Caribbean Princess

Caribbean Princess is a large cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises, a Carnival Corporation & plc brand. Built in 2004, the vessel is a modified version of the Grand class and was initially designed for year-round Caribbean service. Its design is distinguished from comparable Grand-class ships by an additional accommodation deck, known as the Riviera deck, which gives the vessel slightly greater size and passenger capacity than ships such as Grand Princess, Golden Princess, and Star Princess. The ship has more than 3,600 passenger berths, approximately 900 balcony staterooms, and a dedicated deck of mini-suites. The vessel entered service as one of Princess Cruises' larger ships and held the greatest passenger capacity in the Princess fleet until the arrival of Royal Princess in 2013. Its original Caribbean-oriented design also explains a notable feature of the pool area: unlike some ships in the same broad family, the pool area was not equipped with a sliding roof for shelter in poor weather. The ship's onboard offering is centered on conventional cruise accommodation, dining, entertainment, recreation, and shore-excursion access rather than on a separate consumer product line. Caribbean Princess has operated a wide range of itineraries over its career. These have included Caribbean voyages from ports in Florida and Puerto Rico, cruises to New England and Canada, British Isles and Northern European itineraries, Mediterranean service, and seasonal deployments from New York. In 2019, the ship moved from Fort Lauderdale to New York for cruises involving Canada, New England, and Greenland. It subsequently returned to primarily Caribbean operations. In May 2025, the vessel was deployed from Vancouver for its first Alaska season, including a seven-day northbound itinerary toward Anchorage. The ship has also experienced several operational and public-health incidents. A propulsion-engine problem in March 2012 caused it to return to San Juan and led Princess Cruises to cancel two scheduled voyages. A norovirus outbreak in January 2014 affected roughly 200 people and caused the voyage to end two days early. In August 2016, a major power failure in the Irish Sea left the ship without propulsion for approximately nine hours, although essential hotel services remained available; the vessel later reached Belfast and missed its scheduled Dublin call. A passenger drowned in a pool incident in 2019. A further norovirus outbreak reported for May 2026 affected passengers and crew on board. Caribbean Princess was also central to a major maritime environmental-enforcement case. In 2013, crew members illegally discharged oil-contaminated bilge water using an altered pollution-control system and a concealed bypass arrangement. A whistleblower's report prompted an investigation that concluded the practice had occurred on the vessel and other Princess ships. In 2016, Princess Cruise Lines pleaded guilty to felony environmental charges and agreed to a US$40 million criminal penalty. The settlement also imposed a court-supervised environmental compliance program across multiple Carnival Corporation cruise brands. The case became one of the most significant criminal vessel-pollution penalties in the United States.

Caribbean Princess was constructed in 2004 for Princess Cruises as a modified Grand-class cruise ship. Its design was closely related to Grand Princess, Golden Princess, and Star Princess, but the vessel was made slightly larger through the addition of the Riviera accommodation deck. It was developed with year-round Caribbean cruising in mind, a role reflected in its large passenger capacity and its pool-area configuration. Unlike some related ships, the pool area did not have a sliding roof intended to provide shelter in poor weather. The vessel entered service with capacity for more than 3,600 passengers, around 900 balcony staterooms, and a dedicated mini-suite deck. For much of its early career it was among the largest ships in the Princess fleet by passenger capacity. That distinction lasted until June 2013, when Royal Princess entered service and surpassed it. Caribbean Princess nevertheless remained an important high-capacity ship within the Princess fleet, supporting both Caribbean and international seasonal schedules. Its itinerary history expanded beyond the Caribbean. The ship has sailed from European ports around the British Isles, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean, and from North American ports toward the Caribbean, Canada, New England, and Greenland. In 2019, it shifted from Fort Lauderdale to New York for a period of northern itineraries. From 2020 onward, its schedule was primarily Caribbean-oriented, although later deployments broadened its geographic role again. In May 2025, the ship operated its first Alaska season from Vancouver, with a northbound seven-day route to Anchorage. Several incidents have shaped the ship's operational record. In March 2012, a malfunction in the port-side propulsion engine caused the vessel to return to San Juan after visiting St. Maarten. The disruption led the cruise line to cancel voyages planned for March 18 and March 25. In January 2014, a norovirus outbreak affected approximately 200 people and caused a voyage to finish two days early. In August 2016, Caribbean Princess suffered a complete loss of propulsion while sailing in the Irish Sea, approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Dublin. The ship drifted for about nine hours, while lighting, air conditioning, toilets, and other hotel services reportedly continued to operate. After power was restored, it proceeded to Belfast and omitted Dublin from the itinerary. A tug from Holyhead and an air-sea rescue helicopter from Dublin monitored the situation. The most consequential episode involved environmental compliance. On August 26, 2013, crew members discharged approximately 4,227 US gallons of oil-contaminated bilge water off the southern coast of England. The discharge used an illegally modified pollution-control system and a concealed bypass commonly described as a magic pipe. A newly hired engineer photographed the operation, later resigned, and reported it to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. A subsequent US Department of Justice investigation determined that similar conduct had taken place aboard Caribbean Princess and four other Princess ships since 2005. In December 2016, Princess Cruise Lines pleaded guilty to seven felony offenses and agreed to pay a US$40 million criminal penalty. The agreement also placed ships from eight Carnival Corporation companies under a five-year, court-supervised environmental compliance plan involving independent audits and an appointed monitor. The penalty was described by US authorities as the largest criminal sanction at that time for deliberate vessel pollution. The ship also recorded a fatal pool incident involving a passenger in 2019. A later norovirus outbreak reported in May 2026 affected both passengers and crew. Despite these disruptions and compliance issues, Caribbean Princess remains an active Princess Cruises vessel used for regional and international leisure-cruise itineraries.

1. 2025First Alaska season

   Caribbean Princess began its first Alaska deployment from Vancouver, including a northbound route to Anchorage.

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2. 2019New York deployment

   The ship operated from New York on cruises involving Canada, New England, and Greenland.

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3. 2016Irish Sea power outage

   A complete propulsion loss left the ship adrift for approximately nine hours before it resumed sailing to Belfast.

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4. 2016Environmental criminal settlement

   Princess Cruise Lines pleaded guilty to seven felony charges and accepted a US$40 million penalty connected to deliberate vessel pollution.

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5. 2013Illegal bilge-water discharge reported

   A crew member reported an oil-contaminated bilge-water discharge made using an altered pollution-control system.

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6. 2013Royal Princess surpassed Caribbean Princess in fleet capacity

   The arrival of Royal Princess ended Caribbean Princess's position as the largest-capacity ship in the Princess fleet.

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7. 2012Port-side propulsion failure

   A propulsion-engine problem caused the vessel to return to San Juan and led to the cancellation of two subsequent voyages.

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8. 2004Caribbean Princess entered service

   The modified Grand-class cruise ship was built and entered Princess Cruises service.

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A high-capacity Princess Cruises vessel positioned for multi-region leisure cruising, with particular historical emphasis on Caribbean itineraries and a broad mix of accommodation, onboard amenities, and seasonal international routes.

• Caribbean Princess cruise voyagesCruise itineraries2004

  The ship's principal offering is passenger cruising across regional and seasonal routes. Caribbean itineraries have been its central historical market, while other schedules have included Canada and New England, Greenland, the British Isles, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Alaska. Voyages combine transportation between ports with accommodation, dining, entertainment, recreation, and access to shore excursions.

• Balcony stateroomsCruise accommodation2004

  Caribbean Princess includes approximately 900 balcony staterooms. These cabins provide private passenger accommodation with outdoor balcony space and form a major part of the ship's leisure-cruise proposition, particularly for longer itineraries and scenic routes.

• Mini-suitesCruise accommodation2004

  The ship has a dedicated deck of mini-suites, offering a larger accommodation format than standard staterooms. The mini-suite inventory supports Princess Cruises' tiered onboard accommodation model and provides an upgraded option for passengers seeking additional space.

• Onboard leisure servicesHospitality and entertainment2004

  As a full-service cruise ship, Caribbean Princess provides the integrated hospitality services normally associated with Princess Cruises, including passenger dining, public spaces, entertainment, pool and recreation facilities, and shipboard services. These amenities are delivered as part of the cruise fare or as optional onboard purchases.

• 2025First Alaska deploymentStrategy

  Princess Cruises expanded the ship's seasonal geographic deployment beyond its primarily Caribbean schedule.

  What changed. The vessel was sent to Vancouver for seven-day northbound Alaska cruises toward Anchorage.

  Aftermath. Caribbean Princess gained a new regional role in the Princess Cruises Alaska program.

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• 2019Temporary New York home-port strategyStrategy

  Princess Cruises repositioned the ship away from Fort Lauderdale to serve northern North American markets.

  What changed. Caribbean Princess operated from New York on Canada, New England, and Greenland itineraries.

  Aftermath. The deployment broadened the ship's seasonal route portfolio before its later primarily Caribbean operation.

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• 2014Early termination of voyage after norovirus outbreakOther

  Approximately 200 people became ill during a January voyage.

  What changed. The scheduled cruise was ended two days ahead of its original timetable.

  Aftermath. The outbreak became part of the ship's public operational history and highlighted the health-management risks associated with large passenger vessels.

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• 2012Cancellation of two voyages after propulsion failureOther

  A problem with the port-side propulsion engine required Caribbean Princess to return to San Juan after a stop in St. Maarten.

  What changed. Princess Cruises canceled the voyages scheduled for March 18 and March 25.

  Aftermath. The ship underwent further operational attention before resuming its cruise schedule.

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• 2016Criminal environmental case and compliance monitorshipControversy

  Princess Cruise Lines pleaded guilty to seven felony charges arising from illegal discharges and agreed to a US$40 million criminal penalty. The settlement required a five-year environmental compliance program covering ships from several Carnival Corporation brands.

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• 2013Deliberate oil-contaminated bilge-water dischargeControversy

  Caribbean Princess crew members discharged approximately 4,227 US gallons of oil-contaminated bilge water off southern England using a concealed bypass and altered pollution-control equipment. A whistleblower's report led to a wider investigation involving other Princess ships and a later criminal case against Princess Cruise Lines.

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• 2026Norovirus outbreak reported aboard Caribbean Princess

  A reported May 2026 outbreak affected 145 of 3,116 passengers and 15 of 1,131 crew members.

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• 2025Caribbean Princess began Alaska deployment from Vancouver

  The ship was deployed to Vancouver for its first Alaska season, including a seven-day northbound itinerary to Anchorage.

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• 2019Caribbean Princess moved to New York for Canada and New England itineraries

  The ship left Fort Lauderdale and adopted New York as a temporary home port for cruises to Canada, New England, and Greenland.

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• 2019Passenger drowned in a Caribbean Princess pool incident

  A man in his thirties drowned in a pool aboard the ship.

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• 2016Power loss left Caribbean Princess adrift in the Irish Sea

  The ship lost propulsion approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Dublin and drifted for about nine hours. Power was restored, the vessel reached Belfast, and the scheduled Dublin port call was missed.

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• 2014Norovirus outbreak ended a Caribbean Princess voyage early

  Approximately 200 people became ill during a cruise, and the scheduled voyage concluded two days earlier than planned.

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• 2012Propulsion problem forced Caribbean Princess to return to San Juan

  A problem affecting the ship's port-side propulsion engine required a return to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Princess Cruises canceled the next two scheduled voyages.

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1. Caribbean Princess