has to offer,' Allison said.

The 2018-19 summer also represents the line's biggest New Zealand season, with a record 39 cruises to Australia's trans-Tasman neighbor. Majestic Princess alone operate 14 New Zealand cruises, including six open-jaw sailings between Sydney and Auckland.