> Cruise News - Updated Daily > LAUNCH - 2011/12 > Princess Cruises' 'biggest ever' expansion for 2011

Princess Cruises has announced its biggest ever expansion into the Europe cruise market.

As a testament to the continents burgeoning holiday appeal, the cruise operator will deploy a total of seven vessels to the region during its 2011 programme.

Holidaymakers could find themselves spoilt for choice, as they will have decide between 42 different itineraries, including seven new routes, and port calls at more that 135 destinations.

In a bid to show cruisers the "planet's cultural and natural heritage", Princess Cruises reveals that many of the destinations, which include tourist hotspots such as Venice, Edinburgh and Berlin, are also UNESCO Registered World Heritage Sites.

"Next year our line-up may really challenge passengers to choose among some outstanding options," said executive vice president Jan Swartz.

"Whether they want the amenities of a large ship or the intimate experience of a smaller vessel, a short seven-day getaway or an extended adventure over several weeks, there's a Princess cruise to match."

Two of the five new European ports making their debut on the Princess Cruises programme this year include Aahus, home to the tallest cathedral in Denmark, and the chic cosmopolitan town of Antwerp in Belgium.

What is your initial reaction to the expansion? Do you feel Europe calling?

I get the feeling that there is a lot of marketing tease floating around this week as such announcements are posted and released ahead of the full itineraries. I don't have visbility as to when Carnival (Princess' parent company) or RCCL are planning to release their full 2011 itineraries but it's almost certainly between now and month end.

So while the teasers hint as to what may be round the corner, I think it's a 'wait and see' for me before drawing up my shortlist for next year......

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2010 Cruises: MSC Magnifica(Feb), Celebrity Eclipse (Apr x2), Independence of the Seas (Jun), Queen Mary 2 (Jul+Nov)

Europe is fast becoming the 'cash cow'. I assume it is becuse Europeans are prepared to pay higher fares than Americans in Caribbean waters?

With apparently all the cruise lines jumping on the europe bandwagon I wonder if we will see overcapacity next year?

If we are, then prices will drop which can only be a good thing!

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Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare
Next cruises :
07/2011 MSC Opera
10/2012 A123 Azura

Lets see some of Princess smaller ships come to the 'Med' (Coral, Sea or Island) then perhaps we might be tempted back to them.
The three main one over the past three years have been the Grand, Ruby & Emerald almost identical in layout which is awful by the photo desk and shops on deck seven.

Indeed our second cruise on the Grand from Southampton proved to be a real let down in terms of food and entertainment, from the previous June which was wonderful, leading to a welcome switch to Costa for our main winter cruise.

They want to sail here because they can charge the customers more! When prices drop to the equivalent prices that Americans pay out of their own ports - then I will cheer! We in the UK pay the same prices for ships that are based here in the UK as we do for a cruise with air fare included from an American base. Give the British equality with our American cousins!!!

Not if they all agree to 'price fix' (unofficially, of course!)

The carnival brands are unlikely to undercut each other.