Regal Princess to debut early

Regal Princess, the sister ship of the recently launched Royal Princess, is to debut two weeks earlier than originally scheduled after it was announced the ship’s construction is ahead of schedule. The announcement means that the ship’s maiden voyage will be on 20 May 2014 instead of the previously set 2 June. Princess Cruises will now add two further sailings, a 20 May new maiden voyage and a second six-day sailing from 27 May. “The construction of Regal Princess has been progressing very well and we’re delighted the ship will be ready to welcome passengers even earlier than originally planned,” said Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises UK director. “We know that this beautiful new ship will impress passengers just as much as her sister ship, Royal Princess, has this year.” Passengers who had previously booked onto the maiden voyage will still be able to sail on the ship’s first cruise, receiving a duplicate booking for the new sailing. Those booked on the cruise will have until 15 November to decide whether they want to take the new cruise or add it to their existing reservation. The new cruises will run as follows: · May 20, 2014 (new maiden voyage) – Seven-day cruise from Venice to Athens including stops in Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight call in Istanbul. · May 27, 2014 – Six-day cruise from Athens to Venice including calls to Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Santorini, Katakolon (for Olympia) and Dubrovnik. Source: Travel Daily