Princess Cruises Returns to Melbourne with Crown Princess in 2028-2029

Princess Cruises confirmed that Crown Princess will be home-ported in Melbourne for the 2028-2029 season, marking the line's return to the Victorian capital after several years without a ship based there. The announcement was made on October 11, coinciding with Crown Princess's arrival at Station Pier, where it became the first cruise ship to open Victoria's 2026/27 summer season following a 28-day circumnavigation of Australia. The company estimates that the 2028-2029 home-port season could generate up to AUD 40 million for the state's economy.

Princess Cruises' Vice President for Asia Pacific, Matthew Rutherford, explained that the decision responds to requests from Victorian cruisers, who had said they missed having a Princess ship based in Melbourne and preferred to begin their holidays closer to home. According to Rutherford, this return reflects the company's long-standing ties to Victoria, and Crown Princess will be the first Princess ship to be based in Melbourne in several years.

While the number of sailings and the full itinerary for Crown Princess's 2028-2029 season have not yet been released, Princess Cruises will unveil the complete Australian summer program on October 28, with bookings opening on November 11.

In addition to its return to Melbourne, Princess Cruises will maintain its presence in Sydney for the 2028-2029 season. Cruise Mapper noted that provisional schedules include calls by Grand Princess, Emerald Princess and Royal Princess, though it cautioned that these timetables are subject to change. Cruise Critic, on the other hand, indicated that during the 2026 and 2027 sailing window, Crown Princess will be joined by Royal Princess, Grand Princess and Coral Princess, with Royal Princess in its third season in Sydney and Grand Princess set to become the next Princess ship based in Australia year-round.

Rutherford highlighted that Crown Princess's arrival marks the start of Victoria's summer cruise season and that passengers are expected to visit attractions such as Queen Victoria Market, the Puffing Billy Railway and the Royal Botanic Gardens, benefiting the region's tour operators and businesses. He also emphasized the cooperation with the Victorian state government in securing the upcoming season. According to figures released by the cruise line, cruise ship visits to Victorian destinations generated about USD 219 million in spending during the 2024-2025 season.