Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – September 12, 2026 -- Princess Cruises is inviting its most loyal passengers to compete for a seat aboard its float in the 138th Rose Parade presented by Honda, held January 1, 2027, in Pasadena, California.
Four winners get a trip for two and a spot on the float
The "Share Your Princess Story" contest is open only to Princess Captain's Circle Elite members -- guests who have completed at least 15 cruises or 150 cruise days with the line. Entrants must submit a 300- to 500-word essay about their most memorable Princess experiences at www.princessshareyourstory.com. Entries close September 22, 2026, and four winners will be chosen by October 6, each receiving a trip for two to Pasadena with the chance to ride the float down Colorado Boulevard.
The contest is limited to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are at least 18 years old.
Princess Cruises' Chief Marketing Officer frames the contest around loyalty
"Princess guests have been at the heart of our story for more than 60 years," said Marie Lee, Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer, noting the parade's 2027 theme of "Welcome" and the plan to bring four longtime guests aboard the float on New Year's Day.
The float itself uses more than 320,000 natural materials
Princess Cruises is returning to the Rose Parade for a second consecutive year with a float titled "Welcome Aboard -- Find Your Story," designed and built by Artistic Entertainment Services. The float measures roughly 55 feet long and 22 feet high, built with more than 320,000 flowers, seeds, bark, leaves and other natural materials. It depicts destinations including Alaska, Japan, Australia and Europe through floral textures, color and animation.
The parade draws tens of millions of viewers
The Rose Parade typically attracts about 800,000 spectators along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena and more than 28 million U.S. television viewers, with additional international audiences watching the broadcast.