Crown Princess

Crown Princess is a Crown-class cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. Although the ship's Wikipedia disambiguation title includes 2005, the vessel entered service in 2006. It was designed as part of Princess Cruises' large-ship fleet and has capacity for approximately 3,080 guests, supported by a crew complement of about 1,200. The ship's maiden voyage departed from Red Hook in Brooklyn on 14 June 2006 and called at Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Port Canaveral. The vessel is intended as a flexible deployment platform rather than a ship dedicated to one region. Its regular program has included Caribbean sailings in the winter and European itineraries in the summer, with additional repositioning and seasonal voyages in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, South America, Mexico, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Alaska, and the North Atlantic. This broad itinerary mix allows Princess Cruises to move the ship between established seasonal markets and longer repositioning or exploratory routes. Crown Princess is closely related to sister ships Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Among its recognizable design features is Skywalkers Night Club, positioned aft of the funnel rather than extending over the stern in the wing-like arrangement used on Caribbean Princess. Martha Stewart serves as the ship's godmother. The ship's onboard offer is centered on the conventional full-service cruise model: accommodation, dining, entertainment, public spaces, recreation, and organized port itineraries delivered as a single vacation product. The ship attracted substantial attention shortly after entering service when a severe listing incident occurred on 18 July 2006 after departure from Port Canaveral. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded that bridge-control actions by the second officer, rather than a simple steering-equipment malfunction, produced the extreme turn and list. The event caused serious and minor injuries and led to refunds and operational review before the vessel returned to service. Princess Cruises' then-president Alan Buckelew described the cause as human error and said personnel changes were made. Crown Princess continued to change deployment over the following years. It moved to Galveston in late 2012 for Western Caribbean cruises, returned to Europe in 2013, and later undertook a South America itinerary before operating Mexican, Hawaiian, Pacific coastal, Vancouver, and Alaska-related voyages. The ship received an extensive ten-day renovation in Freeport, Bahamas, in April 2018. It subsequently returned to the British Isles in 2019 and then repositioned to Fort Lauderdale for Southern Caribbean service. As of the cited 2024 information, the ship was scheduled for summer Alaska cruises, while a 113-day world cruise was planned to begin in Sydney in June 2025.

Crown Princess was built as a Crown-class vessel for Princess Cruises and entered service in 2006. Its maiden voyage began on 14 June 2006 from Red Hook in Brooklyn, New York, with calls at Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Port Canaveral. The ship was designed for the large-ship cruise market, offering several thousand passenger berths, a substantial crew, and a combination of accommodation, food and beverage, entertainment, recreation, and itinerary-based travel. The ship's early operating history was marked by a serious navigation and stability incident. On 18 July 2006, roughly an hour after departing Port Canaveral, Crown Princess developed a pronounced list while returning toward New York. The vessel reached a maximum angle of approximately 24 degrees to starboard. The movement caused passengers, crew, pool water, furniture, and unsecured objects to shift or fall across multiple decks. Fourteen people were seriously injured and 284 suffered minor injuries. The ship returned to Port Canaveral, and the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigated the event. The NTSB concluded that the second officer had disengaged automatic steering and made a series of manual steering inputs that intensified the turn and list. Princess Cruises conducted its own review, characterized the cause as human error, and stated that personnel changes followed. Passengers on the affected voyage received full refunds, while those on the delayed subsequent sailing received a 50 percent refund. After the incident, Crown Princess resumed commercial service and developed a broad seasonal deployment pattern. It operated in the Mediterranean through November 2012, then crossed the Atlantic to Galveston, Texas, where it offered Western Caribbean cruises from December 2012 to April 2013. The arrival in Galveston was accompanied by a reported norovirus outbreak affecting at least 102 passengers; the ship had also experienced two earlier outbreaks in January and February 2012. In April 2013, Crown Princess sailed to Southampton and operated Northern European, Mediterranean, and Canary Islands voyages. It later returned to the United States and offered Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. The company announced in January 2013 that the ship would make a South America voyage, requiring the cancellation of scheduled Caribbean cruises between 15 February and 26 April 2014. Following that voyage, the vessel visited Mexico and Hawaii and operated Pacific coastal cruises from Los Angeles, as well as routes involving Vancouver, Whittier, and Seattle. Beginning with the 2016–2017 season, it undertook a full South America season before returning to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean service. Crown Princess received an extensive ten-day renovation in Freeport, Bahamas, in April 2018. In August 2019, it returned to the British Isles before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale for the following winter season, where it operated Southern Caribbean itineraries. The ship's design remains related to those of Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Its Skywalkers Night Club is located aft of the funnel, distinguishing it from the wing-like stern arrangement used on Caribbean Princess. Martha Stewart is identified as the ship's godmother. The ship's later schedule continued to reflect Princess Cruises' practice of moving vessels between seasonal markets. Information cited for 2024 placed Crown Princess in planned summer Alaska service on North America's west coast. A 113-day world cruise was also scheduled to begin in Sydney, Australia, in June 2025. The available material does not establish a permanent home port, a separate corporate owner from Princess Cruises, or a later retirement date.

• 2025

  Scheduled world cruise

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  A 113-day world cruise is scheduled to depart Sydney in June.

• 2018

  Freeport renovation

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Crown Princess undergoes a ten-day renovation in Freeport, Bahamas.

• 2014

  South America voyage and Pacific itineraries

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  A South America voyage replaces scheduled Caribbean sailings, followed by cruises involving Mexico, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast.

• 2012

  Galveston deployment begins

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship relocates from the Mediterranean to Galveston for Western Caribbean cruises.

• 2006

  Crown Princess enters service

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  The Crown-class cruise ship makes its maiden voyage on 14 June from Brooklyn, calling at Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Port Canaveral.

• 2006

  Severe listing incident

  [1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  A major list after departure from Port Canaveral causes passenger and crew injuries and triggers Coast Guard and NTSB investigations.

A large, full-service Princess Cruises vessel positioned for seasonal international cruising, combining resort-style onboard facilities with multi-region itineraries.

• Cruise ship · 2006

  Crown Princess cruise ship

  The core offering is the Crown Princess vessel itself: a large, full-service cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises. It combines passenger cabins, dining, entertainment, recreation, public spaces, and organized port calls. The ship accommodates approximately 3,080 guests and has a crew complement of about 1,200. Its design includes the Skywalkers Night Club aft of the funnel and supports both short regional cruises and longer repositioning voyages.

• Cruise itinerary

  Caribbean itineraries

  Caribbean cruising has been a recurring seasonal role for Crown Princess, including Western Caribbean service from Galveston and later Caribbean and Southern Caribbean operations from Fort Lauderdale. These voyages form part of the ship's winter deployment pattern and package onboard accommodation and services with calls at Caribbean and nearby tropical destinations.

• Cruise itinerary

  European itineraries

  The ship has operated Mediterranean, Northern European, Canary Islands, and British Isles cruises. These European deployments have generally formed part of its summer or repositioning schedule, allowing Crown Princess to serve multiple regional markets rather than remaining assigned to a single route.

• Cruise itinerary

  South America and Pacific itineraries

  Crown Princess has also been used for longer South America voyages and Pacific-related routes. Its documented deployment included Mexico, Hawaii, Pacific coastal cruises from Los Angeles, and voyages connecting Vancouver with Alaska-related ports. These itineraries demonstrate the ship's role in Princess Cruises' repositioning and extended regional programs.

• 2018

  Ten-day ship renovationOther

  Background

  Crown Princess underwent a scheduled major renovation while in Freeport, Bahamas.

  Action taken

  The vessel was taken through an extensive ten-day renovation in April 2018.

  Aftermath

  The ship returned to Princess Cruises' international seasonal itinerary program.

  Source

• 2013

  Reallocation of Caribbean sailings for a South America voyageStrategy

  Background

  Princess Cruises announced that Crown Princess would undertake a South America voyage in 2014 instead of maintaining its previously scheduled Caribbean program.

  Action taken

  Caribbean cruises planned between 15 February and 26 April 2014 were cancelled and replaced with the South America itinerary. The ship later continued to Mexico, Hawaii, and Pacific coastal destinations.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the vessel's geographic deployment and was followed by additional South America seasons and Pacific-related operations.

  Source

• 2006

  Operational response to the listing incidentOther

  Background

  A severe list caused injuries and prompted investigations by the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.

  Action taken

  Princess Cruises conducted an internal review, reported personnel changes, refunded the affected voyage in full, and provided a 50 percent refund to passengers on the delayed following cruise.

  Aftermath

  With approval from the Coast Guard and Bermuda flag authorities, Crown Princess returned to service and resumed its normal schedule.

  Source

• 2024

  Crown Princess scheduled for Alaska and world cruise operations[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The ship was scheduled for summer Alaska cruises on the west coast of North America, while a 113-day world cruise was planned to depart Sydney in June 2025.

• 2020

  SARS-CoV-2 case reported after Crown Princess disembarkation[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, by 22 April 2020, at least one person who had traveled on Crown Princess tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 14 days after disembarking.

• 2019

  Crown Princess returns to British Isles and Southern Caribbean service[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The ship returned to the British Isles in August 2019 before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale for the 2019–2020 winter season and Southern Caribbean itineraries.

• 2018

  Crown Princess receives ten-day renovation in Freeport[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Crown Princess underwent an extensive ten-day renovation in Freeport, Bahamas, in April 2018.

• 2014

  Crown Princess undertakes expanded South America and Pacific deployment[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The ship's planned Caribbean cruises from 15 February through 26 April 2014 were cancelled to make room for a South America voyage. Subsequent operations included Mexico, Hawaii, Pacific coastal routes, and voyages involving Vancouver, Whittier, and Seattle.

• 2012

  Crown Princess begins Western Caribbean deployment from Galveston[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The ship repositioned from the Mediterranean to Galveston, Texas, in late 2012 to operate Western Caribbean cruises through the following spring.

• 2012

  Norovirus cases reported after Crown Princess arrival in Galveston[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  At least 102 passengers were reported to have contracted norovirus when Crown Princess arrived in Galveston on 22 December 2012. The ship had also experienced two separate norovirus outbreaks earlier that year.

• 2006

  Crown Princess experiences severe listing after leaving Port Canaveral[1]Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org

  Other · Leadership change

  On 18 July 2006, Crown Princess developed a severe starboard list after leaving Port Canaveral. Fourteen passengers and crew members were seriously injured and 284 sustained minor injuries. The ship returned to port, and investigators later attributed the event to bridge-control actions rather than an isolated steering-system failure.

1. 1Crown Princess (2005)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Crown Princess official ship pageprincess.com