If you love cruises, you’ll be happy to know that Princess Cruises is preparing to launch a brand-new ship, just in time for the summer. If you’re familiar with Princess Cruises, you may know that this is the first new ship that the company has launched in five years. In that time, the characteristics of cruise ships have changed, and the new Royal Princess reflects much of what is new and exciting about cruise ship experiences.
The Royal Princess, which is 25 percent larger than the Ruby Princess launched in 2008, will be the company’s first megaship. Some of the features of the ship include a glass-floored SeaWalk that extends nearly 30 feet over the side of the ship. Passengers will be able to stroll along the SeaWalk for a breathtaking look at the ocean 16 floors below them. The ship’s buffet area will feature selections from the top-of-the-line pastry kitchen installed in the ship, a new innovation for the cruise industry. Passengers will enjoy poolside Movies Under the Stars on the huge 35- by 21-foot screen installed over the pool area. Princess passengers may feel a bit more pampered on the Royal Princess than on previous princess cruise ships; the company has opted to hire more waitstaff to serve drinks on the ship’s Horizon Court instead of installing beverage stations in the area.
The ship’s grand naming ceremony will take place on June 13, a few days before the start of its first voyage on June 16. The Royal Princess will actually arrive in Southampton on June 7, and customers and travel agents will take part in a week of festivities and celebrations designed to welcome the ship into service before the naming ceremony. This includes a gala to be held on June 12, the night before the naming ceremony. Princess Cruises will be following British ship-naming tradition by including a blessing and a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards. The naming itself will be performed by the new ship’s godmother.
Princess Cruises has a history of choosing famous, influential and respected women as the godmothers to its ships. Previous godmothers to Princess Cruise ships include Princess Diana, Sophia Loren, Olivia de Havilland, and Martha Stewart, to name just a few. So who will be the newest godmother? The godmother to the new Royal Princess will be Her Royal Highness, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William. The Duchess of Cambridge is loved and respected around the world. She was named one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time Magazine, and she is known for her charity work that benefits children, artists, and substance abuse treatment facilities. She has also had great influence over British fashion.
The Duchess, in her role as godmother to the Royal Princess, is sure to be a welcome addition to the Princess family, along with the new ship.
The post Announcing the Royal Princess and Her Godmother appeared first on Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog.