Recently, Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups based in Italy, announced that its Monfalcone shipyard has delivered the second LNG-powered Sphere-class cruise ship, the Star Princess, to Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. The new cruise ship embarked on its inaugural 11-day voyage in the Western Mediterranean on October 4.
Originally scheduled for delivery on July 29, 2025, the cruise ship’s launch date was later adjusted to September 26, 2025.
With a gross tonnage of approximately 178,000, Star Princess – sister ship to Sun Princess, delivered in 2024 by the Monfalcone yard – is the second largest vessel ever constructed in Italy and the second LNG-powered cruise ship that Fincantieri has built for this shipowner. It is also the second dual-fuel vessel, primarily powered by liquefied natural gas, to officially join the Princess fleet. LNG is the best readily available, proven and commercially scalable fuel for the maritime industry today that significantly reduces direct greenhouse gases and other atmospheric emissions and particulate matter.
The new vessel will accommodate approximately 4,300 people and is based on a next-generation platform which features several new systems designed to enhance the energy efficiency of the ship.
Princess Cruises is the world’s most iconic cruise brand, operating a fleet of 17 modern ships that carry millions of guests each year to 330 destinations worldwide.
The Star Princess, delivered this time, is the 17th vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet and also marks the final installment of Carnival Corporation’s pre-pandemic newbuild orders. As of the end of the last fiscal year (November 2024), Carnival Corporation operated a total of 94 cruise ships, though it has announced the sale of certain future vessels under its Costa and Seabourn brands.
Currently, Carnival Corporation has slowed its pace of new ship construction, with the next vessel scheduled for delivery in 18 months. Since the pandemic recovery began, the company has ordered only five new ships, with deliveries concentrated between 2027 and 2033.
On the occasion of the new ship’s delivery, Fincantieri also announced the signing of a contract with TUI Cruises for the design and construction of two cruise ships, scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2032 respectively, with a total value exceeding €2 billion.
Fincantieri’s newly announced contracts for the design and construction of two cruise ships will replace the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed with TUI Group in March 2025. Under that agreement, TUI Group had originally planned to commission the design and construction of two premium cruise ships for its Marella Cruises brand.
This order change means Marella Cruises’ first newbuild order has fallen through, with its reserved slot at Fincantieri now transferred to TUI Cruises. Due to the change in shipowner, Fincantieri will refund the deposit Marella Cruises paid under the previously signed MoA.
The Monfalcone shipyard, which delivered this new cruise ship, is Fincantieri’s largest cruise ship construction base. Since 1990, it has delivered over 40 vessels and will play a leading role in record-breaking new ship deliveries in the coming years.