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Its Asia cruises canceled, Sapphire Princess is heading to Australia early

Princess Cruises will redeploy the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess to Australia six months earlier than planned for an extended year-long season from May 1.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

February 18, 2020

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

As reported earlier, the ship’s Asia voyages with departures through June 11 were canceled.

44 new cruises

The new programme will add 44 cruises from five major Australian cities.

‘With the ongoing uncertainty of travel restrictions and port closures in Asia impacting our cruise operations in the region, we hope that this extended deployment in Australia will benefit local tourism, particularly in regional areas with 102 visits to regional ports around the country during her year-long deployment,’ SVP Asia Pacific Stuart Allison said.

A$140m boost to economy

Allison said a highlight of the new programme will be an inaugural Australia circumnavigation and that it will inject around A$140m into the local economy.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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