WHY IT RATES: The cruise leader will look to capitalize on growing demand by doubling its sailings in the city-state by the end of the decade.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Princess Cruises have announced a three-year partnership to significantly expand the cruise line’s presence in Singapore, reinforcing the city-state’s role as a leading cruise hub in Asia Pacific.
Spanning 2027 through 2030, the collaboration is expected to welcome more than 150,000 passengers and deliver meaningful economic benefits across Singapore’s tourism and maritime sectors. The agreement comes at a time of accelerating demand for cruise in Asia Pacific. Fueled by rising affluence, an expanding middle-class, and a strong appetite for immersive travel experiences, Singapore remains well-positioned to capture the region's growing opportunities.
As part of this commitment, Princess Cruises will deploy three ships, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess, to Singapore, with the number of sailings set to double by 2030. Supported under STB’s Cruise Development Fund (CDF), the ships will offer extended itineraries of 10 to 28 days, giving travelers more time to explore destinations across the region.
Deployment Will Accelerate Fly-Cruise Segment
Princess Cruises' 2027-28 Southeast Asia program offers a curated collection of longer, destination-rich itineraries operated by Diamond Princess, connecting Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.
Highlights include visits to 29 destinations across nine countries with voyages designed as longer-duration sailings up to 28 days connecting multiple regions. This follows-on from a 2026-2027 season where Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will homeport at the same time in Singapore from November 2026 to February 2027.
Singapore’s role as a seasonal homeport for Princess Cruises is expected to attract a strong base of international cruise passengers, particularly from mid- to long-haul markets such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This deployment will further accelerate growth in the fly-cruise segment and strengthen Singapore’s position as a homeport of choice in Asia, underpinned by strong global air connectivity and world-class cruise infrastructure. Singapore’s plethora of tourism products also create opportunities for travelers to extend their journeys with pre- and post-cruise stays in Singapore.
Ms Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “This three-year partnership with Princess Cruises is testament to Singapore’s position as Asia’s premier cruise hub. Princess Cruises’ expanded deployment broadens our premium cruise experiences and supports our Tourism 2040 vision to drive quality tourism growth through a strong pipeline of differentiated products.
With Asia Pacific emerging as a key growth region for cruising, Singapore is well-positioned to capture fly-cruise demand and connect the world to the best of Asia. We look forward to Princess Cruises bringing their exciting cruise itineraries to more travelers."
Mr Matthew Rutherford, Vice President Asia Pacific, Princess Cruises, said: “Singapore is a cornerstone of our Asia Pacific strategy and an exceptional homeport from which to expand regional footprint. This multi-year deployment underscores our confidence in Singapore’s connectivity and strong cruise ecosystem. We’re seeing growing demand for longer, more immersive journeys, and this program allows us to deliver richer itineraries across Southeast Asia and beyond while attracting more international guests to the region.”
SOURCE: Princess Cruises press release.
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