The first cruise ship to be based year round in San Francisco, Grand Princess, sailed through the Golden Gate for the first time yesterday. The city celebrated the Princess Cruises vessel’s arrival by declaring the day “Grand Princess Day.”  

The ship departed from Pier 35 on a voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. The 2,600-passenger Grand Princess will be based at the Port of San Francisco through spring 2014, offering 37 roundtrip sailings to Alaska, Mexico, and the California coast in addition to Hawaii. Grand Princess will accommodate approximately 96,200 passengers during the inaugural season. 

Princess Cruises has a 40-year history of operating cruise ships from the Port of San Francisco.

Other highlights of the season include Royal Princess sailing on the line’s popular Scandinavia & Russia cruises, featuring two days in the dramatic city of St. Petersburg; more sailings than ever before to the British Isles aboard Ruby Princess and Ocean Princess; and a variety of seven-day Interlude sailings in the Mediterranean aboard the intimate Ocean Princess.

“With Regal Princess’ debut we will have our two newest and largest vessels sailing on our most popular routes in Europe,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Throughout the season, whether passengers want to explore the diverse cultures and expansive history of the Mediterranean, visit the favorite ports of the Baltic Sea on a Scandinavia and Russia voyage, or conveniently circle the British Isles, they can do so in an environment of a relaxing retreat aboard one of our ships.”

Source & Photo: www.princess.com