Princess Cruises will return to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1st, 2027, for the second consecutive year, participating in the 138th Rose Parade presented by Honda. The cruise line will enter a floral float based on the parade's 2027 theme, “Welcome,” which was announced by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses in January.
The float, titled “Welcome Aboard – Find Your Story,” will use cruise destinations and their landscapes as its central theme. Alaska, Japan, Australia and Europe will each represent a different part of the design, highlighting glaciers and wildlife in Alaska, Japanese temples and cherry blossoms, Australia's Sydney Opera House and natural landscapes, and European coastal scenery and historic settlements.
Princess Cruises said the float reflects the company's international itinerary network, which currently covers 345 destinations across all 7 continents. Chief Marketing Officer Marie Lee said the concept was intended to connect the destinations visited by Princess ships with the broader idea of welcoming travellers and discovering different cultures.
The float is being designed and constructed by Artistic Entertainment Services and will measure approximately 55 feet in length and 22 feet in height. 320,000+ flowers, seeds, bark, leaves and other natural materials will be used in its construction, alongside animated elements incorporated into the design.
The 2027 Rose Parade will take place on Friday, January 1st, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in Pasadena. The route covers ~5.5 miles, beginning near Orange Grove Boulevard before continuing along Colorado Boulevard.
The parade's “Welcome” theme was selected to represent belonging, community and the idea of creating an environment in which people feel accepted. Tournament of Roses president Terry Madigan said Princess Cruises' participation aligned with that theme through its focus on bringing travellers together through shared experiences.
For Princess Cruises, the Rose Parade appearance provides an extension of its destination marketing beyond the cruise sector. The company has maintained a long-standing presence in the Los Angeles area and is using the float to present a visual representation of the regions covered by its global cruise programme.