New ports for Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises

Published on Sep 21, 2025, 4:24 pm CDT

5 min read

Princess Cruises will enhance select Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises in 2026 and 2027, adding Palma, Ajaccio, and an overnight in La Spezia while removing Gibraltar. Sixteen seven day voyages between April 4, 2026 and October 17, 2027 will operate between Barcelona and Civitavecchia, giving travelers more time in Tuscany and new reasons to sample France and Spain on a one week loop. Bookings are open, and itinerary pages now reflect the changes.

Key Points

Why it matters: Added time in La Spezia unlocks two full days for Florence, Pisa, and the Tuscan countryside.
Travel impact: Gibraltar drops from affected itineraries, replaced by Palma and Ajaccio on select dates.
What's next: Princess will publish more detailed shore tour options tied to the La Spezia overnight.
Embark in Barcelona, disembark in Civitavecchia for Rome access on most seven day runs.
Additional calls may include Ibiza and Santa Margherita for Portofino, depending on the departure.

Snapshot

Sun Princess, the LNG ready Sphere class flagship, will rotate a Western Mediterranean pattern that connects Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, La Spezia, and Civitavecchia, with new calls in Palma, Mallorca and Ajaccio, Corsica. The big shift is a scheduled overnight in La Spezia on select sailings, giving guests two days to tackle Florence's museums or Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli without rush hour pressure. Gibraltar is removed on the impacted voyages, a trade that consolidates time in Italy and introduces fresh Balearic and Corsican flavor. Flyers typically use Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) to embark and Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to return, which keeps air options broad for U.S. travelers.

Background

Princess has leaned into weeklong Western Mediterranean itineraries because they pack several marquee cities into a single vacation. La Spezia is a frequent gateway to Florence and Pisa, and it also serves as a launch point for Cinque Terre day trips by local rail or boat. Ajaccio, the Corsican capital and birthplace of Napoleon, brings French island culture and beaches into the mix, while Palma adds Gothic architecture, bike friendly promenades, and easy tapas hopping. Prior versions of the route included Gibraltar, a popular stop for the Rock's views and WWII tunnels. The revised pattern tilts the balance toward more time in Italy, a common request on guest surveys and a practical way to reduce long transfer times on shore days.

Latest Developments

Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises add Palma, Ajaccio, and a La Spezia overnight

Princess confirms that sixteen seven day Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises, departing April 4, 2026 through October 17, 2027, will feature new calls in Palma and Ajaccio, plus an overnight in La Spezia on select departures. The Barcelona to Civitavecchia routing remains, with Marseille and Genoa anchoring France and Liguria. The La Spezia overnight opens generous shore tour windows, from Uffizi and Accademia museum slots in Florence to slower paced Tuscan wine country excursions. Depending on the specific sailing, additional ports may include Ibiza and Santa Margherita for Portofino. Gibraltar is no longer scheduled on the impacted voyages. Updated itinerary pages show Ajaccio as a maiden call for the program and list two consecutive La Spezia dates where the overnight applies.

Analysis

For travelers, the La Spezia overnight is the headline upgrade. Two full days reduce the classic Florence dilemma, rushing from ship to city to museum with little margin for traffic or timed entry. With the overnight, you can split marquee sights across two days, reserve prime museum windows, or trade one museum day for a Tuscan winery circuit without sacrificing Florence entirely. Ajaccio adds a compact port day with easy beaches, a Napoleonic thread, and scenic coach routes into inland Corsica. Palma broadens the Spanish mix beyond Barcelona, with quick hits from La Seu Cathedral to Bellver Castle, or flat coastal cycling for an active port day. Losing Gibraltar means fewer long coach runs to the Rock on a tight schedule, which many guests will not miss, but it removes a signature British overseas territory stop that some loyalists value. Air planning stays simple. Most itineraries still align with BCN arrivals and FCO departures, both deep in long haul lift from the United States. If you are comparing lines, weigh Princess's La Spezia overnight against competitors that double up Marseille or Genoa without the same late stay.

Final Thoughts

If your Mediterranean priorities center on Florence, Pisa, and leisurely Tuscan touring, these enhanced Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises are a smart pick. The La Spezia overnight lowers stress, Ajaccio and Palma add variety, and the Barcelona to Civitavecchia pattern keeps airfare flexible on both ends. Check each date's exact lineup, since Ibiza or Santa Margherita may rotate in on select weeks. For Princess loyalists, the trade of Gibraltar for more Italy will feel like a net gain, especially if you want time to explore Cinque Terre one day and Florence the next. The value proposition is strongest for travelers who prize deeper time in port, which is the promise of Sun Princess Western Mediterranean cruises.