Princess history

[By The Bay]

The old Star Princess is currently sailing as P&O Australia's Pacific Pearl. She will leave their fleet in March 2017 having been sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages and will be renamed Columbus.

Thanks for the info. We are sailing on the Pearl this September for the first and possibly the last time. Looking forward to exploring the ship.

[Traveler30]

Thank you for the Photos, It brought back memories. Is there anyone out there that was on the Fairsea (Sitmar) back in 1988.

We booked In August 1988 under Sitmar (FairSea) but when we received our tickets in Sept. 1988 it was under the name of Fair Princess. We were doing the 28 day Grand Adventure cruise from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia, That was when Princess took over Sitmar.

 

Is there anyone out there that was on that cruise???

 

Just looked at my pictures, and I still have our cruise tickets.

 

What I miss is the Passenger list, being escorted to your cabin. Back then the price from Montreal, QC. Canada was $5,000.00 ea. Cruise Fare, including air from Sydney plus 1 night Hotel in LA. That was for a small inside cabin with bunk beds, there were no balconies then.

 

We had a great time on that ship. Hope someone remembers that Cruise

[Photo_Traveler]

Thank you for the Photos, It brought back memories. Is there anyone out there that was on the Fairsea (Sitmar) back in 1988.

We booked In August 1988 under Sitmar (FairSea) but when we received our tickets in Sept. 1988 it was under the name of Fair Princess. We were doing the 28 day Grand Adventure cruise from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia, That was when Princess took over Sitmar.

 

Is there anyone out there that was on that cruise???

 

Just looked at my pictures, and I still have our cruise tickets.

 

What I miss is the Passenger list, being escorted to your cabin. Back then the price from Montreal, QC. Canada was $5,000.00 ea. Cruise Fare, including air from Sydney plus 1 night Hotel in LA. That was for a small inside cabin with bunk beds, there were no balconies then.

 

We had a great time on that ship. Hope someone remembers that Cruise

 

I definitely remember being escorted to the cabin in 1990 (And in the MS Nederland in 1968). Since the 1990 Princess cruise, we are left to find our own way. :)

[COMBOY]

FYI-Princess' history goes way back to 1965 when Stan McDonald chartered the Princess Patricia to Mexico. This ship was followed by Princess Italia (chartered from Costa); followed by Costa Princess. It was during this time that Jeraldine Sanders, cruise director on Costa Princess wrote her book "Love Boat" about love and romance on the high seas. This book was the bases for the popular TV series "The Love Boat." Costa took these ships back and Princess acquired the Sea Venture and Island Venture which became the Pacific and Island Princess. However, not longer after that P&O acquired Princess and merged P&O's Spirit of London (Sun Princess) into the fleet. These three ships were the backbone of Princess until the newly build Royal Princess came into the fleet in 1984. Princess merged with Sitmar cruises in 1989.

[RickEk]

FYI-Princess' history goes way back to 1965 when Stan McDonald chartered the Princess Patricia to Mexico. This ship was followed by Princess Italia (chartered from Costa); followed by Costa Princess. It was during this time that Jeraldine Sanders, cruise director on Costa Princess wrote her book "Love Boat" about love and romance on the high seas. This book was the bases for the popular TV series "The Love Boat." Costa took these ships back and Princess acquired the Sea Venture and Island Venture which became the Pacific and Island Princess. However, not longer after that P&O acquired Princess and merged P&O's Spirit of London (Sun Princess) into the fleet. These three ships were the backbone of Princess until the newly build Royal Princess came into the fleet in 1984. Princess merged with Sitmar cruises in 1989.

 

That was actually Princess Carla, not Costa Princess. She was officially named Carla C, but unofficially Princess Carla while sailing for Princess.

[Photo_Traveler]

That was actually Princess Carla, not Costa Princess. She was officially named Carla C, but unofficially Princess Carla while sailing for Princess.

 

 

There were also some Canadian Pacific and independent Princess named ships in the Princess mix. The Princess of Vancouver (Often on the Nanaimo <> Vancouver ferry trip) and the Princess Marguerite (known for the daily Seattle <> Victoria tourist run). The PM might have started the Victoria <>Seattle trip as Canadian Pacific. However, in the later years, it had other owners. But, I don't believe any of these aligned with P&O. (Yep, I have pix of these ships).

[Photo_Traveler]

Hi! I was asked about the Fair Princess Mexican Riviera Video and cruise ship video of the Vancouver departures in 1990.

 

That video has now been uploaded and is being worked on now. The video was shot with a first generation Sony 8mm videocam. So, it looks nothing like the 1080P video I shoot today.

 

It will be uploaded to Smugmug as soon as I delete the Photographer errors :) and family stuff during editing.

 

Wait until you see the cabin shots..... :-)

 

Take Care!

Mike

Edited June 30, 2016 by Photo_Traveler
update

[speedydgon]

Thanks for posting these pictures. Taking our first Princess cruise next June but sailed the Viking Serenade for our honeymoon in 1992. Don't remember much about her but seems so small now.