Princess Cruises’ New Ship Begins Countdown to Summer 2017 Debut for China Year Round Cruising
Traditional Keel
Laying Ceremony at Fincantieri Shipyard Features
First Chinese Lion Dance
Ceremony to Mark Construction Milestone
SANTA
CLARITA, Calif. (July 10, 2015) – Carnival plc today marked the beginning of
construction of Princess
Cruises’ third new generation of ships with the official keel laying
ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. As the keel – the
bottommost part of the ship – was ceremoniously lowered into position, and
shipyard officials celebrated the occasion with a traditional Chinese lion
dance. This, yet-to-be-named ship, will be customized to appeal to the China
market when it debuts in summer 2017.
Following
the lion dance and a traditional blessing by a priest, the ship’s keel – which
weighs approximately 500 tons – was moved into position by crane onto the keel
blocks. The computer-guided maneuver took only minutes, belying the more than
two million man-hours that will ultimately go into building the vessel. The
3,600-passenger, 141,000-ton ship will remain in the building dock until float
out next summer.
“We’re
incredibly excited to mark this step in the ship’s construction,” said Anthony
Kaufman, Princess Cruises senior vice president of Asia operations, who
traveled to Italy for the ceremony. “We’re very pleased to be working with our
long-term partner, Fincantieri, on our newest ship and we appreciate their
partnership and collaboration to customize and tailor the ship for the Chinese
market.”
“The
lion dance has been part of the Chinese culture for thousands of years and is
performed on various auspicious occasions and celebrations. According to
traditional Chinese belief, the lion signifies courage, wisdom, and good
fortune and brings happiness, longevity, and good luck. We believe this special
ceremony will bring prosperity and good fortune to Princess Cruises and our
guests in China,” said Cherry Wang, country director of Carnival China, who
also traveled to Italy for the ceremony.
The new
Royal Class ship will offer many of the same special features as Royal
Princess and Regal
Princess,
which have been so well-received by the industry. These include a dramatic
multi-story atrium serving as the social hub of the ship; an over-the-ocean
SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of
the ship; the Princess Live! interactive studio; a special Chef’s Table
Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of
light.
Guests
will enjoy the international flavor of cruising with Princess, including
experiencing cuisines from China, Japan, South-East Asia, Italy, France, and
North America among other regions; as well as an array of international
festivals re-created to celebrate cultures around the world; Princess
Watercolor Fantasy, a fountain and music show; Movies
Under the Stars featuring the largest outdoor screen at sea; and balconies
on all outside staterooms. Accommodations will be configured to appeal to
families and multi-generational travelers.
In
addition, the new ship will showcase the exclusive Princess Class experience
designed specifically for the Chinese market. Delivered by the ship’s dedicated
and caring crew, Princess Class enriches the travel experience of each cruise
guest, enabling them to participate in unique cultural, culinary, entertaining
and inspiring programs including the World Leaders Dinner, traditional English
afternoon tea, a Lobster Grill, Ultimate Balcony Dining, an ocean-view hot pot
dinner option, ballroom dancing, and an unparalleled duty-free shopping
experience.
Additional
details about the new ship’s features and deployment schedule will be announced
over the coming months.
Additional
information about Princess Cruises is available by visiting the company's
website at http://www.princess.com/.
# # #
About Princess
Cruises:
One of the best-known
names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise line and tour company
operating a fleet of 18 modern cruise ships renowned for their innovative
design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all
provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader
in worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.7 million guests each year to
destinations around the globe ranging in length from three to 114 days. The
company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Newsroom:
Additional media
information is available at princess.com/news.
For further
information contact:
Karen Candy, kcandy@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1540
Brian O’Connor, boconnor@princesscruises.com,
661-753-1530
