Princess Cruises Celebrates Major Milestone with Star Princess Float Out Ceremony
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Princess Cruises, renowned for delivering dream vacations to millions each year, celebrated a significant milestone today with the float-out ceremony of its second Sphere-Class vessel, Star Princess. This traditional maritime event took place at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, marking the first time the ship’s superstructure met water. The Star Princess will now move to the outfitting quay, where construction will continue ahead of her anticipated debut in Fall 2025.
The float-out ceremony, a centuries-old seafaring custom, was graced by Third Engineer Chiara del Vecchio, who currently serves aboard the sister ship, Sun Princess. Del Vecchio had the honour of being the brand’s madrina, making her the first member of the Princess technical team to hold this esteemed role.
“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, President of Princess Cruises. “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.”
Padgett also announced that Commodore Nick Nash and Captain Gennaro Arma will serve as masters of Star Princess. Captain Arma will take the helm when the ship is delivered next fall, followed by Commodore Nash.
Meet the Senior Officers of Star Princess
The senior officers of Star Princess bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their roles:
- Chief Engineer Gaetano Guida joined Princess Cruises in 2002, and Guida was named Chief Engineer aboard Royal Princess in 2017. He played a crucial role in the delivery of Sun Princess and continues to guide the construction of Star Princess.
- Chief Engineer Massimiliano Imperiale: A 15-year veteran of Princess Cruises, Imperiale joined the company in 1999 and was appointed Chief Engineer in 2013 aboard Caribbean Princess.
- Staff Captain Chris King: King joined Princess in 2010 as a third officer and was named Staff Captain in 2023. He currently serves aboard Discovery Princess.
- Staff Captain Michele Russo: With nearly two decades at Princess, Russo was named Safety Officer in 2017 and Staff Captain last year.
- Hotel General Manager Ralph D’Souza: Joining Princess in 2006, D’Souza was named Hotel General Manager in 2019 and has been on the launch team for several ships, including Sun Princess.
- Hotel General Manager Bosco Pires: Pires has been a hotel general manager since 2019 and has nearly 25 years of specialized cruise industry experience.
