The Star Princess had its keel laying ceremony in Monfalcone, announced by Fincantieri in a press release.
It is part of the Sphere Class and will be operated by Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corporation.
Both the Star Princess and its sister ship, the Sun Princess, are dual-fuel vessels primarily powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a cleaner marine fuel option.
The Star Princess will have a capacity for 4,300 guests and is based on a next-generation platform design like the Sun Princess.
The Sun Princess is scheduled to be delivered in Q1 2024, while the Star Princess is expected to be delivered in 2025.
The inaugural season of the Star Princess is set to begin on August 4, 2025, offering itineraries in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.
In celebration of Princess Cruises’ 40th anniversary in the region, the ship’s program includes a nine-day Grand Mediterranean itinerary with stops in Italy and Greece, as well as 10-day cruises to Greece, Italy, and Spain.
During its maiden season, the Star Princess will visit destinations such as Kotor on Montenegro, Istanbul, Marseille, Santorini, Gibraltar and Messina.
Before its North American debut, the ship will offer a ten-night cruise from Barcelona to Southampton, visiting Palma de Mallorca, Cádiz, Málaga, and Vigo.
After a 16-night repositioning voyage, the Star Princess is scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on November 5, 2025, with visits to various destinations in England, Spain, and Portugal along the way.
