Princess Cruises To Add New Ship To Fleet

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build a new ship, which will enter service in 2017.

The unnamed 143,000-ton vessel is expected to cost some 600 million euros, will carry 3,560 passengers, and feature the successful design platform introduced by sister ships Royal Princess in 2013 and Regal Princess which entered service this past May. This is the only new order Carnival Corporation anticipates for 2017.

“Royal Princess and Regal Princess have been exceptionally successful for us and have received numerous accolades from guests, travel agents and media, so adding another sister ship will enable us to continue to expand our innovative vacation experiences,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

The new ship will include the signature elements that have become synonymous with the Princess Cruises guest experience such as a soaring central atrium hub with multiple dining, entertainment and retail venues; the adults-only Sanctuary; Movies Under the Stars cinema experience, and 80 percent of all staterooms with balconies. The ship will also include some brand-new innovations to enhance the guest experience even further.

“It’s a source of great pride to be able to immediately build another ship for a prestigious brand like Princess Cruises following the successful deliveries of two jewels like Royal and Regal, which have already become part of maritime history,” said Giuseppe Bono, chief executive officer of Fincantieri.

According to an announcement by Princess Cruises, specific features and amenities for the ship, along with deployment details, will be revealed in the coming months.