SANTA CLARITA, CA — Regal Princess will make her debut next year earlier than originally announced, and Princess Cruises has added two new sailings to her maiden schedule.

The ship’s first voyage, which was previously scheduled for June 2, will now be May 20, 2014. Passengers can select from two new week-long Mediterranean cruises travelling between Venice and Athens.

The two new Regal Princess Mediterranean cruises are:

• May 20, 2014 (new maiden voyage) – seven-day cruise from Venice to Athens including stops in Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight call in Istanbul.

• May 27, 2014 – six-day cruise from Athens to Venice including calls to Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Santorini, Katakolon (for Olympia) and Dubrovnik.

Both voyages can be combined into a 13-day Grand Adventure or added on to the previously announced June 2 cruise for a full 20-day Mediterranean escape.

To ensure that passengers previously booked on Regal Princess’ maiden voyage continue to have the option to sail on the ship’s first cruise, each of these passengers will automatically receive a duplicate booking on the new May 20 maiden voyage. They have until Nov. 15, 2013, to decide if they want to take the new cruise instead of, or in addition to, their existing reservation.

“The construction of Regal Princess has been progressing very well and we’re delighted the ship will be ready to welcome passengers even earlier than originally planned,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “We know that this beautiful new vessel will impress passengers just as much as her sister ship, Royal Princess, has this year.”

Throughout the summer, the new ship will sail on Princess’ signature Grand Mediterranean cruises, with two itinerary choices.

Regal Princess, a sister ship to Royal Princess, will offer its 3,560 passengers a variety of features, including a soaring atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas; the Princess Live! television studio; a dedicated pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.