Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has announced it will move Emerald Princess to Sydney in November 2016 for its first season down under, Cruise Critic reports.

The 3,082-passenger ship, launched in 2007, is half the age of other Princess ships based in Australia -- Dawn Princess (1997), Sea Princess (1998) and Sun Princess (1995) that are all based in Australia year round -- and several years younger than Diamond Princess, which spends summers in the region. It will also be one of the youngest and largest ships ever deployed in Australia and New Zealand.

As part of the line's continuing expansion in Australia -- its biggest market outside the United States -- the addition of a fifth ship brings its total Australian capacity to a record 11,800 berths.

“With three ships cruising our waters full time and two megaliners visiting for the summer, the 2016 season will offer more exciting options for Australian and New Zealand cruisers," said Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises vice president Australia & New Zealand.

New local itineraries are expected to be unveiled in March this year, with the program to go on sale in April.