Princess' Newest Ship Is Headed to China

princess cruises

The new ship currently under construction for Princess Cruises will be based in China year-round when introduced in summer 2017, Carnival Corp. reports.

Based in Shanghai, the ship will be designed and built specifically for Chinese guests.
 
The as-yet-unnamed ship is being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, and will carry approximately 3,600 guests on a variety of itineraries, to be announced at a later date. Based on the design of the Royal Princess and Regal Princess, the new vessel will feature a number of new amenities customized for the growing number of Chinese cruise vacationers.
 
“Deploying our next new ship in China underscores our strong commitment to growing the China cruise market and providing discerning travelers with amazing vacation experiences at sea,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.  
 
Princess ships began homeport cruising in China last year, with an inaugural season of Shanghai-based cruises aboard Sapphire Princess. This ship returns for a second China season which begins on June 4 and runs through October 2015. 
 
The new ship will share many of the features of Royal Princess and Regal Princess, which include a 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 pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; Princess Watercolor Fantasy, a fountain and music show; Movies Under the Stars; 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 Princess Class experience designed specifically for the Chinese market that the company introduced during its first season. Princess Class offers cultural and culinary 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 duty-free shopping.
 
Additionally guests will enjoy cuisines from China, Japan, Italy, France, and North and South America among other regions; as well as an array of international festivals re-created to celebrate cultures around the world.
 

“And as this ship is still in the design phase we are looking forward to creating other new and exciting venues and experiences catering to the Chinese vacationer, which we will reveal in the coming months,” Swartz said. 

Visit www.princesschina.com