Princess Cruises has celebrated a major construction milestone for its second Sphere Class vessel, Star Princess, with the traditional maritime float out ceremony at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
The new ship will now transfer to the outfitting quay where construction will continue in anticipation of her Autumn 2025 debut.
Honouring the hundreds-year-old seafaring custom, the float out celebrates the first time the superstructure of a new ship meets water for the first time. Third Engineer Chiara del Vecchio, who currently works aboard sister ship Sun Princess, served as the brand’s madrina and became the first member of the Princess technical team to hold this time-honoured role.
“Today is a celebration of teamwork, craftsmanship, and innovation. Star Princess is the second ship in our new Sphere Class, and now as she prepares to take to the water for the first time it is a testament to the incredible dedication and skill of the entire shipyard team,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.
“Fincantieri has again turned vision into reality, building on the success of her sister ship – Sun Princess – which has already captured the hearts of our guests with its elegance and cutting-edge design. Together, we are creating amazing machines that will inspire adventure and deliver unforgettable experiences for all who sail with us for decades to come.”
Mr Padgett also announced that Commodore Nick Nash and Captain Gennaro Arma, who both were on hand for the ceremony, will serve as masters of Star Princess. Cpt Arma will serve as master of Star Princess when the ship is delivered next autumn ahead of Commodore Nash’s turn at the helm.
The 4,300-guest, 178,000-tonne Star Princess is the second in the new Sphere Class of ships for Princess and will also be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Sister ship Sun Princess, also built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, debuted in February and is hailed as the next-level Love Boat featuring the iconic and elegant structural lines Princess is known for, while delivering an evolution of the brand with new eye-catching architectural spectacles like The Dome, the cruise industry’s first geodesic feature on the top deck; The Sphere, the suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the centre of the cruise ship; and The Arena, the most technically advanced theatre at sea.
