Princess Cruises Announces Expansive 2028-2029 Americas Season Featuring Return to the Amazon River

Princess Cruises has officially unveiled its extensive 2028-2029 Americas Season, promising an unprecedented breadth of global exploration for travelers looking to traverse North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the icy frontiers of Antarctica. The massive deployment encompasses more than 250 cruise ship departures, offering a staggering variety of voyages designed to cater to every style of traveler, ranging from brief four-day coastal getaways to epic 64-day grand odysseys.

Among the most headline-grabbing announcements in the new schedule is the cruise line’s highly anticipated return to the Amazon River for the first time since 2014, marking a major milestone for travelers eager to experience some of the world’s most remote and biodiverse waterways. Throughout the season, guests will have the opportunity to visit a wide array of exotic destinations, including exclusive private island paradises such as Celebration Key, Isla Tropicale, and Half Moon Cay, blending rugged expedition-style cruising with relaxed tropical luxury.

Jim Berra, Chief Commercial Officer for Princess Cruises, emphasized the sheer variety built into the newly released deployments. Highlighting the extraordinary diversity found across the Americas, Berra noted that the 2028–2029 season gives guests an extraordinary range of ways to experience the globe. Whether travelers are seeking a relaxing Caribbean getaway, the thrill of sailing beneath the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, the tropical beauty of Hawaii, or daring expeditions to the Amazon and Antarctica, the thoughtfully crafted itineraries are designed to match how and where modern guests want to explore.

Caribbean

The cornerstone of the 2028-2029 deployment centers on the Caribbean, where Princess Cruises will deploy ships for a total of 141 individual cruises spanning 49 unique itineraries. These sailings vary in length from five to 17 days, offering travelers flexible options to fit their vacation schedules. Departures will be conveniently hosted across multiple major homeports, including Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, San Juan, New York, and Barbados, making it seamless for passengers from various geographic regions to embark on their tropical journeys.

During this robust Caribbean season, Princess ships are scheduled to call at 24 distinct ports spread across 20 islands. The itineraries highlight top-rated destinations such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Cozumel, the picturesque ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, and Puerto Rico. Furthermore, to give guests more time ashore to deeply experience local culture, cuisine, and nightlife, the line has incorporated "More Ashore" late-night departure experiences into key ports including Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Adding to the tropical allure, the itineraries will also incorporate visits to Carnival Corporation’s premier private island destinations, providing exclusive beachside retreats for Princess passengers.

Panama Canal

For travelers fascinated by maritime history and monumental engineering feats, Princess Cruises has lined up 12 distinct sailings dedicated to the Panama Canal for the 2028-2029 season. These immersive voyages range from 16 to 20 days and will be operated by a fleet of popular vessels, including Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess, Ruby Princess, and Star Princess.

The deployment features a total of eight full transits of the famous canal. Demonstrating the diverse capabilities of the fleet and offering varied guest experiences, two of the transits will navigate the historic original locks of the canal, while six will traverse the modern, larger Neopanamax locks. To round out these incredible engineering-focused journeys, the Panama Canal cruises will be complemented by a series of strategic port calls spanning Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Hawaii

The Aloha State remains a perennial favorite for cruise travelers, and Princess Cruises is answering the demand with 14 dedicated Hawaii cruises for the 2028-2029 season. These immersive voyages are meticulously designed to explore the rich landscapes and cultures of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island.

Demonstrating a commitment to giving guests ample time to soak in the island atmosphere, every single Hawaii sailing will feature an extended late-night stay in Honolulu. To accommodate travelers along the Pacific Rim, roundtrip cruises will be offered from Los Angeles and San Francisco, alongside the welcome return of departures from Vancouver for the 2028–2029 season. This trio of convenient West Coast gateways provides travelers with flexible and accessible options to journey across the Pacific to the islands.

Mexico

Mexico continues to be a vibrant hub for regional cruising, and Princess will deploy its ships for 35 distinct Mexico itineraries departing from the key West Coast ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ranging from seven to 11 days in duration, these voyages are crafted to showcase the rich coastal culture, culinary traditions, and scenic beauty of the Mexican Riviera and Baja Peninsula.

The scheduled itineraries will bring guests to legendary ports including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and La Paz. Highlighting the cultural and leisure immersion of the deployment, all 10-day Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez sailings will feature an overnight stay in Cabo San Lucas, allowing guests to experience the destination’s renowned nightlife, dining, and coastal activities well after standard cruise departures.

South America, Antarctica, and the Amazon

Perhaps the most adventurous segment of the 2028-2029 lineup is the redeployment of Princess ships to South America and Antarctica, punctuated by the triumphant return of Amazon River cruising for the first time in over a decade. A total of 13 departures have been scheduled for the region, utilizing the majestic capacities of Majestic Princess and Coral Princess.

The lineup features signature itineraries designed for the intrepid traveler, including 17-day Antarctica and Patagonia voyages that bring guests face-to-face with some of the planet’s most dramatic remote wilderness. These are complemented by 15-day Cape Horn and Glaciers of Patagonia sailings. The major highlight, however, is the revival of the Amazon River cruises, which will treat passengers to immersive scenic river cruising deep into the South American interior, highlighted by a dedicated port call in Santarém, Brazil. For those seeking the ultimate maritime expedition, Coral Princess will embark on an extraordinary 64-day Circle South America cruise, seamlessly combining calls in Antarctica, the Amazon River, and the Panama Canal into one monumental voyage.

California Coast

Rounding out the domestic and regional offerings, Princess Cruises has scheduled 18 sailings along the California Coast, ranging in duration from four to seven days. These short-form voyages offer travelers a chance to experience the scenic Pacific coastline with convenient departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver.

The coastal itineraries feature "More Ashore" late-night visits to vibrant destinations such as San Diego, San Francisco, and Victoria, British Columbia. Furthermore, the season will offer more than 50 distinct opportunities for guests to experience the unforgettable maritime tradition of sailing directly beneath the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge, providing breathtaking photo opportunities and a dramatic conclusion or commencement to their coastal journey.