Princess Cruises, renowned for providing unforgettable vacations to millions of passengers each year, has reached a significant construction milestone for its second Sphere-Class vessel, Star Princess. The ship marked its float-out ceremony at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, a major step in the shipbuilding process.

The float-out is a traditional maritime event that celebrates a new vessel’s first contact with water. Following this ceremony, Star Princess will move to the outfitting quay, where construction will continue as she prepares for her highly anticipated debut in Fall 2025.

In keeping with maritime tradition, Star Princess was honored with a madrina, a figure akin to a godmother in shipbuilding ceremonies. This time, the honor went to Third Engineer Chiara del Vecchio, who serves aboard Sun Princess. Del Vecchio is the first member of the Princess technical team to take on this esteemed role, making the occasion even more special for the brand.

“Today is a celebration of teamwork, craftsmanship, and innovation. Star Princess is the second ship in our new Sphere class, and now as she prepares to take to the water for the first time it is a testament to the incredible dedication and skill of the entire shipyard team,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “Fincantieri has again turned vision into reality, building on the success of her sister ship – Sun Princess, which has already captured the hearts of our guests with its elegance and cutting-edge design. Together, we are creating amazing machines that will inspire adventure and deliver unforgettable experiences for all who sail with us for decades to come.”

Princess Cruises has revealed the senior officers who will lead its newest Sphere-Class vessel, Star Princess, ahead of her Fall 2025 debut. Commodore Nick Nash and Captain Gennaro Arma, both present at the recent float-out ceremony, will serve as masters of the ship. Captain Arma will take the helm when Star Princess is delivered next fall, with Commodore Nash following soon after.

Joining the leadership team aboard the 4,300-guest, 178,000-ton Star Princess are a distinguished group of experienced officers:

Chief Engineer Gaetano Guida: A Princess Cruises veteran since 2002, Guida was promoted to Chief Engineer aboard Royal Princess in 2017. He played a key role in the delivery of Sun Princess and continues to oversee the construction and delivery of Star Princess at the Fincantieri shipyard.

Chief Engineer Massimiliano Imperiale: With 15 years at Princess Cruises, Imperiale began his career as a third engineer in 1999. He has held the position of Chief Engineer since 2013, starting aboard Caribbean Princess.

Staff Captain Chris King: King joined Princess in 2010 as a third officer after working on container ships. He was named Staff Captain in 2023 and currently serves aboard Discovery Princess.

Staff Captain Michele Russo: Russo brings nearly 20 years of experience to his role, having joined Princess as a deck cadet on Dawn Princess. He was promoted to Staff Captain in 2022 after serving as Safety Officer since 2017.

Hotel General Manager Ralph D’Souza: D’Souza started with Princess Cruises in 2006 as a junior purser. He became a hotel general manager in 2019 and has been part of the launch teams for several ships, including Sun Princess.

Hotel General Manager Bosco Pires: Pires, with nearly 25 years in the cruise industry, has been a hotel general manager with Princess since 2019, bringing a wealth of expertise in hospitality and business operations.

Star Princess, the second ship in Princess’s new Sphere-Class fleet, will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), furthering the line’s commitment to sustainability. Her sister ship, Sun Princess, debuted earlier this year, featuring iconic architectural elements such as The Dome—the cruise industry’s first geodesic feature on a top deck—and The Sphere, a suspended glass piazza at the heart of the ship. Star Princess will also feature The Arena, a state-of-the-art theater setting a new standard for onboard entertainment.

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