Some ship launches feel like a party, others feel like the start of a story you want to join. Princess Cruises has gone for the latter by naming Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey as godparents of Star Princess, who will be christened in Fort Lauderdale on 07 Nov before a launch year that ranges from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and Alaska.
Star Princess will be christened in Fort Lauderdale on 07 Nov by godparents Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey. After a Mediterranean debut with round-trip Barcelona sailings, the ship will cross the Atlantic to begin a Caribbean season from Fort Lauderdale. She will then transit the Panama Canal to position for an inaugural Alaska season, with a relaxed, social vibe shaped in part by the couple’s onboard tequila brand presence.
A christening is a tradition, of course, but in modern cruising it also sets the tone for a ship’s first year. Choosing a wife-and-husband team who already have a small, authentic tie to the Princess experience signals a launch that aims for warmth, sociability, and evenings that lean into conversation as much as spectacle. If you enjoy a ship with personality, this pairing is a promising sign.
Godparents do more than smash a bottle and smile for the cameras. Their public persona tells you about the vibe the line wants for its new vessel. Here, the selection hints at a friendly, inclusive atmosphere that suits warm-weather decks and sunset sail-aways. It is a gentle cue that the ship will celebrate easy good times, not just big moments on stage.
Because the couple’s Pantalones tequila is already poured on Princess ships, this is not a one-day cameo. Expect playful touches across bars and lounges, perhaps tasting flights or menu nods that make sense for casual sippers and spirit fans alike. Those threads help a ship feel coherent in its first season, which is when many vessels are still settling into their identity.
A good godparent choice radiates into everyday moments. Imagine a sail-away with a margarita that has a backstory, or a themed evening that balances fun with a bit of flair. Little links between ceremony and shipboard life create continuity, and that sense of narrative is part of what turns a good week into a favourite memory.
The first year matters because teams find their rhythm while guests decide what kind of ship this will be. The sequence for Star Princess reads as confident and guest-friendly, with geography and pacing that make operational sense and deliver rewarding days ashore.
Starting in the Mediterranean lets the ship bed in with classic ports, strong shore logistics, and late-season light that flatters every photo. Round-trip Barcelona itineraries are an easy match for international flights and European rail, and they let you link city time with sea time without heroic transfers. Expect a mix of coastlines and culture, long lunches on waterfront promenades, and evenings where showtime never feels rushed.
A transatlantic crossing acts as the hinge between regions. It gives the crew extended sea days to refine service flow, and it gives you unhurried time to explore venues, test the spa, and settle into a rhythm. The Caribbean season from Fort Lauderdale then leans into reliable warmth, beach-ready ports, and simple air links for guests arriving from the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. Princess typically balances marquee islands with quieter calls so the week can breathe.
The Canal transit is both spectacle and logistics. It puts the ship in the right ocean for an inaugural Alaska season while creating a bucket-list day you will talk about for years. By the time the ship reaches the Inside Passage, months of live service will sit behind the crew, which is exactly what you want when the focus shifts to wildlife, fjords, and evenings of long, northern light.
Hardware is only half the story. The way spaces flow, the style of service, and the pace of a typical day will shape your holiday far more than any single feature. Princess tends to build ships that feel calm and sociable, with little friction quietly removed so you can focus on the fun bits.
Atriums and lounges work best when the seating suits both groups and pairs, and when sightlines make people watching part of the charm. Expect venues that flex naturally from morning coffee to late-night music, corridors that stay calm at peak times, and pool decks that manage shade and breeze rather than just sun. Those small design wins add up across a week at sea.
Mediterranean days invite seafood and crisp whites, Caribbean nights pair beautifully with grill favourites or a tequila-forward cocktail, and Alaska later in the year nudges you toward hearty comfort dishes. Princess usually balances classic dining rooms with specialty venues so you can set one anchor reservation, then keep a night open for discovery. When the godparents’ own label appears on the menu, it turns a good drink into a conversation.
Your stateroom should support the rhythm you actually keep. If sunrise sail-ins and late sunsets are your joy, choose balcony cabins on sides that will face key approaches. Light sleepers can ask an adviser to position them away from working decks and late-night venues. Families often thrive with inter-connecting layouts that make mornings faster and bedtimes calmer after the show.
A moving launch year gives you multiple entry points. Think in seasons and choose the region that matches how you like to spend your days. Then shape the trip around a week that feels like you.
Mediterranean shoulder seasons reward city walkers and museum lovers who also want warm deck time without peak-crowd bustle. The Caribbean offers reliable beach days through the northern winter and early spring. Alaska asks for layers, binoculars, and a camera, with mid-season giving the longest days and shoulder seasons offering a quieter deck and softer light. Pick based on how you prefer to spend late afternoons and what you want out of evenings on deck.
New ships concentrate demand in certain categories. If sail-away rituals matter, book balcony cabins mid-ship on quieter decks. Reserve one specialty dinner on a sea day so you can linger, then keep one evening free to follow your nose. For popular tours, early access matters, so let an adviser attach requests to your booking well before final payment.
If you are flying long haul, leave a buffer day in Barcelona or South Florida to turn embarkation into the start of the holiday rather than a checkpoint. In Barcelona, neighbourhood hotels near the Gothic Quarter or Eixample make pre- and post-stays easy to enjoy on foot. In Fort Lauderdale, combine beach time with Art Deco strolls in nearby Miami. For Alaska, add a land segment that lets you slow the pace among glaciers and forests.
Seeing choices side by side makes decisions faster and calmer. Our Cruise Finder lays out dates, port orders, and sea-day placement so you can compare a Barcelona loop against a Caribbean week or a Canal transit without juggling tabs.
If you are coordinating family or friends across Australia and overseas, the tool keeps everyone aligned on the same shortlist. Save favourites, note your preferred dining times, and flag the cabins you want. Those signals help us hold the right mix before the most popular categories disappear.
If the celebrity blessing has nudged Star Princess to the top of your list, we can turn interest into a neat, low-stress plan. Our advisers will match dates to your calendar, secure cabins that suit your routine, and shape shore days so the pace feels unhurried from sail-away to farewell. When you are ready, you can message us for tailored cruise advice, and we will hold the sailing while your preferred categories and dining times are still available.