Sydney Harbour hosted a historic moment on Saturday as the Princess Cruises vessels, Crown Princess and Diamond Princess, docked together for the first time.
The sister ships welcomed around 9,500 passengers, injecting some $2 million into the local economy in just one day.
Crown Princess, fresh from a South Pacific cruise, has embarked 3,300 guests heading to New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Diamond Princess arrives from Eastern Australia, featuring stops in Eden, Port Arthur, and Hobart.
Crown Princess alone is expected to generate over $120 million nationally this season with 78 port calls – an all-time high for a Princess ship.
While docked, Crown Princess will provision 140 tonnes of Australian fresh produce, supporting local farmers and showcasing exceptional dining onboard.
Meanwhile, Diamond Princess, known for its 115,875-tonne scale and Japanese bathhouse at sea, will make four Sydney calls before heading to Japan for summer.
This historic meeting of the two ships underscores the role cruising plays in Australia’s tourism sector, supporting everything from local businesses to farmers.
With 1.2 million cruise passengers and crew expected to visit NSW this season, the economic impact is clear.
“Our guests love Sydney and it remains an important homeport for Princess in the region,” Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer Terry Thornton said.
“Our guests from Diamond Princess and Crown Princess will enjoy the city’s world-class shore excursions, vibrant retail precincts, and cafes and restaurants.”
Crown Princess’ Captain Mario Consentino said the visit was a double celebration.
“We’re delighted to be in Sydney today with our sister ship, Diamond Princess in this beautiful city,” he stated.
“It’s the first time our ships are together in Sydney and it’s also the first time I’ll see my colleague Diamond Princess’ Captain Bartolomei in almost ten years. We’ll celebrate this special occasion in style with an espresso looking over the harbour.”
Meanwhile, Sydney Kayak Experience guide Tierna Maguire shared the excitement of seeing two cruise ships on the harbour.
“A kayaking encounter with two cruise ships at sunrise on Sydney Harbour is a double bonus for the guests,” she remarked.
“The size and scale of a cruise ship gently sailing past us on our kayaks is unmatched with our guests telling us it is one of the main highlights of the tour.”
Last week, Princess unveiled its Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection, its first non-alcoholic bar menu.
In November, Princess Cruises unveiled a fresh lineup for the 2026-2027 season, including the highly anticipated return of the Circle Pacific voyage.
Read our review of Sun Princess, the newest ship in Princess Cruises’ fleet.
