Princess Cruises today celebrated a major milestone in the construction of its second Sphere-class ship, the Star Princess, with the traditional maritime launching ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
The new vessel will now be moved to the outfitting dock, where its construction will continue until its debut in autumn 2025.
In keeping with the centuries-old maritime tradition, the launching ceremony celebrates the first time a new ship's superstructure touches the water. Third engineer Chiara del Vecchio, currently working aboard the sister ship Sun Princess, served as the ship's godmother, becoming the first member of Princess's technical team to perform this prestigious role.
“Today is a celebration of teamwork, craftsmanship, and innovation. The Star Princess is the second ship in our new Sphere class, and as she prepares to set sail for the first time, she is a testament to the incredible dedication and skill of the entire shipyard team,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Fincantieri has once again turned vision into reality, building on the success of her sister ship – the Sun Princess, which has already captured the hearts of our guests with its elegance and cutting-edge design. Together, we are creating amazing ships that will inspire adventures and offer unforgettable experiences to all who sail with us for decades to come.”
Padgett also announced that Commodore Nick Nash and Captain Gennaro Arma, who were present at the ceremony, will be the captains of the Star Princess. Arma will captain the Star Princess when the ship is delivered next fall, before Commodore Nash takes command.
The Star Princess, with a capacity for 4,300 passengers and a gross tonnage of 178,000, is the second ship in Princess's new Sphere Class and will also be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The sister ship to the Sun Princess, also built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, debuted in February and maintains the iconic and elegant structural lines for which Princess is known, while offering an evolution of the brand with striking new architectural features such as The Dome, the cruise industry's first geodesic element on the upper deck; The Sphere, the glass plaza suspended in the center of the ship; and The Arena, the most technically advanced theater at sea.
Trips for the Star Princess' inaugural season are now on sale.
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