Diamond Princess rings in New Year in New Zealand

MEDIA RELEASE 20 December 2012

Diamond Princess rings in New Year in New Zealand

The largest of Princess Cruises’ fleet and fourth-largest ship to visit New Zealand waters – the 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess – will be celebrating Christmas and New Year here.

Diamond Princess’ 2670 passengers will spend Christmas Day cruising the scenic Marlborough Sounds – enjoying snowflakes falling in the atrium, strolling carollers, holiday Movies Under the Stars and a special Gingerbread Challenge – as well as the obligatory Christmas feast.

After Boxing Day, Diamond Princess heads north via Tauranga to Auckland, where she begins a new 14-night itinerary from Auckland to Sydney on 28 December.

Her passengers will see in 2013 in the Marlborough Sounds, partying between Picton and Wellington, then spending New Year’s Day in the capital, before visiting Akaroa, Dunedin and Fiordland National Park and crossing the Tasman to Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney.

“Cruising is the perfect way to enjoy the festive season Downunder,” said Princess Cruises New Zealand and Australian Commercial Director, Alan Stuart. “With the warm weather, a great excuse like New Year to let your hair down and enjoy being waited on hand and foot, and the kids taken care of, Princess Cruises offers a holiday like no other.”

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 16 modern ships, with Diamond Princess being the largest of the fleet deployed in Australia over summer.

For more information on Princess Cruises visit www.princess.com.

Diamond Princess’ Christmas and New Year itineraries
21 December – Fiordland
22 December – Dunedin
23 December – Akaroa
24 December – Wellington
25 December – Marlborough Sounds
27 December – Tauranga
28 December – Auckland (turnaround)
29 December – Tauranga
31 December – Picton
1 January – Wellington
2 January – Akaroa
3 January – Port Chalmers, Dunedin
4 January – Fiordland National Park

ENDS

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