Princess Cruises has launched its newest vessel, marking the maiden voyage of what the company calls its next generation of ocean travel.
The company’s Star Princess departed Saturday from Barcelona on an 11-day journey through the Western Mediterranean, stopping in destinations including Marseille, Rome, Naples and Sicily before eventually returning to Spain.
The voyage marks the public debut of the ship, which officials say will redefine modern cruising with luxury design elements, elevated dining and a focus on immersive entertainment.
“Star Princess shines brightly as one of the largest and most spectacular ships we’ve ever built, and we proudly welcome excited guests on her inaugural voyage,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises. “We wish our Star Princess captain, senior officers, and crew much success – may her voyages be safe, her sunsets unforgettable, and may she shine, as her name promises, in the sky and on the seas.”
The ship’s inaugural Mediterranean season will be followed by a transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale, where a formal naming ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 6. From there, Star Princess will sail a series of Caribbean routes before transiting the Panama Canal to begin its Alaska season in summer 2026.
Among the ship’s marquee attractions is Spellbound by Magic Castle, a theatrical dining and cocktail experience developed in partnership with the famed Los Angeles club known for its magicians and illusionists. The show blends sleight-of-hand performances with a 1920s-inspired speakeasy setting, taking cues from the original Magic Castle’s secretive charm and vintage décor.
Currently owned by magician and video game developer Randy Pitchford, L.A.’s Magic Castle collaborated with Princess Cruises on an earlier, uniquely different version of the show last year on a sister ship. This new iteration introduces a fresh theme inspired by legendary illusionist Richard Valentine Pitchford, better known as The Great Cardini—Randy’s great uncle.
Other entertainment experiences include two original stage productions presented in a new high-tech theater, live music and themed nightlife events throughout the ship, and candlelit concerts held beneath the ship’s glass-enclosed dome.
With room for about 4,300 guests, the Star Princess becomes the 17th ship in the Princess Cruises fleet and one of its most ambitious projects yet.
Captain Gennaro Arma, who’s been along the journey throughout construction of the vessel in Italy, said leading the ship’s first voyage “is a true honor.”
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