Princess Cruises Adds New Caribbean Homeport for Winter 2027–28
Key Aspects:
Princess Cruises will add Barbados as a seasonal homeport in 2027-28.
The cruises are geared to the UK market and can include an airfare component.
Crown Princess and Emerald Princess will sail 6- to 9-night voyages.
Cruisers hailing from the UK will have more choices for Southern Caribbean voyages in 2027 and 2028, thanks to Princess Cruises’ decision to add Barbados as a homeport for two ships.
Princess Cruises announced on March 3, 2026, that two ships already slated for seasonal service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, also will embark guests in Barbados for 6- to 9-night sailings.
Crown Princess will offer roundtrip Barbados cruises from January through March 2027, while Emerald Princess will feature the option from November 2027 through March 2028. All sailings from Barbados will call at San Juan.
Direct flights from major UK hubs can be booked through Princess Cruises’ Plane Sailing program, or independently by guests. Together, the two ships will sail 30-plus voyages to 15 destinations; most cruises will be 7 nights and can be combined into 14-night vacations.
“This expansion to include Barbados departures adds even greater variety in the highly sought‑after Southern Caribbean and provides greater convenience to our guests travelling from the UK,” said Eithne Williamson, UK, Ireland and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) vice president at Princess Cruises.
“Our Southern Caribbean itineraries include a mix of standout islands and hidden gems, from the lush scenery of St. Lucia to the calm beauty of Tortola, all paired with the exceptional service that Princess is renowned for,” Williamson added.
Here’s What Cruisers Can Expect to Pay
Crown Princess and Emerald Princess, both Crown-class ships that entered service in 2006 and 2007, respectively, each accommodate 3,080 guests and 1,200 crew members. The sister ships, both at 113,561 gross tons, offer different port calls on most cruises.
Crown Princess’ sailing on January 15, 2027, for instance, calls at San Juan, St. Maarten, Martinique, Grenada, and St. Lucia. Emerald Princess’ departure on November 26, 2027, will visit San Juan, Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, and Grenada.
A sample cruise fare, without airfare, on Crown Princess is £699 ($933 USD) per person for an inside cabin on a 7-night voyage. Holiday week voyages are higher.
For example, a 7-night Christmas and New Year cruise aboard Emerald Princess begins at £759 ($1,013 USD) per person for an inside cabin. The voyages opened for bookings on March 5, 2026.
Multiple Flight Options Offered to Barbados From Britain
Barbados is growing in popularity as a seasonal homeport for UK and European cruise lines. For UK residents headed to the Caribbean, direct flights to Barbados are offered from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham airports.
While Princess Cruises does not offer fly-cruise packages from the UK, guests can book their airfare through its Plane Sailing plan (called EZair outside the UK). One major advantage to doing so is the plan’s late-arrival protection.
It provides 24/7 assistance in the event of flight cancellations or delays. The protection policy covers flight changes to the destination or the next available port of call.
P&O Cruises, a Carnival Corporation brand that caters to the UK market, operates fly-cruise packages from major UK cities to Barbados in partnership with three airlines. In fall and winter 2026-27, the line will base the 3,647-guest Britannia and 5,200-guest Arvia on the island, offering embarkation there and in Antigua.
MSC Cruises also embraces Barbados as a sought-after destination and offers fly-cruise packages from Europe. The 2,658-guest MSC Opera and the 5,079-guest MSC Seaview will embark guests at the destination in winter 2026-27.
Princess Cruises Adds New Caribbean Homeport for Winter 2027–28