Princess Cruises has lifted the lid on a broad calendar of West Coast sailings that tie Mexico’s resort towns, Hawaii’s island chain, and the California Coast into one easy-to-plan program. It is a season built for travellers who want warm days at sea, late-evening port time, and a choice of ships that suit both quick getaways and longer escapes.
From September 2027 to April 2028, Princess will rotate eight ships on 4 to 16-day voyages from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. The schedule covers Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast across a dozen-plus itineraries, with highlights like late nights in select ports, locally inspired dining, and refreshed evening entertainment that lift convenience and choice for guests.
This West Coast program is designed around practical flexibility, so travellers can choose by ship style, homeport, or the balance between sea days and shore time. For Australians flying long haul and North Americans looking for an easy drive-to departure, the mix of months and gateways helps shape a trip without complicated logistics.
Across the season, eight familiar names carry the load, including Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Island Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby Princess, and Star Princess. Each ship brings a slightly different mood, from contemporary top-deck features to classic lounges and theatres. That variety makes it simple to match your preferred onboard atmosphere to the route you want.
Departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver keep transfers short and planning simple. These cities pair strong air links with port-adjacent hotel options, so you can arrive a day early, settle in, and reach the terminal without stress. If you are coordinating family or friends from multiple cities, the trio of gateways creates options that fit varied schedules.
The calendar stretches from early spring to late autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, which means consistent warmth at sea and a wide spread of dates. Shorter 4 to 5 day samplers deliver a quick reset, 7 to 11 day Mexico runs add depth without rushing, and 16 day Hawaii itineraries provide the slower tempo many cruisers prefer. Late-night stays on select sailings change the feel of key ports and give evenings room to breathe.
Mexico works well when you want a mix of beach time, marina life, and evening strolls that do not require long transfers ashore. With round-trip options from California, these routes let you pack light, keep costs predictable, and focus on simple daily rhythms.
Cabo San Lucas is the crowd-pleaser, pairing swimmable bays with skyline views of El Arco at sunset. Even when you stay aboard, sail-ins and sail-aways often become memory anchors, with decks turning into front-row seats. On select sailings, later departures leave space for dinner ashore or a slow walk before the ship eases away under the stars.
Discovery Princess appeals to guests who enjoy modern entertainment flows and an airy, contemporary look. Ruby Princess and Crown Princess lean into familiar layouts that regulars navigate on instinct, handy if you are travelling with a group that likes to meet up on the fly. Whichever hull you choose, the day-to-day difference comes from how you spend afternoons and evenings, not only the deck plan.
Hawaii rewards travellers who want the sea days to shape the mood as much as the islands themselves. The itineraries are deliberately longer, which turns the Pacific crossing into part of the pleasure rather than something to rush through.
Sixteen-day routes typically touch four of the main islands and then some, giving you beaches, volcanoes, small-town food, and a range of landscapes that shift from hour to hour. The spacing of port calls leaves recovery time between big days, so you can enjoy sunrise walks on deck, unhurried lunches, and theatre nights without the feeling of a packed timetable.
On select departures, later stays in Honolulu and Kona change the cadence of your visit. You can reserve dinner ashore, watch the sunset from the beach, and return to the ship at an easy tempo. With the ship waiting, there is no juggling of bus timetables or a rush for last entry at a landmark, just a relaxed handover from shore to ship.
Pacific sea days are an opportunity to build a routine you might not manage at home. A morning coffee on the balcony, a swim, a chapter or two in a shaded nook, and an early evening show can carry you through with a satisfying rhythm. Many guests find that this slower pace is what makes a longer itinerary feel like a true reset.
Coastal sailings reward curiosity. One day you are photographing bridge spans, the next you are in a harbour town built for strolling, then a city with museums and markets that invite a longer linger.
Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge or past Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge is theatre in its own right. On clear days, headlands and city skylines create a constantly shifting backdrop that turns deck time into a highlight. In between, smaller ports deliver boardwalks, galleries, and cafes that suit unstructured mornings and late-afternoon rambles.
If your diary only frees up a few days, short coastals are a neat way to experience the vibe and introduce new-to-cruise friends. If you have more time, longer loops stack in extra ports and increase the chances of a luminous sunset or a playful pod of sea lions off the bow. Either way, logistics stay simple thanks to round-trip options from all three homeports.
Dining is a thread that runs through these coastals, with menus shaped by regional produce and vintages. Princess has earned continuing recognition for its wine program, so you can expect thoughtful lists in the main dining rooms and a schedule of tastings. Evenings can turn into guided journeys through labels and regions without leaving the ship.
Princess leans into regional flavour so the sense of place starts before your first step ashore. These touches are light and friendly, designed to complement rather than crowd your day.
On Hawaii routes, the Aloha Spirit programme brings hula introductions and lei-making to life in a relaxed format. On Mexico sailings, tequila tastings and food workshops connect flavours to stories, which makes that evening’s menu feel part of the destination. The sessions are intentionally approachable, so you can dip in without committing a full afternoon.
Main dining rooms honoured by wine publications signal care and depth in the lists, and select ships offer special evenings such as Caymus Vineyards Winemaker Dinners. On Star Princess, Gérard Bertrand tastings add a different angle, guiding you through styles and regions with an easy touch. If these matter to you, secure a spot early in the voyage so you do not miss them.
The appeal of this calendar is how little ground travel you need to organise. You can fly in, stay near the port, and walk onto your ship the next day. The coastline then unfolds without the stop-start of highways and parking, leaving you free to enjoy balcony mornings, city strolls, and those unhurried returns after a late stay ashore.
The mechanics of a smooth trip are straightforward, and a little forethought helps you turn a good plan into a great one. Start with the month that suits your calendar, then layer in homeport, length, and experiences you do not want to miss.
Aim to arrive at least a day ahead, two if schedules allow, so your body clock and bags are not racing the gangway. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver have ample hotels near terminals, which keeps transfers short. A light local walk on day one is often enough to reset after a long-haul flight.
Pick staterooms for routine, not just size. Balcony breakfasts on coastal mornings are a simple joy, while interior rooms suit travellers who plan to live in lounges, theatres, and on deck. If you are travelling as a pair of couples or a family, adjacent cabins make spontaneous meetups easy without juggling messages.
Lock in what matters most in the first days of the voyage, whether that is a specialty dinner, a tasting, or a cultural session. If you prefer quiet corners, scout them early, then make them your go-to between meals and shows. On port days with late stays, plan one anchor activity and leave the rest of the evening open for serendipity.
Before you pick dates, it helps to compare live sailings and filter by region, length, and homeport to see which departures align with your plan. You can map options and start a shortlist that fits your timing and travel style using Cruise Finder.
If you are coordinating across states or coming from overseas, sketch a couple of scenarios and share them with your traveling party. Cruise Finder lets you test combinations of late-night stays, sea-day balance, and homeports until a clear favourite emerges.
If you would like a sounding board that knows this calendar month by month, our team can help match your window to the right ship and route, then fine-tune the details from cabin location to wine events and island excursions. When you are ready to move from ideas to a firm plan, leave a message with our cruise specialist for tailored guidance and a curated shortlist that fits your timing and budget by using this link.