Princess Cruises Opens 2028 Europe Sales for Biggest Season Yet
Six ships will sail from thirteen departure ports, with itineraries covering one hundred twenty-eight destinations in thirty-seven countries and access to one hundred one UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Princess Cruises opened sales June 2 for its 2028 Europe program, a 291-departure season spanning 150 itineraries across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and transatlantic routes. The deployment will use six ships and add the line’s first calls at Galway and Killybegs in Ireland, along with a new 53-day Pole-to-Pole Odyssey linking Antarctica and the Arctic.
The company described the program as the largest Europe deployment in Princess history. Sailings range from seven to 53 days and cover 128 destinations in 37 countries, with access to 101 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 32 late-night or overnight port stays.
Jim Berra, Princess Cruises’ chief commercial officer, said the line continues to see “strong interest in Europe itineraries that offer both iconic destinations and more time for meaningful experiences ashore.” The 2028 season gives guests “the broadest range of Europe options we’ve ever offered,” Berra said, citing the new Ireland calls and the Pole-to-Pole Odyssey.
Six ships assigned across 13 departure ports
The Europe program will be operated by Caribbean Princess, Enchanted Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess and Sun Princess, sailing from 13 departure ports. The deployment accounts for six of Princess’ 17 ships.
Northern Europe itineraries include Norway’s fjords and the new west-of-Ireland calls, with late-night or overnight stays planned for Stockholm, Hamburg, Tromso, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Belfast and Reykjavik. In the Mediterranean, extended calls are scheduled for Istanbul, Mykonos, Ibiza, Valletta, Split, Lisbon and La Spezia for Florence and Pisa.
Princess’ transatlantic voyages will connect Europe with North and South America, with calls listed for the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Bermuda and Morocco. The new Pole-to-Pole Odyssey is included in that broader transatlantic program, though Princess did not publish full day-by-day routing in the announcement.
Galway and Killybegs bring different port operations
Galway is generally a tender call for larger cruise ships, with vessels anchoring in Galway Bay and passengers transferred ashore by boat. Once landed, passengers can typically reach the city center on foot, including Eyre Square, the Latin Quarter, Shop Street and Spanish Arch.
Killybegs, by contrast, offers direct dockside access at a working harbor but does not have a dedicated cruise terminal building. Cruise passengers can usually walk into town in about five to 15 minutes, while the pier area also supports fishing and cargo activity.
Shore programming and booking terms
Princess said the season will use its Local Connections shore-excursion program and higher-end “Ultimate” excursions, with examples including pasta making with an Italian family, Indigenous Sami experiences in Arctic Norway, workshops at Royal Delft in the Netherlands, and guided visits connected to Mont Saint-Michel and ancient Athens. Local Connections tours are built with local experts and are part of a wider Princess program of more than 250 excursions worldwide. Princess said the excursions are backed by its Guaranteed Return to Ship promise.
Early booking incentives include up to $500 in instant savings, up to $500 in onboard credit, a stateroom-location upgrade, reduced $100 deposits, early access to dining reservations and early access to arrival groups, with additional savings for Captain’s Circle members. Princess did not include starting fares in the announcement, and the booking bonus window is scheduled to close Oct. 12, 2026.
