The 110,000-ton ultra-large "Sapphire Princess" cruise ship will visit Taiwan for the first time in 2014

▲ The large luxury cruise ship Sapphire Princess. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Another large luxury cruise ship is making its way to Taiwan. The world's largest cruise line, Carnival Corporation's Princess Cruises, will deploy the ultra-large 110,000-ton "Sapphire Princess" in Taiwan for the first time in May 2014, using Keelung Port as its home port to operate routes between Keelung and Japan. Together with Royal Caribbean International and Costa Cruises, which are already operating in Taiwan, there will be three major luxury cruise lines serving passengers in Taiwan starting next year.

The Sapphire Princess, launched by Princess Cruises, has chosen Keelung Port for passenger embarkation and disembarkation, planning two voyage itineraries — one to Okinawa and another to Kagoshima. The total passenger capacity is expected to reach 2,600 people. The cruise company stated that current bookings are already nearly 50%. Along with the other two major cruise lines, over 27,000 people are expected to experience luxury cruises in Taiwan in 2014.

▲ Interior facilities of the Sapphire Princess include a swimming pool and premium restaurants. (Photo / from the official PRINCESS CRUISES website)

After the Sapphire Princess arrives in Taiwan, about five travel agencies have reserved the two voyages. The May 10 and May 15 round-trip journeys between Kagoshima and Okinawa will have starting prices of approximately NT$32,000 and NT$27,000 respectively. The most popular luxury cruise among Taiwanese travelers to date has been Star Cruises. In recent years, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Costa Cruises have successively entered the Taiwan market, and now with the addition of the Sapphire Princess, there will be at least 10 voyages departing from Keelung Port starting next year.