Princess Cruises Delays Inaugural Voyage of Sun Princess Ship
Princess Cruises, the world’s fifth-largest cruise line, recently announced the cancellation of the inaugural voyage of its highly anticipated Sun Princess ship. The cancellation is due to a delay in the ship’s delivery from the Italian shipyard that has been constructing it. The 21-deck-high vessel, which is set to become the largest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, was originally scheduled to debut on February 8, 2023, with a 10-night inaugural sailing out of Barcelona. However, it will now begin operations for paying passengers 10 days later on February 18.
The new inaugural sailing of the Sun Princess will take place in Civitavecchia, Italy, the port for Rome. The cancellation of the original voyage has left many passengers disappointed and inconvenienced. John Padgett, Princess president, expressed his understanding of the disappointment and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Princess Cruises did not provide a specific reason for the delay in the ship’s delivery. However, such delays are common in the cruise industry when vessels are not completely finished on time. This is especially true for ships like the Sun Princess, which is the first in an all-new series and incorporates new features that may require additional time for construction.
The Sun Princess has been under development for over six years and represents the first ship of Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class. This new class of vessels is significantly larger than previous Princess ships and offers several notable features that are new to the line. One of the standout features is the exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge, and sun deck that comes with the suites on the ship. This addition aims to attract more upscale customers to the Princess Cruises brand.
Another unique offering on the Sun Princess is the “cabana cabin” concept on the ship’s extra-wide 10th deck. These cabins provide access to a private deck area, giving passengers a more exclusive experience. Additionally, the top deck of the ship will feature a glass-dome-topped pool area that transforms into a nightspot after sunset, adding a touch of glamour to the ship’s offerings.
With a gross tonnage of 175,000, the Sun Princess will be approximately 21% larger than the largest ships currently in the Princess fleet. It will also have the capacity to hold around 17% more passengers than the biggest Princess ships. This marks the first time in nearly 11 years that Princess Cruises has launched a new class of ships, making the Sun Princess a highly anticipated addition to their fleet.
The Sun Princess is being constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The shipyard has a long history of building cruise ships for various brands, including Princess Cruises, Cunard, MSC Cruises, and others.
Passengers who were booked on the canceled inaugural sailing of the Sun Princess will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as refunds for any additional onboard services they pre-purchased for the sailing. In addition, they will receive a 50% future cruise credit that can be used on another Princess voyage and a credit of up to $200 per person towards the cost of change fees related to their air travel plans. The future cruise credit must be applied to a cruise booking by November 30 and is valid for sailings between now and December 31, 2025.
In conclusion, the delay in the delivery of the Sun Princess ship has resulted in the cancellation of its inaugural voyage. While disappointing for passengers, Princess Cruises is taking steps to compensate them for the inconvenience. The Sun Princess represents a significant milestone for Princess Cruises with its larger size and innovative features. Passengers eagerly await the rescheduled inaugural sailing and the opportunity to experience all that the Sun Princess has to offer.