Princess Cruises to Begin Celebration Key Calls Nov. 1, 2026

Princess Cruises will begin calling at Celebration Key in The Bahamas on Nov. 1, 2026, with Star Princess scheduled to make the line’s first visit to the new private destination on Grand Bahama Island.

First calls to Celebration Key and ships scheduled to visit

Princess’ first two visits are set for early November 2026, with additional calls planned across the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. Regal Princess is scheduled to follow Star Princess with a call on Nov. 9, 2026.

Princess ships listed to visit Celebration Key include:

• Star Princess (first call: Nov. 1, 2026)
• Regal Princess (Nov. 9, 2026)
• Caribbean Princess
• Enchanted Princess
• Sky Princess
• Sun Princess

What Celebration Key is and what’s planned for guests

Celebration Key is a purpose-built destination on Grand Bahama Island developed by Carnival Corporation. The destination opened in July for Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess is the first additional Carnival Corporation brand to publicly confirm scheduled calls.

Princess and Carnival Corporation have described Celebration Key as an expansive tropical escape that includes more than a mile of shoreline, turquoise-water lagoon areas, and more than 30 dining and beverage options. The destination is also being promoted around distinct zones for families, adults-only experiences, and shopping, including Paradise Plaza, Starfish Lagoon (with 3.5-acre family-friendly freshwater features), the adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club (with premium cabanas and an infinity pool offered at an additional cost), and Lokono Cove, a Bahamian shopping village focused on local craftsmanship.

Princess has said Celebration Key experiences, including items such as cabanas, will open for booking starting Dec. 17, 2025.

Caribbean expansion for 2027-28: scale, homeports, and itinerary range

Celebration Key is being added as Princess rolls out what it has billed as its largest and most expansive Caribbean program for the 2027-28 season. Announced in late 2023, the season is scheduled to run from October 2027 through April 2028.

Princess’ published totals for the 2027-28 Caribbean program include 187 departures on nine ships and 43 itineraries ranging from four to 15 days. The line is advertising 31 destinations and 22 unique islands, including 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in St. Kitts, Mount Pelée’s volcanic forests in Martinique, and Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Princess has also highlighted late-night stays in the ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

The 2027-28 Caribbean season is scheduled to sail from five homeports:

• Miami (a new Princess homeport for the program)
• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
• Port Canaveral
• New York
• San Juan

Sphere-class ships and key deployment notes

Princess has positioned Star Princess and Sun Princess, its two newest Sphere-class ships, as headliners for the 2027-28 Caribbean deployment. The schedule is set to mark the first time both ships operate in the Caribbean during the same season, and Princess has said Star Princess will debut its inaugural season from Port Canaveral.

Princess has also said Star Princess will sail its inaugural Alaska season following a Panama Canal repositioning cruise in 2026.

Jim Berra, Chief Commercial Officer of Princess Cruises, said, “We’re incredibly excited to bring our guests an expanded Caribbean season,” adding that “Celebration Key is an extraordinary destination oasis.”

Panama Canal plans extend the 2027-28 seasonal rollout

Alongside the Caribbean schedule, Princess has outlined a Panama Canal season running from September 2027 through April 2028. The line has operated Panama Canal voyages since 1967 and has said select sailings include experts on board to narrate the canal transit.

For 2027-28, Princess is planning 22 departures on five ships, with nine itineraries. The season spans four homeports, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, and includes 21 ports in nine countries. Princess has also highlighted visits to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Archaeological Site and Historic District of Panamá and the Port Fortress of Cartagena.

Routing options described for the season include:

• Roundtrip sailings from Fort Lauderdale
• Ocean-to-ocean transits linking Los Angeles or Vancouver with Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral
• Additional one-way sailings from Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral

Princess has listed Caribbean Princess, Island Princess, Coral Princess, Emerald Princess, and Star Princess as the five ships serving the 2027-28 Panama Canal season, with itineraries that include late-night options in Cartagena, Aruba, and Puerto Amador.

When bookings and reservations open

Princess has opened bookings for the newly announced Caribbean and Panama Canal voyages. Celebration Key experiences such as cabanas are scheduled to become available to reserve beginning Dec. 17, 2025, ahead of the first Princess call on Nov. 1, 2026, and before the expanded Caribbean program begins in October 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Princess Cruises first visit Celebration Key?

Princess’ first scheduled call at Celebration Key is Nov. 1, 2026, with Star Princess.

Which Princess ships are scheduled to call at Celebration Key?

Princess has listed Star Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, and Sun Princess for Celebration Key visits across the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.

When can guests book Celebration Key experiences such as cabanas?

Princess has stated that Celebration Key experiences, including cabanas, will open for booking starting Dec. 17, 2025.

What are Princess’ homeports for the 2027-28 Caribbean season?

The five homeports are Miami, Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Port Canaveral, New York, and San Juan.