Princess goes to 5 ships in Europe next year, down from 6, but adds ports

The 2016 cruises are on Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Caribbean Princess, Emerald Princess and small ship Pacific Princess, which will make a number of maiden calls for the line. New ports are in Croatia, Ireland, Norway and Scotland. Plus, Princess returns to the Canary Islands. (This year's ship lineup has Island Princess in Europe for the first time and small ship Ocean Princess instead of Pacific Princess.)

2016 Europe cruises open for booking on March 19.

In the Mediterranean Royal Princess will sail a variety of seven-, 14-, 21- and 28-day cruises from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Piraeus (Athens). 'Mediterranean Medley' 14-day sailings include destinations rich with ancient history including Rome, Athens and Naples. Collection voyages will cover the entire Mediterranean region visiting Spain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Turkey during 21 days. The ultimate 28-day 'Circle Mediterranean' voyages will call at 20 destinations in seven countries with all cruises visiting Rome, Athens, Istanbul and the French Riviera.

Pacific Princess will operate a variety of 12-day voyages from Civitavecchia, Venice and Barcelona to a mix of marquee ports and those that can't be reached by larger ships.

Emerald Princess will be based in Southampton for two-week 'Mediterranean Adventurer' sailings featuring such destinations as Florence, Rome and Dubrovnik. And Emerald Princess will also sail to the Canary Islands on 11-day voyages, visiting four island destinations in the Canaries plus Madeira, Portugal, and Vigo, Spain.

Regal Princess returns to Northern Europe for 11-day cruises to Scandinavia and Russia featuring two full days in St. Petersburg. Emerald Princess will sail a number of 14-day cruises through the Baltic Sea.

Caribbean Princess will be dedicated to the British Isles for the entire summer season and visit key destinations in the UK, Ireland and Scotland, with two opportunities to see Scotland’s Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the grounds of Edinburgh Castle.

Pacific Princess will explore the British Isles on 14-day 'Irish Counties & Scottish Highlands' cruises from Dover. The itinerary includes maiden calls at Ullapool, Scotland, and Galway, on the western coast of Ireland.

Both Emerald Princess and Pacific Princess will offer North Cape voyages to the Arctic Circle during the peak midnight sun period around the summer solstice. Emerald Princess will also visit the Norwegian Fjords, while Pacific Princess will feature a maiden call at Haugesund, Norway.

Pacific Princess's 14-day Iceland and Norway cruises visit less frequented ports in Iceland and the Shetland Islands. The ship will also call at Iceland on a trans-Atlantic voyage.

Four Princess land and sea cruise-tours combine certain sailings with a fully escorted land tour. Choices include 'Paris and the French Countryside,' 'Ireland’s Ring of Kerry,' 'Classic Italy' (Venice, Florence and Rome) and 'Imperial Treasures of Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.'