Star Princess Makes West Coast Debut at Port of Los Angeles
The move underscores Los Angeles’ growing pull as a cruise hub, as lines place newer ships where demand is lifting port revenue and waterfront tourism.
Princess Cruises’ Star Princess has made its West Coast debut at the Port of Los Angeles, adding the line’s newest ship to Los Angeles departures over the next 18 months. The 4,300-passenger vessel made its inaugural San Pedro call on April 29 before an Alaska summer season and is scheduled to return to the LA Waterfront in October for a Panama Canal sailing.
The arrival brings Princess’ newest tonnage into a Los Angeles cruise market that reached a record 241 ship calls and 1.6 million passengers in 2025. The Port of Los Angeles estimated that cruise activity generated $300 million for the local economy last year, with each call producing about $1.3 million in revenue within a two-mile radius of the port.
Princess adds capacity at a long-running West Coast base
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said Princess has been “an important and invaluable partner” for more than 60 years. “For Princess to add yet another cruise ship sailing from our LA Waterfront is terrific news,” Seroka said.
Marie Lee, chief marketing officer for Princess Cruises, welcomed the call. “Los Angeles has always held a special place in our history; our very first cruise sailed from the Port of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera in 1965,” Lee said.
The Port of Los Angeles said Princess has made nearly 800 ship visits since 2015 and has operated more frequent sailings from the Los Angeles Cruise Terminal over the past decade than any other cruise line. Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess and Crown Princess are also scheduled to continue Los Angeles sailings, with itineraries to Mexico, Hawaii and the California coast.
Star Princess schedule includes Panama Canal and Mexico sailings
Built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, in 2025, Star Princess is a roughly 177,800-gross-ton Sphere-class ship measuring 1,133 feet and powered by dual-fuel LNG/MDO systems. Princess lists more than 2,100 staterooms on board, including suites, mini-suites and balcony cabins, along with more than 30 dining and bar venues, entertainment spaces, five pools, a spa and fitness center, and sports courts.
A 16-day Panama Canal cruise departs Oct. 4. After a winter season in the Caribbean, Star Princess is scheduled to return to California in April 2027 for Mexican Riviera and Pacific Coast sailings, including a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing April 19, 2027.
Princess is also planning shorter Pacific coastal cruises from Los Angeles as part of the ship’s West Coast deployment. Star Princess is scheduled to return to the port again in October 2027 for another 16-day Panama Canal voyage.
