Emerald Princess ‘sets new upmarket cruise benchmark’

Health & Leisure
Wednesday, 09 November 2016

In an extended career I have experienced some fine cruising on spectacular ships, but stepping aboard The Emerald Princess, Princess Cruises’ biggest ship, has taken things to another level.


The 3082-guest liner, which berthed in Fremantle ahead of her maiden summer ‘down under’, has reignited my desire for another cruise.  But not just any cruise.  After a ship inspection, I believe the The Emerald Princess sets a new benchmark in luxury cruising and offers passengers a very special experience, writes Sofia Hurd.


At 290 metres stem to stern, Emerald Princess is one of Princess’ largest ships and takes the cruise line’s Australasian capacity to a record 11,800 berths across five ships for the 2016-17 cruise season.

Emerald Princess features more than 1500 guest rooms, including nearly 900 balcony staterooms, with every room offering the ‘Princess Luxury Bed’ designed to deliver an ultimate night of sleep at sea. Also on board are eight showrooms and lounges, two nightclubs and four swimming pools as well as signature Princess offerings such as the child-free Sanctuary, poolside Movies Under the Stars and the luxurious Lotus Spa.  Guests can enjoy fantastic shopping, with options including a stunning EFFY jewellery outlet, a first for the local market.
 
Emerald Princess is home to an array of exciting features including Princess’ new Salty Dog pub, serving up the Ernesto Burger – rated the best burger at sea – and gourmet small dishes developed with renowned US chef Ernesto Uchimura, combined with whisky flights.


The ship’s arrival will also set the stage for the debut of the much-anticipated on board musical ‘Magic to Do’ from Oscar and Tony award-winning Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.  Guests can also enjoy the Voice of the Ocean competition, exclusive to Princess, which brings the spectacle of TV’s international singing competition to the high seas.
 
The 113,000-tonne superliner cruised into Fremantle after 48 nights visiting four continents from the UK en route to its new home in Australia.
The visit is the first of seven maiden Australian port calls which Emerald Princess will make in coming weeks. The superliner will call at Busselton on Wednesday and then Melbourne on November 13, arriving at its new Sydney home port on November 15.
 
Princess ships are regular visitors to Western Australia, with four of the line’s five locally-based ships making calls to the state throughout the year. In total, the cruise line will make 48 calls to Western Australian ports in 2016, including 22 to Fremantle, injecting around A$30 million into the State economy.
Stuart Allison, vice president Australia and New Zealand Princess Cruises said the debut of Emerald Princess would make this a summer to remember for Princess.

“Emerald Princess is a beautiful ship that will undoubtedly turn heads as it cruises around Australia and New Zealand. It is home to some exciting features that we know Australians will love, especially our second locally-based SHARE by Curtis Stone restaurant, which offers million dollar views over the ship’s wake and out to sea,” said Allison.
 
Emerald Princess’ visit is expected to inject close to A$500,000 into the local WA economy. During its call, guests will explore Perth and surrounds including a visit to King’s Park, Yanchep National Park and Pinnacles Desert.  


The ship will spend its inaugural five-month season of cruises from Sydney sailing on 13 round-trip cruises to destinations in the South Pacific, New Zealand and around Australia.  

Fares for an 11-night roundtrip cruise on Emerald Princess to New Caledonia and Vanuatu departing Sydney on January 21, 2017 start from A$1199* per person twin share with a A$75 on-board credit per person. Conditions apply.

 

Emerald Princess ‘sets new upmarket cruise benchmark’

Health & Leisure
Wednesday, 09 November 2016

In an extended career I have experienced some fine cruising on spectacular ships, but stepping aboard The Emerald Princess, Princess Cruises’ biggest ship, has taken things to another level.


The 3082-guest liner, which berthed in Fremantle ahead of her maiden summer ‘down under’, has reignited my desire for another cruise.  But not just any cruise.  After a ship inspection, I believe the The Emerald Princess sets a new benchmark in luxury cruising and offers passengers a very special experience, writes Sofia Hurd.


At 290 metres stem to stern, Emerald Princess is one of Princess’ largest ships and takes the cruise line’s Australasian capacity to a record 11,800 berths across five ships for the 2016-17 cruise season.

Emerald Princess features more than 1500 guest rooms, including nearly 900 balcony staterooms, with every room offering the ‘Princess Luxury Bed’ designed to deliver an ultimate night of sleep at sea. Also on board are eight showrooms and lounges, two nightclubs and four swimming pools as well as signature Princess offerings such as the child-free Sanctuary, poolside Movies Under the Stars and the luxurious Lotus Spa.  Guests can enjoy fantastic shopping, with options including a stunning EFFY jewellery outlet, a first for the local market.
 
Emerald Princess is home to an array of exciting features including Princess’ new Salty Dog pub, serving up the Ernesto Burger – rated the best burger at sea – and gourmet small dishes developed with renowned US chef Ernesto Uchimura, combined with whisky flights.


The ship’s arrival will also set the stage for the debut of the much-anticipated on board musical ‘Magic to Do’ from Oscar and Tony award-winning Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.  Guests can also enjoy the Voice of the Ocean competition, exclusive to Princess, which brings the spectacle of TV’s international singing competition to the high seas.
 
The 113,000-tonne superliner cruised into Fremantle after 48 nights visiting four continents from the UK en route to its new home in Australia.
The visit is the first of seven maiden Australian port calls which Emerald Princess will make in coming weeks. The superliner will call at Busselton on Wednesday and then Melbourne on November 13, arriving at its new Sydney home port on November 15.
 
Princess ships are regular visitors to Western Australia, with four of the line’s five locally-based ships making calls to the state throughout the year. In total, the cruise line will make 48 calls to Western Australian ports in 2016, including 22 to Fremantle, injecting around A$30 million into the State economy.
Stuart Allison, vice president Australia and New Zealand Princess Cruises said the debut of Emerald Princess would make this a summer to remember for Princess.

“Emerald Princess is a beautiful ship that will undoubtedly turn heads as it cruises around Australia and New Zealand. It is home to some exciting features that we know Australians will love, especially our second locally-based SHARE by Curtis Stone restaurant, which offers million dollar views over the ship’s wake and out to sea,” said Allison.
 
Emerald Princess’ visit is expected to inject close to A$500,000 into the local WA economy. During its call, guests will explore Perth and surrounds including a visit to King’s Park, Yanchep National Park and Pinnacles Desert.  


The ship will spend its inaugural five-month season of cruises from Sydney sailing on 13 round-trip cruises to destinations in the South Pacific, New Zealand and around Australia.  

Fares for an 11-night roundtrip cruise on Emerald Princess to New Caledonia and Vanuatu departing Sydney on January 21, 2017 start from A$1199* per person twin share with a A$75 on-board credit per person. Conditions apply.