CG 59 is the sixth ship to bear the name of Princeton and was commissioned February 11, 1989 in Pascagoula, MS.

February 18, 1991 During Operation Desert Storm, the USS Princeton hit two influence mines while conducting operations in the Persian Gulf, off Fylaka Island. This resulted in a cracked superstructure, a jammed port rudder and leaking port shaft seal. In recognition of the superior and arduous work the crew put in to keep the ship in war-fighting status, the USS Princeton and crew were awarded a Combat Action Ribbon.

The guided-missile cruiser underwent a complete overhaul and modernization from mid-June 1999 to the end of March 2000. The overhaul was performed in Southwest Marine Inc.'s San Diego yard.

July 27, 2001 USS Princeton departed San Diego for a Middle East deployment, as part of the Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Battle Group. Its mission was to provide maritime support for Operation Southern Watch. As a result of September 11, the cruiser was assigned duties as Air Defense Commander for Task Force 50, which encompasses all Navy and coalition forces operating in the Arabian Gulf and the North Arabian Sea. The USS Enterprise Battle Group, along with Carrier Air Wing 8, diverted from their homeward transit and headed back towards the North Arabian Sea as the Princeton north through the Indian Ocean to join them. Several days later, the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) was underway from Japan. Within two weeks, the cruiser was assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom.

January 19, 2002 USS Princeton returned home after 111 consecutive days on station in the North Arabian Sea.

March 3, 2003 USS Princeton departed Naval Base San Diego for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Nimitz Carrier Battle Group, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 28, The guided-missile cruiser is currently operating in the northern Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Maritime Interception Operations commander for Task Force 55.

September 12, The Princeton pulled to Singapore for a week long port visit.

September 30, Capt. James L. T. "Red" Smith relieved Capt. Ralph E. Janikowsky as commanding officer of USS Princeton during a change-of-command ceremony conducted in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand.

November 5, CG 59 returned to San Diego after an eight-month underway period in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf. The cruiser supervised numerous coalition ships, U.S. Coast Guard and patrol craft for more than 170 boardings.

October 23, 2004 Sixty years after surviving the sinking of their ship, more than 50 World War II Sailors reunited for a memorial service aboard the Princeton at Naval Base San Diego. Veterans and survivors of the Independence-class Light Carrier USS Princeton (CVL 23) gathered aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser to remember their ship and their shipmates lost during the Battle of Leyte Gulf Oct. 24, 1944. Ten officers and 98 enlisted crew members were killed, but 1,361 survived.

May 7, 2005 USS Princeton departed homeport for a scheduled deployment, as part of the Nimitz CSG, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 21, Sailors from the Princeton provided humanitarian aid to an Iranian fishing dhow Hamid in a distress call.

September 19, Air and surface forces of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group ended dedicated search and rescue (SAR) operations Sept. 17 in the Persian Gulf after a five-day search for a Sailor discovered missing from USS Princeton Sept. 13.

November 8, USS Princeton returned to San Diego after a six-month underway period in the western Pacific and Persian Gulf.

April 10, 2006 The Princeton, commanded by Capt. Bill Ault, returned home after a two-week underway period to conduct shipboard qualifications at sea and also strengthen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission effectiveness between U.S. and Canadian naval forces. The ship participated in ASW exercises with the Canadian Destroyer HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283) off the coast of Washington state, March 30 and April 5.

October 1, CG 59 paraded through San Diego Bay to kick-off San Diego's Fleet Week celebration.

October 7, The guided-missile cruiser entered the San Francisco Bay during the Parade of Ships, a key event during San Francisco Fleet Week 2006.

April 2, 2007 USS Princeton departed San Diego in support of operations in U.S. Central Command AoR with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) CSG.

May 23, The Princeton, along with nine other ships from three Strike Groups, entered the Persian Gulf.

August 14, USS Princeton concluded its participation in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 off the coast of Guam, during the joint photo exercise. The PHOTOEX featured 15 ships from three Carrier Strike Groups and 17 aircraft from Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps including a B-52 bomber.

September 30, USS Princeton returned to homeport after a six-month deployment.

January 24, 2008 USS Princeton, commanded by Capt. David W. Melin, departed Naval Base San Diego for a surge western Pacific deployment, as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

February 17, CG 59 recently departed Fukuoka, Japan, after a scheduled port visit.

February 28, The guided-missile cruiser pulled to Busan, Republic of Korea, to participate in Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008.

June 3, USS Princeton returned to San Diego after a four-month underway period.

November 13, 2009 The Princeton departed Naval Base San Diego to participate in a strike group sustainment exercise (SUSTAINEX), with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG, off the coast of southern California.