The eagerly anticipated inaugural season of the Star Princess has hit a major roadblock. Princess Cruises, in collaboration with shipbuilder Fincantieri, has made the difficult decision to postpone the delivery of the 4,300-passenger vessel. Initially scheduled for delivery on July 29, 2025, the new delivery date has been pushed back to September 26, 2025. This delay has resulted in the cancellation of nine planned cruises during the ship’s inaugural season.
John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, cited the need for additional time to ensure that the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by guests. A review of the remaining construction milestones revealed that more time was required to meet these standards. This decision, while disappointing for guests looking forward to the inaugural season, underscores the cruise line’s commitment to delivering a top-quality experience.
With the ship now set to be delivered in late September, Princess Cruises has announced a new set of inaugural sailings for the Star Princess. The maiden voyage is scheduled for October 4, 2025, with the ship embarking on an 11-day Mediterranean roundtrip cruise from Barcelona. Following this, the Star Princess will sail a seven-day cruise in the Mediterranean starting on October 15. This will be followed by a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale on October 22. Bookings for these revised sailings will open for sale on April 30.
For guests who were booked on the canceled voyages, Princess Cruises is offering a range of options. They can choose to book any Princess cruise worldwide, with the added incentive of receiving future cruise credits and onboard credits based on the cruise selected. Alternatively, guests have the option to cancel their booking and receive a full refund of the cruise fare. Princess Cruises has also assured that travel agent commissions will be protected on all bookings that have been paid in full.
Repeat of History
This is not the first time that the cruise line’s Sphere-class ships have faced delivery delays. The Sun Princess, a sister ship to the Star Princess, also experienced delays in its initial sailing dates. Originally slated to begin sailing in early February, the Sun Princess encountered delays in its construction and delivery.
While the delay in the delivery of the Star Princess is disappointing for both the cruise line and its guests, it reflects Princess Cruises’ unwavering commitment to providing a top-tier experience. Guests are being offered a variety of options to accommodate the changes, and with the revised inaugural season set to begin in October 2025, expectations are high for a spectacular debut.