The tourism giant had cut its Alaska sailings, citing a new state tax on its passengers and tougher environmental rules. The global recession also coincided with Princess's cutback.
The state this year trimmed the tax.
"We are particularly appreciative of the efforts of Governor Sean Parnell and the Alaska state Legislature that have resulted in meaningful progress toward resolving the challenges facing Alaska's recovery as a cruise destination," said Alan Buckelew, chief executive of Princess Cruises. "We still have work to do, but the recent changes definitely played a part in this decision."
In Alaska, Princess cruises feature round-trip sailings from the Pacific Northwest through Southeast Alaska, or one-way sailings between the Whittier and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Buckelew noted that the extra ship will sail on the one-way cruises, which tend to boost the Alaska economy more as passengers stay in Alaska longer and take land tours as well as the cruise.
Princess also owns rail cars, motor coaches and lodges in the state.
A pro-industry group called the Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel late last month said the overall number of cruise ships sailing to Alaska fell from 38 last year to 32 this year. Next year, despite some new ships entering the Alaska market, the cruise ship total will fall to 30, the group said.
"While there are isolated reports of Alaska tourism doing better than expected for 2010, we are nowhere near the levels in the past," the group said.
"If you compare the two years of 2008 and 2011 only, we are still down by roughly 150,000 passengers traveling by cruise vessel to Alaska, based on each ship holding two passengers per cabin," the Alliance said, noting that the global cruise market is growing.
Princess is owned by Carnival Corp., a global tourism colossus that operates in Alaska under several brands.
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