Princess Cruises will base the Crown Princess in Melbourne for the 2028–2029 season, marking the cruise line’s return to homeporting a ship in Victoria’s capital.
The announcement came as Crown Princess arrived in Melbourne during a 28-day circumnavigation voyage. Princess Cruises has not yet released the number of sailings or their itineraries. The company expects to announce its full 2028–2029 deployment programme, including the ship’s schedule, on October 28.
Princess estimates the homeporting season could contribute up to AUD 40 million to Victoria’s economy. The ship’s arrival also coincides with the start of summer, when passengers are expected to visit regional attractions such as Queen Victoria Market, the Puffing Billy railway and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The decision follows requests from Melbourne-based guests for the cruise line to restore a local homeport. Princess Cruises’ vice president for Asia Pacific said Victorian customers had expressed a preference for starting their holidays closer to home. He also credited cooperation with the Victorian government and noted Melbourne’s importance to the company during its 50 years serving Australian holidaymakers.
Princess is also expected to operate from Sydney during the season. Provisional schedules show visits by the Grand Princess, Emerald Princess and Royal Princess, though schedules may change.
The complete itineraries will reveal the scale of Princess Cruises’ renewed commitment to the Victorian market.
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