The new tours bring Princess' total European excursion offerings to more than 590 different options throughout Europe. In addition to these new excursions, Princess also has significantly increased available capacity for the extremely popular Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a yearly spectacle that is already sold out for the season through regular ticket venues. Princess has arranged special tickets available to passengers on Golden Princess' August 10 sailing, making for an unforgettable Scottish experience.

"Adventures Ashore offer passengers a convenient way to make the most of their day in port, while enjoying the levels of service they've come to expect from Princess," noted Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Princess. "We've never before added so many new choices for passengers -- they may even have trouble choosing just one."

Just some of the new European tour options this season include

New and Newsworthy
 

Rosslyn Chapel & the Da Vinci Code (South Queensferry) -- Made famous by the best-selling book (and film) the Da Vince Code, the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel has become a place of pilgrimage for visitors to Edinburgh. Visitors can join in the speculation as to whether the chapel's undisturbed vaults contain legendary holy relics and can search for hidden codes in the multitude of intricate carvings that adorn the pillars, walls and roof of the chapel -- perhaps claiming the £5,000 reward offered for breaking the code!

In the Footsteps of Rembrandt (Amsterdam) -- In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt's birth, Princess offers an opportunity to explore the major city sites associated with the artist's life -- including Rembrandt House, where he lived and worked for more than 20 years; Oude Kerk, the oldest stone building in Amsterdam where Rembrandt's first wife Saskia is buried beneath the church floor; and Westerkerk, a magnificent 17th century Baroque church where Rembrandt was buried in 1669.

Celebrating Rembrandt (Amsterdam) -- Passengers can join the Rijksmuseum as they celebrate the 400th birthday of Rembrandt van Rijn. The tour offers the opportunity to view the largest collection of works by Rembrandt with a special 400th anniversary exhibit of masterpieces highlighting his golden age. The tour also includes a leisurely motor launch cruise through many of the city's 60 miles of waterways.

Schiedam, World's Capital of Gin (Rotterdam) -- Schiedam, world famous for its many gin distilleries, is home to the first gin distillery dating back to the early 17th century. Visitors will visit the national distillery museum where they will be give an explanation of the distilling process and can sample two types of "Genever" (gin in Dutch) and a liquor.

Liquor & Leith! (South Queensferry) -- Leith has been a thriving centre of trade for centuries, importing wine and exporting whisky. On this excursion participants will visit the Scottish Malt whisky society to learn about the production process of Scotland's greatest export. Passengers will enjoy an informative and fully tutored whisky tasting to include three whiskies at cask strength.

Belgian Beer & Bruges (Zeebrugge) -- An excursion offering the opportunity to explore one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Northern Europe, plus indulge in a special beer tasting with a local expert. The experience includes tasting four different Belgium beers each in its unique glass.

The Cognac Experience -- Elite Collection (La Rochelle) -- This exclusive tour is ideal for travelers who have dreamt of becoming a master blender. Participants visit one of France's few family-owned producers of fine cognac where they can try their hand at producing their own cognac blend. The result will be bottled and a record of its composition will be filed should passengers wish to order it again in the future.

Life in Soviet Estonia (Tallinn) -- An opportunity to experience what life was like during the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Passengers will see the notorious KGB House in Tallinn, Forest Cemetery, Museum of Occupation, Seaplane Harbor and a TV tower that was the site of demonstrations during the "Moscow Uprisings" that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and freedom for the Baltic Republics.

Cooking Paella (Palma) -- An opportunity for passengers to show their off culinary skills while gathering ingredients at the market, preparing and savoring their own paella.

Grand Istanbul with Lunch in an Ottoman Home (Princess Exclusive) -- The opportunity to experience Istanbul on a full day of exploration, including sampling traditional Turkish cuisine at lunch served at a local home.

Tapas in Palma -- A day of gastronomic exploration as participants visit three tapas bars, the traditional Spanish sustenance between meals.

The Archaeology of the Ancient Celts of Anglesey (Holyhead) -- The island of Anglesey is rich in ancient celtic Archaeology, making for a fascinating tour of two local sites -- Bryn Celli Ddu, the best preserved burial chamber in Wales, and Din Lligwy, an ancient hut site.

Cornwall's Mysteries Unveiled (Falmouth) -- A unique look back in time with the opportunity to explore Chysauster, an Iron Age village occupied at the time of the Roman invasion, and the climb Mulfra Quoit to visit a burial chamber with its circle of standing stones.

Newhailes House and Landscape Archaeology (South Queensferry) -- Ideal for both archaeology enthusiast as well as lover of country estates, this private guided tour of Newhailes House -- a 17th Century National Trust property -- and estate to describe how archaeological research is being used to restore some of the original features of the landscape.

Portmahomack & Tarbat Discovery Centre (Invergordon) -- An opportunity to discover the workings of archaeologists at Scotland's first Pictish monastery -- dating from the region's conversion to Christianity between the 6th and 9th centuries.

Portmeirion -- Architecture & Tomorrow's Antiques (Holyhead) -- The opportunity to tour a fantasy Italianate village designed by Welsh architect Sir Clough-Williams Ellis as a demonstration of how an architectural site could be developed in harmony with its natural surroundings. Considered one of the most successful British architectural projects of the 20th century, Portmeirion offers stunning views of the sea and Snowdonia. The village is also noted for its fine ceramics.

Lanhydrock House & the Antiques ‘Capital' of Cornwall (Falmouth) -- Passengers can visit Lanhydrock House for an "upstairs, downstairs" tour of a late Victorian country home. The excursion also features time to explore the historic village of Lostwithiel, the antiques capital of Cornwall.

Perthshire Antiques Hunt! (South Queensferry) -- An opportunity to explore antique dealers in Abernyte and then visit St. Andrews, famed as the home of golf.

Photographic Expedition in the Scottish Highlands (Invergordon) -- An opportunity to join noted photographer Keith Hart on a special 4WD photo expedition to the Scottish Highlands.

Sealife Ecoventure (Invergordon) -- The chance to hunt for bottle-nosed dolphins, Minke whales and Grey seals from a high-speed, rigid inflatable boat.

Tromso Whale Watching -- Passengers can set sail to the site of a unique under water crevice where sperm whales gather to feed. Not only is there is a good chance of spotting some of these huge creatures but also humpback, finback, minke and killer whales as well.

Princess' unique series of intimate tours feature smaller groups and exclusive visits to more restricted local attractions. Six new Elite Collection tours join the lineup, giving passengers more opportunities to experience less traveled parts of Europe:

Private Visit to Dalmeny House & Edinburgh Shopping (Greenock & South Queensferry) -- A private tour of Dalmeny House, long home to the Earls of Roseberry, and filled with a superb art collection.

River Fal, Treslissick Garden & Copeland China Collection (Falmouth) -- An intimate tour to a diversity of Cornwall attractions. First, participants will take a river steamer along the Fal, then they will view the Copeland China Collection, dedicated to works from the Spode Factory, and finally the group will have the opportunity to explore the scenic Trelissick Garden.

Discover Istanbul & Lunch at Ciragan Palace -- A more personal tour of Istanbul exploring cultural, historical and local sites, plus lunch at the luxury, five-star Ciragan Palace Hotel situated on the European shores of the Bosphorus.

Ephesus & Private Lunch -- The opportunity to explore the ruins of the Roman provincial capital as well as the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John. As an Elite exclusive, passengers will have cocktails and lunch at the Council Church in the heart of Ephesus.

The Essence of Provence (Marseille) -- A chance to explore one of the most beautiful natural sites in Provence, the Luberon range. Visits include the Chateau D' Ansouis, originally a classic fortress; village of Roussillon and the Fontaine du Vaucluse, one of the most powerful resurgent springs in the world.

Istanbul by Mercedes Van (private van) -- A unique opportunity to travel through Istanbul in style as passengers tour the city in the luxury of a private Mercedes van.

Active Adventures
Europe offers a variety of opportunities to get some activity in while touring some of the continent's most fascinating places. Options include:

Paddling Away -- The ideal way to explore harbor and countryside areas, passengers can pick up a paddle and kayak or canoe their way through spectacular scenery with two new tours: A Kayak Adventure in Copenhagen and a Hamburg Canoe Adventure.

Cycle Around Town -- Five new cities offer passengers the opportunity to explore from the seat of a bicycle, including Palma on Wheels, Guernsey Guided Bicycle Tour (St. Peter Port), Feudal Sark & Cycle Exploration (St. Peter Port), Edinburgh Bicycle Tour (Greenock & South Queensferry) and Tallinn by Bicycle & Walking Tour (Tallinn).

Walk This Way -- One of the best ways to truly see a new place is to absorb the sites and sounds by joining the locals on the street. Six new walking tours join the Princess line-up this season, giving passengers to the opportunity for leisurely exploration of the most southerly point in England (Falmouth's Costal Trek & Pub Lunch), one of Paris' most romantic neighborhoods (Charming Montmartre Walking Tour from Le Havre), a Greek islands (Historic Walking Tour of Mykonos), the sites of Guernsey (St. Peter Port Walking Tour & Castle Cornet), Elba Island (Portoferraio Walking Tour) and one of Italy's most prominent seaports (A Walking Tour of Genoa).

Four Princess ships offer Princess' largest ever Europe deployment in 2006, providing the cruise industry's greatest variety of ships, destinations and itineraries. The amenity-laden Grand Princess, Golden Princess and Star Princess return to the region as does Sea Princess, together offering an expanded season that represents a 12 percent increase in capacity -- and a 25 percent increase in the Mediterranean. The program offers several new and enhanced itineraries -- including a return to Egypt -- a variety of new ports, and the largest number of balconies of any fleet in Europe. In total, Princess offers 61 departures of 25 itineraries which feature more than 93 different ports of call or destinations.