Princess Cruises’ new Sun Princess won’t even come out until October 2025, but already the line has begun construction on the second ship in its Sphere Class: Star Princess, scheduled for August 2025.
At a keel-laying ceremony at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the first 500-ton (1.1 million-pound) block of the passenger vessel was placed in the building dock. When complete, the sister ship will measure in at 175,500 tons and carry 4,300 guests, making it 20% bigger than any other Princess ship. It will be powered by liquefied natural gas and employ the latest sustainability technologies.
Star Princess is currently under construction, and a keel-laying ceremony took place this month in Monfalcone, Italy.
Credit: 2023 Princess Cruises
“Our multi-decade shipbuilding collaboration continues to progress as we build spectacular ships that are enabled by the most advanced technology available, while infusing magnificent Italian craftsmanship and respecting beautiful Princess design heritage,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
Editor's Note: On April 19, 2024, the Fincantieri Shipyard and cruise line have delayed the launch of Star Princess until Oct. 4, 2025, for an 11-day Mediterranean sailing, due to construction progress. The ship will then make its 14-day transatlantic crossing on Oct. 22 to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to begin a season of Caribbean voyages. To accommodate the postponed delivery, nine inaugural sailings have been canceled. This piece was last updated on July 21, 2025.
Accommodations and Amenities
Private accommodations and public dining and entertainment options are largely expected to be the same on Star as on Sun. These include The Dome — a Santorini terrace-inspired, glass-enclosed venue that will be a pool deck by day and an entertainment venue by night — and the guest-favorite central Piazza, with its own glass sphere
Dining and Entertainment
Clients can also expect Sun’s triple-decker main dining room to be reprised on Star, overlooking the stern’s wake view, and the Princess Arena theater-in-the-round will stage high-tech and high-energy production shows.
And, of course, everything will be linked together with the convenience of Princess’ exclusive, wearable Medallion tech, which augments mobile app way-finding and personalized control of seemingly every vacation element, from electronically unlocking cabin doors as guests approach to ordering drinks anywhere onboard.
As to specific shows staged onboard Star, two will be all-new originals in the Princess Arena: “Meridian” and “Illuminate: A Spectacle of Joy.”
The first will take place onboard the fictional Celestial, described by Princess as “a grand ship sailing through the age of elegance, where love hides behind velvet masks and fate reveals all.” The cinematic production will be set to the tune of an original score, as well as reimagined hits, telling the story of noblewoman Arabella Dovewood in a world where high society and concealed truths collide.
And the second will take place “under the velvet canopy of a nostalgic circus tent,” according to the line, “[peeling] away illusion to reveal wonder in the unexpected.” A pop score from Kola Bello will drive a ringmaster and cast representing the character’s charisma, control, cunning and charm.
Repeated from Sun Princess will also be “Viva La Musica” and its pulsating Latin soundtrack. And the central Piazza will once more stage themed activations, including the 45-minute “Princess Jamz” sonic spectacular from the 15-member Princess World Orchestra and the “Celestial Champagne Soiree” multimedia celebration.
Plus, the upper-deck Dome will host the new Princess Cruises Candlelight Concert Series. Replacing the glass-wrapped venue’s previous cirque-style acrobatics, the new experience will feature live classical music retooled for younger generations, accompanied by cinematic narratives and magical lighting.
Updates Since Sun
Star will showcase several enhancements since Sun, as well.
Notably, the casino space, dedicated to non-smokers, will be expanded to the tune of 68 more slot machines. Both O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Love by Britto will also be enlarged. The pub will receive 32 additional seats for more to enjoy the venue's Irish cuisine, beers, whiskeys and live music. And the Romero Britto art-inspired specialty restaurant with seven courses from chef Rudi Sodamin will add an extra 20 seats of its own.
The SkyDeck Sports Court & Track will come complete with a pickleball and basketball court, plus a jogging track, splash pad and shaded areas.
Initial Deployments
Star Princess’ maiden voyages in the Caribbean are currently on sale; weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean routes are available from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Fla.
