The Royal Princess, the lead vessel in the Royal Class.
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Class overview | |
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Builders: | Fincantieri Monfalcone |
Operators: | Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises |
Preceded by: | Grand class |
In service: | 2013-2020 (planned) |
Building: | 1 |
Planned: | 7 |
Completed: | 4 |
Active: | 4 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Cruise Ship |
Tonnage: | 142,714 GT – 144,216 GT |
Length: | 330 m (1,083 ft) |
Beam: | 38 m (126 ft) |
Decks: | 15 |
Capacity: | 3,600 Passengers |
The Royal class cruise ships is a class of cruise ships operated by Princess Cruises. The lead vessel of the class, Royal Princess, was delivered in June 2013 for Princess Cruises. The 2015 MV Britannia is a similar design to the Royal class ships and is operated by P&O Cruises.
In early 2010, Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation & plc reached an agreement to build two ships for Princess Cruises. The agreement is subject to the execution of a definitive contract, financing and other customary conditions.
The contract was then finalized on May 4, 2010. While in the midst of Economic downturn, Princess managed to finalize the contract with the help of Italian Export Credit Companies, particularly SACE S.p.A.
The two ships are designed to have a tonnage of 141,000-GT, with a passenger capacity of 3,600. The new ships are predicted to enter service in Summer 2013 and 2014 and will be the largest newbuilds to date for Princess Cruises. The ship's design will be evolutionary, from the current Princess fleet and will offer new innovations in the fleet. 100% of its outside staterooms will have balconies, which will comprise the 80% of all staterooms. The signature Piazza atrium will have an expansion. Other innovations is yet to be unveiled in the upcoming months.
The first of the two ships will become the new Royal Princess; the former Royal Princess left the Princess fleet in May 2011 when it joined P&O Cruises as MV Adonia.
In mid-March 2011, Princess released a video of their new Royal Princess, planned to debut in spring 2013. New features include a cantilevered walkway and bar on the top deck, an enlarged Sanctuary bar, an adult-only pool and the largest Movies Under The Stars screen Princess has built so far.
It was announced on August 29, 2012 that the sister ship to the new Royal Princess will be named the Regal Princess.
On April 9, 2013, Princess announced that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, would be godmother to Royal Princess and would attend its naming ceremony in Southampton, UK, on June 13, 2013.