Princess Cruises, the renowned cruise brand, has achieved a major milestone with the float out of their latest next-generation ship, the Sun Princess, at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. This significant event was celebrated with a traditional ceremony, where a “Madrina” was appointed to bless the vessel and offer best wishes. Princess Cruises Hotel General Manager, Simona Stumberger, was selected for this prestigious role due to her exceptional professionalism and commitment to delivering excellent service with a smile.
Stumberger, originally from Slovenia, has been with Princess Cruises for nearly five years and has worked in various departments including guest services, bar department, and food and beverage divisions. She embodies the company’s core values of hospitality, friendliness, and unwavering commitment to service, making her the perfect fit for the Madrina role.
Next-Generation Ship in the Fleet
The float out marks the completion of the first phase of construction for Sun Princess, which will now focus on building the ship’s interiors. Additionally, Princess has appointed Gennaro Arma as the captain to lead the shipbuilding operations, readiness, and delivery, working closely with the naval architects, engineers, and shipbuilding experts.
The 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer an array of new dining, entertainment, and activity offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites. The ship will feature new, never-before-seen spaces such as The Dome, a Santorini-inspired entertainment venue, and a three-story Horizons Dining Room.
Sun Princess has also been designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The ship will be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the first in the Princess fleet, and equipped with two shore power connections to reduce air emissions during day-long calls in various ports. Sun Princess will also have two Azipod propulsions and the largest Controllable Pitch Propellers on the market to save fuel and increase maneuverability. Waste management on the ship will be handled by the Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) and distributed and centralized bio-digesters and dehydrators.
The inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean and Europe are now on sale.