Key Aspects
- Star Princess successfully performed a series of sea trials that tested navigation, propulsion, and other key systems.
- The ship is undergoing final outfitting before being delivered to Princess Cruises from the Fincantieri shipyard.
- Second in the line’s Sphere class, Star Princess is due to enter service on October 4, 2025.
As the clock ticks toward the launch of Princess Cruises’ second Sphere-class ship, Star Princess in October 2025, the 4,300-guest vessel has sailed through her sea trials and entered the final phase of construction.
Star Princess successfully performed at-sea maneuvers from August 9 to 12, 2025, testing key systems such as navigation, propulsion, safety, and other processes. The tests were held in the Adriatic Sea, near the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where she is being built.
“We confidently led Star Princess through sea trials,” said Captain Gennaro Arma, master of Star Princess.
“As the proud leader of our newest vessel, I’m extremely impressed with the ship’s navigation capabilities and maneuverability. With the final countdown underway, my incredible teammates and I can’t wait to welcome guests aboard for unforgettable adventures this fall,” added Captain Arma.
Construction of the 177,800-gross-ton ship began with her keel-laying in December 2023. Star Princess was floated out of her construction bay in September 2024, signifying the first time that the ship’s hull touched water.
With her sea trials behind her, construction now moves in the final phase of outfitting. Captain Arma is overseeing the ship’s build-out at the Fincantieri yard and will ultimately command a crew of 1,600.
The next major step in Star Princess’s journey will be the official handover to Princess Cruises from Fincantieri.
Her inaugural cruise is slated to depart on October 4, 2025, sailing an 11-day voyage roundtrip from Barcelona and calling at Marseille, France; Rome and Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Cartagena, Spain; and Gibraltar, UK.
The ship’s launch date is later than expected. Star Princess was originally scheduled to enter service in July 2025, however, the date was postponed to September 2025 and then to October 2025. No reason was given, but the changes prompted the cancellation of the ship’s first nine cruises.
The construction and design of mega-ships like Star Princess is a complicated business. Like her sister ship Sun Princess, which debuted in 2024, Star Princess is powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) and has state-of-the-art technology.
The ship features, for instance, two Azipod propulsion units that provide 360-degree thrust for both forward and reverse movement, and four controllable pitch bow thrusters that allow for precise lateral maneuvering—a key element in docking at crowded ports.
Sanctuary Collection, New Shows Sure to Delight Guests
Besides her operational processes, designers are building 30 restaurants and bars aboard Star Princess, scores of public spaces, and 1,500-plus accommodations in more than 30 stateroom and suite categories.
Among them is the new luxury-level Sanctuary Collection, which offers multiple cabin categories of its own.
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The exclusive ship-within-a-ship area offers guests access to the private Sanctuary Club and restaurant, and features several key benefits and amenities that are included in the cruise fare, such as crew gratuities, unlimited specialty dining and premium spirits, and WiFi access.
In recent weeks, Princess Cruises has revealed details about onboard entertainment that guests sailing on Star Princess can enjoy.
Two new stage productions, “Meridien” and “Illuminate: A Spectacle of Joy,” will entertain cruisers in the ship’s Princess Arena, while the ship’s glass-enclosed space called The Dome will host the “Candlelight Concert Series.”
Another performance space, The Piazza, will be the venue for the debut of “Princess Jamz,” a show featuring the 15-piece Princess World Orchestra.
Following her inaugural cruise, Star Princess will sail one 7-night “Mediterranean With France and Spain” cruise before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, where she will offer Caribbean voyages until mid-May 2026, when she deploys to Seattle for a series of summer cruises in Alaska.
