Princess Cruises has bid farewell to its final UK-based ship for 2019 as the line now looks ahead to 2020, when three cruise ships (Regal Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess) will homeport in Southampton.

Sapphire Princess ended her UK season sailing from Southampton this week, mostly to northern and southern Europe, but Princess Cruises will be back in just over six months’ time with the arrival of the 3,560-guest Regal Princess.

Next year, Princess Cruises is offering a total of 1.4-million cruise nights from the UK, an increase of 30% on this year.

Sapphire Princess ended her UK season this week

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Regal Princess will spend May to September cruising round Britain, while the 3,080-guest Crown Princess, which completed the same itinerary this year, will return to the UK from May to November.

She will sail from Southampton on voyages to the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and northern Europe.

Regal Princess will spend May to September cruising round Britain

Before commencing her 2020 UK season, Crown Princess will sail a short series of Mediterranean cruises departing from Barcelona, Rome and Athens throughout April and May.

Completing the Southampton line-up will be the 2,200-guest Island Princess, which will spend August to October cruising to northern Europe.

In addition to three homeporting Princess ships, Southampton will also see the christening of the line’s newest cruise ship, Enchanted Princess.

Enchanted Princess is due to enter service in 2020 and will be christened in Southampton

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The 3,660-guest Royal-class ship will be christened in Southampton in late June before heading to the Mediterranean for the summer. She will be the first Princess Cruises vessel to be named in the UK since Royal Princess in 2013.

“We’re bidding a fond farewell to our UK-based ships for this year after making one million cruise nights available to our guests,” said Tony Roberts, Vice President, UK and Europe, Princess Cruises. “We’ve been delighted with the overall feedback and now look forward to an even bigger UK season in 2020 as we welcome another three stunning ships to these shores.”

Crown Princess will cruise for over 150 days from Southampton with several new itineraries including a 17-day Mediterranean & Greek Isles voyage departing Friday November 6, 2020.

Both Crown Princess and Regal Princess will offer the OceanMedallion to all guests. The complimentary wearable device, which is the same size as a 10p piece, delivers an entirely new level of service and creates a holiday that is more simple, effortless and personalised.

Its enhancements include an expedited check-in process; touchless stateroom entry; the ability to order drinks, food and retail items from almost anywhere onboard; and a family and friends locator.