Excursions - Princess Cruises

Description

In the 19th century, Newport was America's Versailles. It was here that the great merchant princes and robber barons of the Gilded Age erected the elaborate summerhouses they so ingenuously dubbed "cottages." At the height of its splendor, a Newport season was a giddy whirl of grand fêtes, yacht races and elaborate beach picnics for assorted Vanderbilts, Astors and Morgans. Today, it is the privileged traveler who marvels at the splendor of great mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, or Rosecliff. Gone are the days when "Tessie" Oelrichs, one of Newport's fabled hostesses, had 12 skeleton ships anchored offshore and dramatically lit for her legendary "White Ball."

Please Note: Newport is an anchorage port. Transfer from the ship to shore will be via the ship's tender service.
In ports where guests utilize tender boats to go ashore, Princess staff will make every effort to assist but are not allowed to individually physically lift more than 50 lbs. (22kg). Guests requiring physical assistance must travel with an able-bodied companion. With your safety and comfort in mind, the final decision to permit or prohibit passengers from going ashore will be made on each occasion by the ship's Captain.

Points of Interest

The Breakers
The Elms
Rosecliff
Marble House
Rose Island Lighthouse
Rough Point
Cliff Walk
Newport's Rocky Coastline

More about Newport, Rhode Island Points of Interest

The Breakers -
One of the grandest of all the Newport summer cottages, this Italian Renaissance-style palazzo is a fitting symbol of the Vanderbilt family's place of prominence in turn-of-the-century America.
The Elms -
The Berwind family's stunning home, modeled after an 18th-century French chateau, showcases a fine collection of Renaissance ceramics and Oriental Jades and features elaborately landscaped gardens.
Rosecliff -
Designed in 1899 to replicate the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles, silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs was a legendary socialite who threw elaborate parties in this magnificent mansion.
Marble House -
The Vanderbilt family envisioned this home to be the "Temple of the Arts" in America. This opulent stone palace, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, was commissioned in 1888.
Rose Island Lighthouse -
Overlooking Narragansett Bay, this restored 1869 lighthouse still serves as a navigation aid for sailors and is operated by vacationers who act as "lighthouse keepers" in exchange for accommodations.
Rough Point -
Home to heiress Doris Duke until her death in 1993, this Gothic-style estate has remained untouched and offers a personal glimpse into the life of this legendary Newport resident.
Cliff Walk -
Stroll along a picturesque mile and a quarter of Newport's famous Cliff Walk, the path between the rocky coastline and the "backyards" of many of Bellevue Avenue's palatial cottages.
Newport's Rocky Coastline -
Famous for its seaside beauty, Newport's rugged coastline showcases magnificent views of rocky coves, wind-swept beaches and a yacht-filled harbor seen along the spectacular 10-mile Ocean Drive.