Regal Princess, the second in a class of two 143,000 gross ton newbuildings of Princess Cruises, will operate a series of Baltic cruises from St Petersburg in Russia next year, information on the company’s website shows.

It is believed that this will be the first time a major cruise liner will use the second city of Russia as a turn around port for an extended period of time.

The ship, which will enter service in the spring of next year, will start the season of mainly 10 night Baltic cruises on 9 may and the season will run until 27 August, when the ship will reposition from the Russian for to New York.