Princess Cruises is dramatically expanding its footprint in Northern Europe, unveiling what it describes as its most ambitious program yet for the summer of 2027, headlined by a 64-day “Ultimate European Journey” that spans 18 countries and 54 destinations.

The extended season, operating from April through August 2027, will see four ships based in Northern Europe and adjacent regions, with itineraries that range from classic weeklong sailings to nearly two-month grand voyages designed for travelers seeking deep, slow-paced exploration.

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Record-Breaking Northern Europe Program for 2027

The newly announced Northern Europe season marks a significant step up for Princess Cruises in the region, both in scale and itinerary complexity. Across 48 voyages, guests will be able to explore a wide swath of Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavian capitals to Icelandic fjords, Baltic gems and select Mediterranean ports.

Cruise lengths start at seven days and extend to the new 64-day Ultimate European Journey, billed as the line’s most immersive European voyage to date.

Central to the deployment is the 3,560-guest Regal Princess, which will operate a series of combinable sailings built around Northern Europe “capitals” and regional highlights. Guests can book individual segments or link multiple itineraries together, effectively creating custom grand voyages that rival traditional world-cruise style journeys in scope.

Two of the marquee options are the 64-day Ultimate European Journey and the 49-day Northern Europe Explorer, both operating roundtrip from Southampton or Copenhagen.

Princess Cruises is pairing its expanded schedule with a sales push aimed at capturing advance bookings. The program is set to go on sale January 13, 2026, supported by a promotional campaign that includes fare discounts, reduced deposits and value-added extras on select departures.

With capacity spread across four ships and five homeports, the company is positioning the 2027 season as its largest and most flexible Northern Europe offering to date.

Four Ships, Five Homeports and Six Regions

In 2027, Princess will dedicate four vessels to Northern Europe and nearby waters: Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess. Together, they will operate out of a network of five homeports: Southampton, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Helsinki and Fort Lauderdale.

This configuration allows for a mix of roundtrip and open-jaw itineraries that can link Atlantic, Northern Europe and select Mediterranean ports into longer journeys.

The season is structured around six interconnected regions: the British Isles, Northern Europe, the Baltics, Iceland, the Atlantic coast and portions of the Mediterranean.

Guests may, for example, start their trip in Southampton and sail north to Norway and Iceland, connect onward to Baltic capitals and then continue toward Atlantic ports in Spain or Portugal on a subsequent segment. The use of multiple homeports is intended to give travelers more choice in embarkation cities and to encourage extended, back-to-back cruising.

Majestic Princess, Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess will each focus on particular sub-regions, including dedicated British Isles sailings, Iceland and Norway explorations, Scandinavia-focused routes and Baltic-intensive itineraries.

Caribbean Princess, notably, is set to deepen the brand’s presence in the Baltics with itineraries that touch multiple countries in a single voyage, while Sky Princess will combine Northern Europe with select Atlantic and Mediterranean calls on longer sailings.

The 64-Day Ultimate European Journey and Other Standout Itineraries

The headline-grabbing 64-day Ultimate European Journey is designed as the centerpiece of the 2027 Northern Europe program. Operating roundtrip from either Southampton or Copenhagen, the voyage stitches together multiple regional itineraries into a single, extended route that crosses 18 countries and 54 destinations.

While detailed day-by-day scheduling has not been fully released, the cruise will include overnights in ports such as Stockholm and Cobh, enhancing opportunities for in-depth exploration ashore.

For guests seeking something slightly shorter but still substantial, the 49-day Northern Europe Explorer offers another marquee option. Also sailing roundtrip from Southampton or Copenhagen, the itinerary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Northern Europe, combining British Isles ports, North Sea gateways, Scandinavian capitals, Icelandic fjords and select Baltic stops. Like the 64-day voyage, it is built from combinable segments, giving travelers the flexibility to join for one or more portions.

Beyond the headline voyages, Princess has spotlighted several itineraries that show how the 2027 season is structured. An 8-night Irish Counties & Scottish Shores sailing from Southampton visits Falmouth, Cobh with an overnight stay, Dun Laoghaire for Dublin, Belfast and Greenock for Glasgow.

A 10-night Norwegian & Icelandic Fjords itinerary from Copenhagen to Reykjavik makes calls in ports such as Stavanger, Molde, Akureyri and Isafjordur, while a 25-night British Isles & Icelandic Fjords Explorer connects Reykjavik and Copenhagen via Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, England and Northern Europe.

Immersive Shore Excursions and Cultural Experiences

Alongside the expanded list of ports, Princess Cruises is emphasizing an upgraded shore excursion program aimed at deeper cultural immersion. In the British Isles, excursions highlight both iconic landmarks and regional character.

Options include guided visits in Cork combined with Irish whiskey tastings, full-day explorations of the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness, and heritage-focused tours in Orkney featuring sites such as the Ring of Brodgar and Neolithic settlements.

In Iceland and Norway, the focus shifts toward dramatic landscapes and outdoor adventure. Shore experiences range from visits to waterfalls and lava fields to bathing in geothermal hot springs, birdwatching journeys to remote islands and panoramic fjord cruises in smaller vessels that can access narrow inlets.

These excursions are designed to make the most of the region’s long summer days, with extended daylight allowing for more time ashore in ports such as Akureyri, Seydisfjordur and Nordfjordeid.

Baltic and Scandinavian ports add another layer of cultural and historical depth. Guests can join guided walks through medieval town centers in places like Visby, sample Scandinavian cuisine in Copenhagen or Stockholm and explore ornate cathedrals and historic shipyards in cities including Gdansk and Oslo.

Princess is also offering small-group and specialty tours in select ports, targeting travelers who want a more intimate or themed experience, from architecture-focused walks to contemporary food and design tours.

Overnights, Capitals and Hard-to-Reach Ports

A defining feature of the 2027 Northern Europe program is the blend of marquee capitals, UNESCO-listed sites and smaller, less-visited ports. Major cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Belfast and Edinburgh appear across the schedule, giving guests opportunities to experience headline attractions and cultural institutions. Many of these cities serve as gateways to broader regions, including Andalusia, Provence, Tuscany and the Scottish Highlands.

Overnight stays are built into key itineraries to allow for more relaxed exploration. Stockholm appears with overnight calls on some longer sailings, while Cobh, the port near Cork and the gateway to Blarney Castle, is also slated for extended visits. These overnights allow passengers to explore cities at different times of day, enjoy evening dining or cultural events ashore and reduce the need to rush between landmarks.

Balancing the big-name destinations are smaller ports that can be more difficult to reach on land-based trips. These include Visby in Sweden, Seydisfjordur and Akureyri in Iceland, Nordfjordeid in Norway and secondary ports in Scotland and Ireland. Such stops are particularly prominent on the longest voyages, including the 64-day Ultimate European Journey and the 49-day Northern Europe Explorer, which aim to showcase both the highlights and the hidden corners of Northern Europe.

Targeting the “Coolcation” Trend and Long-Haul Travelers

Princess Cruises is positioning the 2027 Northern Europe season as a response to growing demand for “coolcations,” itineraries that favor milder summer climates over traditional hot-weather beach escapes. By focusing on destinations such as Iceland, Norway, the British Isles and the Baltics, the line is tapping into travelers’ interest in scenic landscapes, outdoor activities and historic cities that can be explored comfortably during peak summer months.

The extended length of the headline voyages is likely to appeal to retirees, remote workers and long-haul travelers from North America and other markets who want to maximize time in Europe. With homeports in Southampton and Copenhagen, the program is also well positioned for guests combining pre- or post-cruise stays in major European hubs. For North American travelers, Fort Lauderdale provides a link into the network via select Atlantic and repositioning sailings that connect to Northern Europe.

The line is also highlighting value propositions built into longer sailings. Extended voyages spread the cost of airfare across more cruise days and often bundle a wide range of destinations into a single booking. For travelers who might otherwise consider multiple separate trips to Europe over several years, a 49-day or 64-day itinerary offers a way to experience a broad cross-section of the continent in one continuous journey.

Booking Window and Promotional Offers

The 2027 Northern Europe program is scheduled to open for general sale on January 13, 2026. Princess is backing the launch with a time-limited promotion that includes savings of up to 40 percent off cruise fares on select sailings, lower deposits and additional incentives such as instant savings and special pricing for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom.

These offers are structured to reward early bookers and encourage guests to commit to longer itineraries while the widest range of stateroom categories is still available.

Given the complexity of the new program and the combinable nature of many voyages, the cruise line is urging guests to work with travel advisors to match itineraries to their interests and schedules. Advisors can help piece together back-to-back segments, advise on the best cabins for long voyages and coordinate pre- and post-cruise arrangements in cities such as London, Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Helsinki.

Princess is signaling confidence that demand will be strong for its expanded Northern Europe presence, citing growing interest in experiential travel and in cooler-climate summer trips. The company is also aligning the 2027 season with broader brand initiatives, including its focus on personalized service and technology-enabled onboard experiences, in an effort to differentiate its offering in an increasingly competitive European cruise market.

FAQ

Q1. What is the 64-day Ultimate European Journey from Princess Cruises?
The 64-day Ultimate European Journey is an extended voyage aboard Regal Princess that combines multiple Northern Europe and nearby regional itineraries into one continuous cruise, visiting 54 destinations across 18 countries with roundtrip options from Southampton or Copenhagen.

Q2. When will the 2027 Northern Europe cruises go on sale?
Princess Cruises plans to open bookings for the 2027 Northern Europe program on January 13, 2026, with a promotional campaign offering discounted fares and other incentives on select sailings.

Q3. Which ships will sail Northern Europe for Princess in 2027?
Four ships are scheduled to operate in the region during the 2027 season: Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess, each focusing on different sub-regions and itinerary types.

Q4. What are the main homeports for the expanded Northern Europe season?
The 2027 program uses five primary homeports: Southampton in England, Copenhagen in Denmark, Reykjavik in Iceland, Helsinki in Finland and Fort Lauderdale in Florida for select Atlantic-connected voyages.

Q5. How long are the cruises in the 2027 Northern Europe program?
Cruise lengths range from seven-day itineraries focused on specific regions, such as Northern Europe capitals or the British Isles, up to 49-day and 64-day grand voyages that link multiple regions and can be booked in segments.

Q6. What kinds of destinations are included across the 18 countries visited?
The season features a mix of major capitals, UNESCO-listed heritage sites, medieval towns and smaller ports, including cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Belfast and Edinburgh, as well as Icelandic and Norwegian fjords and Baltic jewels such as Visby and Akureyri.

Q7. Are there overnight stays on the new Northern Europe itineraries?
Yes. Select itineraries include overnight calls in ports such as Stockholm and Cobh, allowing guests more time to explore ashore, dine in local restaurants and experience evening cultural events.

Q8. What types of shore excursions will be available?
Princess is expanding its shore excursion lineup with region-specific options such as whiskey tastings and historic tours in the British Isles, geothermal and nature-focused adventures in Iceland and Norway, and cultural, culinary and architectural experiences in Baltic and Scandinavian cities.

Q9. Who is the extended Northern Europe season best suited for?
The program is aimed at travelers seeking cooler summer climates, in-depth cultural exploration and scenic landscapes, including retirees, long-haul guests and those interested in combining multiple regions into one longer voyage rather than taking several separate shorter trips.

Q10. How can travelers maximize value when booking these cruises?
Guests can take advantage of early-booking promotions, consider back-to-back segments to create longer journeys at a lower per-day cost and work with travel advisors to select itineraries and cabin categories that best match their interests, budget and preferred travel dates.