Princess's UK boss: ‘Air lift challenges can be a blocker for cruise customers’
Harry KemblePrincess Cruises’ UK boss Eithne Williamson says air lift challenges can be a booking barrier for customers as she revealed initial plans around the line’s scheduled air programme for next year.
Speaking to TTG at Princess’s 2026 UK and Europe programme launch event in London last night (9 May), Williamson said the line was looking at flying customers from five airports across the UK and Ireland in 2025.
Pressed on which airlines and airports guests could potentially choose from next year, Williamson said: “We’re having discussions with a number of airlines about allocations. We know we can get our guests the best pricing if we start discussions early.
“We’re also looking regionally – not just London – due to feedback from our guests and agents. We are looking at five airports across the UK and Ireland.”
She added: “We’re already working with Aer Lingus from Dublin.”
Stressing the importance of strong airline partnerships and lots of choice for customers, Williamson said: “We believe air lift can be a blocker for guests. I’m open to working with a number of airlines from a number of airports. It’s about working with different airports and airlines so we can match them accordingly to our guests’ needs.”
Williamson confirmed discussions would continue next year as air lift programmes were finalised ahead of the Princess’s largest-ever UK and European programme in 2026.
“The flights only become available at a certain point,” she said, adding: “At the moment, we’re at various stages of negotiations for 2025 and then we will see how that goes for 2026.”
This week, Princess announced its return to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a season of southern Caribbean cruises on Grand Princess from October 2025 to March 2026.
Williamson is hopeful direct flights from the UK to San Juan will be confirmed ahead of the start of the season. Currently, Princess passengers have to fly via Fort Lauderdale to embark the ship.
“There is an airline that is looking at direct flights from the UK to San Juan,” she said. “We hope that is going to happen, but there are still currently flights to San Juan via Fort Lauderdale.”
In 2026, Sky Princess will homeport in Southampton for its sixth consecutive season and will operate alongside the 3,560-passenger Majestic Princess.
For the first time, Majestic will offer ex-UK British Isles and Northern European itineraries, ranging from 11, 12 and 14 nights.
The 2026 UK and Europe programme is 20% bigger than 2025, Princess said. Five Princess ships – including new vessel Sun Princess – will offer 222 sailings during the season.
Williamson told TTG that although there were conversations about basing other Princess ships in the UK, she and her team wanted the line’s UK deployment to be focused on Sky Princess.
“There were discussions about other ships, but we’ve done a lot of work with Sky,” she noted. “There have been changes made to the ship to ensure there’s enough seating and sun loungers on deck. We get more UK guests on Sky than any other ship.”
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