Princess Cruise Line Returns to Puerto Rico Homeport
Princess Cruises Returns to Puerto Rico After 10+ Year Break
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Princess Cruises is back in Puerto Rico! The cruise line started sailing from San Juan again this month. This marks their first time using Puerto Rico as a home port in over ten years.
The Grand Princess arrived at San Juan on October 15, 2025. The ship sailed there from Fort Lauderdale during a special repositioning cruise. Now it’s ready to start regular Caribbean cruises from Puerto Rico.
Big Plans for the Caribbean Season
The Grand Princess will offer 26 different cruises from San Juan this season. All cruises leave from the San Juan Cruise Port and explore the Caribbean islands. The 1998-built ship gives passengers a chance to see multiple islands during week-long trips.
Local officials are excited about the economic boost. El Nuevo Día reports that Princess Cruises’ return could bring over $20 million to Puerto Rico’s economy.
“The return of Princess Cruises with homeport operations in San Juan represents a strategic step in positioning Puerto Rico as a leader in the Caribbean for the cruise industry,” said Clarivette Díaz. She serves as general manager of the San Juan Cruise Port.
What to Expect on These Caribbean Cruises
Princess offers two different seven-night itineraries from San Juan. Both cruises leave on Sundays, making it easy to plan your vacation. The ship visits popular Caribbean destinations that many travelers love.
Your cruise might take you to Antigua, St. Kitts, or St. Lucia. Other possible stops include St. Thomas, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Maarten. Each itinerary offers a good mix of beaches, culture, and island adventures.
“This type of operation not only increases the number of passengers visiting our island but also extends their stay, diversifies consumption, and generates a deeper and more sustainable economic impact,” Díaz added.
Season Timeline and Future Plans
The Caribbean season runs through late March 2026. After that, the Grand Princess heads to Alaska for summer cruises. This gives the ship year-round work in two popular cruise regions.
Princess already has plans for next year too. The Crown Princess will take over Puerto Rico operations for the 2026-27 season. This shows the cruise line’s commitment to the San Juan market.
How the Ship Got to Puerto Rico
The Grand Princess took an 11-night repositioning cruise to reach San Juan. This special cruise visited several Caribbean islands before arriving at its new home port. Passengers enjoyed stops in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao during the journey.
The ship also visited Grand Turk, Puerto Plata, and St. Thomas. These repositioning cruises often offer great value since they’re one-way trips between cruise regions.
Why Princess Chose Puerto Rico
Originally, Princess planned to send the Grand Princess to Australia this season. But they changed those plans in May 2024 and chose Puerto Rico instead. The cruise line wanted to offer more departure options for North American passengers.
Puerto Rico works well as a cruise port for several reasons. U.S. citizens don’t need passports to visit Puerto Rico. The island also sits in the heart of the Caribbean, making it easy to reach other islands.
This return to San Juan gives Princess a strong presence in the Caribbean. It also provides more choices for cruise passengers who want to explore the region from a convenient home port.
