The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Princess Cruises have announced a three-year partnership to significantly expand the cruise line’s presence in Singapore, reinforcing the city-state’s role as a leading cruise hub in Asia Pacific. Spanning 2027 through 2030, the collaboration is expected to welcome more than 150,000 passengers and deliver meaningful economic benefits across Singapore’s tourism and maritime sectors. The agreement comes at a time of accelerating demand for cruise in Asia Pacific. Fuelled by rising affluence, an expanding middle-class, and a strong appetite for immersive travel experiences, Singapore remains well-positioned to capture the region's growing opportunities.
As part of this commitment, Princess Cruises will deploy three ships, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess, to Singapore, with the number of sailings set to double by 2030. Supported under STB’s Cruise Development Fund (CDF), the ships will offer extended itineraries of 10 to 28 days, giving travellers more time to explore destinations across the region.
Princess Cruises’ itineraries will feature round-trip sailings to Southeast Asian destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, alongside longer voyages between Singapore and Japan. Travellers can enjoy a rich mix of shore excursions across the region, from a mangrove cruise along the Kilim River in Langkawi, ancient temple visits in Hoi An and the picturesque mountaintop Buddhist retreat at Fokuangshan Monastery in Kaohsiung.
Singapore’s role as a seasonal homeport for Princess Cruises is expected to attract a strong base of international cruise passengers, particularly from mid- to long-haul markets such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. This deployment will further accelerate growth in the fly-cruise segment and strengthen Singapore’s position as a homeport of choice in Asia, underpinned by strong global air connectivity and world-class cruise infrastructure. Plethora of tourism products also create opportunities for travellers to extend their journeys with pre- and post-cruise stays in Singapore.
Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “This three-year partnership with Princess Cruises is testament to Singapore’s position as Asia’s premier cruise hub. Princess Cruises’ expanded deployment broadens our premium cruise experiences and supports our Tourism 2040 vision to drive quality tourism growth through a strong pipeline of differentiated products. With Asia Pacific emerging as a key growth region for cruising, Singapore is well-positioned to capture fly-cruise demand and connect the world to the best of Asia. We look forward to Princess Cruises bringing their exciting cruise itineraries to more travellers.”
Matthew Rutherford, Vice President Asia Pacific, Princess Cruises, said: “Singapore is a cornerstone of our Asia Pacific strategy and an exceptional homeport from which to expand regional footprint. This multi-year deployment underscores our confidence in Singapore’s connectivity and strong cruise ecosystem. We’re seeing growing demand for longer, more immersive journeys, and this programme allows us to deliver richer itineraries across Southeast Asia and beyond while attracting more international guests to the region.”
