I was so excited when I heard the news today! Princess Cruises and Brightline have teamed up to offer a Rail & Sail program, offering Princess guests comfortable and luxurious transportation departing from two Florida homeports, Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and Orlando (Port Canaveral).
This convenient transportation option is sure to please South Florida residents and visitors who are interested in sailing on Princess cruise ships departing from Port Canaveral. Rather than making a 3-4 hour drive or taking a flight, cruise passengers can now relax and begin their journey on one of 4 custom designed Princess Cruises branded cars. The iconic Love Boat branding, including the sea witch logo and images of cruise ports of call, is a perfect start to a cruise vacation!
The Princess and Brightline Rail & Sail program benefits include a luggage express program, easy access to ports or home with transportation packages, and savings for Princess cruisers.
In a press release, Princess Cruises shared the details and benefits of the Brightline partnership for cruise passengers:
Luggage Express Service
Guests can book a value-added luggage express service offering guests the ultimate convenience as their bags are checked at their Brightline station and are waiting for them securely in their stateroom upon arrival to the ship.
This luggage delivery service makes for an easier and more stress-free embarkation day!
Special Discounts
Princess guests can also enjoy special discounts of up to 15% when booking Smart and Premium Rail & Sail packages through Brightline’s web site. And for a limited time only, guests who book a Princess cruise through May 5 will receive a Brightline credit of up to $150 per person for its signature Smart and Premium class service based on stateroom type.
“A Princess cruise is already the best value in travel and this new partnership with Brightline makes it even easier and more enjoyable to sail with us from the top-rated ports in South and Central Florida,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Our guests can just sit back, relax, and let us do the rest, including delivering their luggage directly to their stateroom.”
Connection Between Princess Cruisers and Brightline
“Brightline has been connecting travelers to South Florida ports since we began operations in 2018 and cruisers from the beginning have found our train to be the easiest way to start their vacation,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Today’s partnership with Princess Cruises and this train wrap with the iconic Love Boat branding is yet another example of the connection between cruisers and Brightline.”
One-of-a-Kind ‘Rail & Sail’ Service
Princess guests will have access to Brightline’s full schedule of convenient trains departing daily with 16 round-trip transits between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
Options include:
- Southbound from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale (with stops at West Palm Beach and Boca Raton)
- Northbound from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando (with stops at Boca Raton and West Palm Beach)
- South Florida residents can also take Brightline from its downtown Miami and Aventura terminals with stops in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando.
Complimentary Motorcoach Service
Princess will also provide guests with complimentary motorcoach service between Brightline’s Orlando and Fort Lauderdale stations and their embarkation terminal.
Special Discount Offer, Convenient Luggage Express Service
Mentioned in today’s Princess press release, is a “convenient new luggage express service guests can check their bags upon arrival at their Brightline station and their luggage will be automatically delivered to their stateroom, making their cruise experience seamless and hassle-free and saving valuable time and effort.
The cost is $35 per bag. Luggage express will be initially available on Orlando-to-Fort Lauderdale trains with plans to add the service to Fort Lauderdale-to-Orlando trains ahead of Caribbean Princess’ arrival and homeport at Port Canaveral in November.
In addition, “For a limited time only, Princess guests who book a cruise through May 5 will receive a credit that can be used toward Brightline’s signature Premium and Smart class:
- Interior/Oceanview stateroom – $50 per person Brightline credit
- Balcony/Deluxe stateroom – $100 per person Brightline credit
- Mini-Suite/Suite – $150 per person Brightline credit
Brightline’s Smart service includes hand-stitched leather seats, complimentary WiFi and multiple power and USB connections at each seat while Premium service adds complimentary snacks and beverages and access to a Premium Lounge.
Love Boat Sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Space Coast
Fort Lauderdale: Princess is one of Port Everglades’ largest cruise operators with seven ships – nearly half its fleet – sailing from Fort Lauderdale. Voyages include week-long getaways to the Caribbean to longer length 10- to 20-day cruises offering guests a chance to explore a host of tropical island destinations, including through the Panama Canal.
Port Canaveral: Caribbean Princess will inaugurate Love Boat cruises from Port Canaveral November 27, 2024, with a series of four- to 14-day sailings visiting some of the western Caribbean’s most picturesque locales, including Grand Turk, San Juan, St.Thomas, San Juan, Belize, Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan). The program runs through April 2025.
More information:
Additional information on the new Rail & Sail service is available at princess.com/Brightline or
gobrightline.com.
Press Release & Image Source: Princess Cruises