Princess Cruises Orders Third Royal Princess-Class Cruise Ship From Fincantieri

The so far unnamed 143,000-ton vessel will be built at an all-in cost of approximately 600 million euros. Photo courtesy Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises says it has placed an order a new 143,000-ton cruise ship from Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri.

The new vessel will enter into service in 2017 and will be built at an all-in cost of 600 million euros (approximately US $803 million). The so far unnamed ship 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.

“We are incredibly excited to add this fabulous new ship to our already formidable fleet,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “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. We’re very pleased that this new ship order is an indication of the confidence that our parent Carnival Corporation has in the future of the Princess brand.” She added that this is the only new order Carnival Corporation & plc anticipates for 2017.

The new ship will include a central atrium hub with multiple dining, entertainment and retail venues; an adults-only Sanctuary; Movies Under the Stars experience, and 80 percent of all staterooms will have balconies.

Specific features and amenities for the ship, along with deployment details, will be revealed in the coming months.

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri Chief Executive Officer, commented: “All the orders we win are important for our Group, but some are more special than others. The one we’re announcing today certainly belongs to this select category. In fact, it’s no coincidence that Fincantieri is the universally recognized leader among the builders of cruise ships. 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.”

Bono added, “Our objective has always been to build ships of the future, and thanks to the Carnival Group, the leading market player, which has reconfirmed its well-founded confidence in us, we have proven over time not only to have kept faith with this ambitious goal but also to have been able to consolidate our world leadership in a sector of absolute technological excellence, like cruise ships.”

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up