Key Aspects:
- Star Princess was officially named on November 6, 2025, with Camila and Matthew McConaughey serving as godparents.
- The McConaugheys christened the ship using a bottle of their brand, Pantalones Organic Tequila.
- A drone show and plague ceremony also took place before the ship begins its first season in the Caribbean.
Cruise guests gathering at Port Everglades on November 6, 2025, were treated to an unusually celebrity-heavy scene for a ship naming.
Camila and Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey stepped into their newest maritime role as godparents of Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, officially christening before it began its inaugural Caribbean sailing.
But rather than breaking a bottle of champagne against the hull as in maritime tradition, the couple broke a bottle of their own Pantalones Organic Tequila brand, kicking off a new partnership with Princess Cruises.
The ceremony took place inside the ship’s Princess Arena and was hosted by TV personality Dawn McCoy.
Passengers, invited guests, and members of the media, including Cruise Hive, looked on as the pair delivered brief remarks and carried out the naming.
“It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of past godparents and welcome Star Princess into the Princess fleet,” the McConaugheys said.
“We are excited to share this moment with the guests who step aboard – coming together with family and friends, making new memories, and sharing a Pantalones cocktail, or two.
Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha and Captain Gennaro Arma both participated in the ceremony, with Antorcha saying the naming ceremony is a “milestone filled with pride and joy.”
“We’re grateful to Matthew and Camila McConaughey for joining the Princess family and know their warmth and infectious spirit will always be felt throughout Star Princess,” he added.
The ceremony also included a live performance by nine-time Grammy winner and friend of the McConaugheys Sheryl Crow. A drone display capped the night, tying into the ship’s future deployment to Alaska.
Star Princess’ First Season
The 177,800-gross-ton Star Princess is the second vessel in Princess Cruises’ newest class and can carry 4,300 guests. Following its naming ceremony, the vessel officially begins its Caribbean deployment on November 7, 2025, from its Fort Lauderdale homeport.
To kick off this special milestone, a plaque ceremony took place aboard the ship with Port Everglades officials officially welcoming Star Princess home.
Read Also: Port Everglades Terminals: What You Need to Know
The inaugural Caribbean voyage is a short, 3-night preview sailing to the cruise line’s private Bahamian destination, Princess Cays, and Nassau, with the ship returning to Fort Lauderdale on November 10, 2025.
Her next voyages will be longer, beginning with a 5-night journey to the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos and then a 7-night Western Caribbean adventure to Belize, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico.
Star Princess will offer alternating 7-night Eastern and Western routes with 14-night options for those who want to sample both.
Guests onboard enjoy more than 1,500 balcony staterooms, including the new Sanctuary Collection suites and mini suites that come with an exclusive restaurant, adults-only deck space, and elevated amenities.
More From Cruise Hive
Public spaces include a redesigned Piazza enclosed in a glass sphere and used as a central gathering area for dining and daily activities. Additional venues include O’Malley’s Irish Pub with expanded seating and Love by Britto, a specialty dining room tied to artist Romero Britto’s “Love” theme.
The vessel also debuts two original productions – Meridian and Illuminate – staged inside the Princess Area, while the Dome, a glass-covered top-deck venue, will host a Candlelight Concert Series.
After the vessel’s Caribbean deployment, Star Princess will reposition to Alaska in the spring of 2026 for a summer in the Last Frontier.
