Princess Cruises Celebrates Float Out for Star Princess

Princess Cruises is celebrating the float out of its next Sphere-Class vessel, Star Princess. The cruise line held a traditional maritime celebration at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy to mark the construction milestone. Star Princess will now transfer to the outfitting quay for construction in anticipation of its fall 2025 debut.

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 Princess’ madrina and became the first member of the Princess technical team to hold this time-honored 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.”

Padgett announced that Commodore Nick Nash and Captain Gennaro Arma will serve as masters of Star Princess. Arma will serve as master of Star Princess when the ship is delivered next fall ahead of Commodore Nash’s turn at the helm. Additional Star Princess senior officers include Chief Engineer Gaetano Guida, Chief Engineer Massimiliano Imperiale, Staff Captain Chris King, Staff Captain Michele Russo, Hotel General Manager Ralph D’Souza, and Hotel General Manager Bosco Pires. 

The 178,000-ton Star Princess will have the capacity to hold a total of 4,300 guests and be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Sister ship Sun Princess (also built by Fincantieri) debuted in February and has captured great reviews for its eye-catching architectural spectacles like The Dome (the cruise industry’s first geodesic feature on the top deck), The Sphere (a suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the center of the cruise ship), and The Arena, the most technically advanced theater at sea.

Star Princess is set to make its debut in October 2025 sailing an inaugural Mediterranean season. Voyages for all cruises on the ship through September 2026 are now available for booking. 

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