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Victoria Sails into Biggest Summer of Cruising as Emerald Princess Makes Maiden Visit

Princess Cruises'spectacular 3082-guest Emerald Princess has made her maiden visit to Melbourneas the State prepares for its biggest summer season of cruising.

Emerald Princess'call is the first inaugural cruise ship visit of the season for Melbourne, andcomes during a busy few days at Station Pier. One of Emerald's sisterships Sun Princess called at Melbourne on Friday, while Golden Princess willarrive tomorrow for her second season of cruises from the city.

Princess ships areregular visitors to Victoria with all of the line's five locally-based shipsmaking calls to the State this season.

While EmeraldPrincess will visit Melbourne twice more as part of her inaugural five-monthseason of cruises from Sydney, the 2600-guest Golden Princess will be based inthe city offering 15 cruises from Melbourne between November and April.Golden Princess' 2016-17 season marks the ninth year that Princess hasbased a ship in Victoria over the summer.

In total, PrincessCruises will make 23 calls to Melbourne between November and May, injectingclose to $20 million into the State economy in passenger and crew spending,provedoring and port charges, and accounting for more than a quarter of all ofthe city's cruise ship visits over the extended summer season.

The cruise line willalso make three calls to Phillip Island, spreading the economic benefits ofcruising around the State.

Princess Cruises VicePresident Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said the arrival ofEmerald Princess and the return of Golden Princess heralded a bumper Victoriancruise season.

"Victoria will enjoya parade of Princess ships this summer. Emerald Princess is a beautifulship that is turning heads as she cruises around Australia and we can't wait tosee Golden Princess return home to Melbourne for another big summer ofcruising," Mr Allison said.

"As the biggestcruise operator in Melbourne, Princess' ships will carry more than 50,000holidaymakers to and from the city as our guests enjoy cruises to New Zealand,the South Pacific and Tasmania."

Stretching 290metres, Emerald Princess boasts a long list of exciting features including aspeciality restaurant SHARE by Curtis Stone, Princess' new Salty Dog pubserving up the Ernesto Burger – rated the best burger at sea – and gourmetsmall dishes developed with renowned US chef Ernesto Uchimura, combined withwhisky flights. The ship's arrival will also set the stage for the debut of themuch-anticipated onboard musical Magic to Do from Oscar and Tony award-winningBroadway composer Stephen Schwartz. Guests can also enjoy the Voice ofthe Ocean competition, exclusive to Princess, which brings the spectacle ofTV's wildly popular international singing competition to the high seas.

The 113,000-tonnesuperliner features more than 1500 guest rooms, including nearly 900 balconystaterooms, with every room offering the Princess Luxury Bed designed todeliver the ultimate night of sleep at sea. Also on board are eight showroomsand lounges, two nightclubs and four swimming pools as well as signaturePrincess offerings such as the child-free Sanctuary, poolside Movies Under theStars and the luxurious Lotus Spa. Guests can enjoy fantastic shopping,with options including a stunning EFFY jewellery outlet, a first in the localmarket.

Emerald Princess'debut takes Princess Cruises' Australasian capacity to a record 11,800 berthsacross five ships during the 2016-17 cruise season. With five of Princess' 18ships cruising local waters this summer, Australia ranks as the cruise line'sbiggest market outside the United States.

Emerald Princess willsail at 5pm tonight for Sydney, where she will be based until April.


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