Princess has ushered in a bright new chapter, with Star Princess sailing from Barcelona on her 11-day Inaugural Western Mediterranean itinerary. The ship’s design brings together familiar Princess warmth and contemporary spaces that make days easy, nights memorable, and itineraries flexible across Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska.
Princess Cruises’ Star Princess begins an 11-day Western Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona on 4–15 October 2025, then operates a 7-day Med voyage, a transatlantic crossing, a Fort Lauderdale debut and naming on 6 November 2025, and a winter 2025 to spring 2026 Caribbean season, before repositioning through the Panama Canal to Seattle for 7-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises in summer 2026, with new shows, enhanced venues, and guest-friendly operational improvements like expanded seating and varied dining that increase choice, comfort, and evening options.
This launch is designed as a sequence, not a single event. You can start with a classic Western Mediterranean loop, follow a shorter Med week, cross the Atlantic into a lively naming week in Florida, then plan for the Caribbean or Alaska. Itineraries are paced for travellers who like to see a lot without feeling rushed, and they connect easily with pre- or post-cruise city stays.
The 11-day opening itinerary calls at Marseille, Rome via Civitavecchia, Naples, Sicily, Cartagena, and Gibraltar, then returns to Barcelona on 15 October 2025. The rhythm suits first-timers and return visitors, because you can pair headline sights with local rituals like a market tasting or a slow espresso in a neighbourhood square. Even on busy days, the ship makes it simple to come back to a familiar base that resets your pace.
A 7-day Med sailing follows, a practical choice if you want the highlights in a tighter window. The subsequent transatlantic crossing gives you uninterrupted sea days, ideal for sampling new venues, finding a favourite stage seat, and working through a wish list of shows. The ship arrives in Fort Lauderdale aligned with the 6 November 2025 naming, an energetic time onboard with a celebratory atmosphere that many guests love.
From late 2025 into spring 2026, the Caribbean programme taps popular islands and relaxed port tempos, great for families and couples who prefer warm-water days. Afterwards, the plan is a Panama Canal transit to Seattle for 7-day Inside Passage itineraries in summer 2026. This puts new hardware in Alaska, a draw for travellers who want modern spaces as their base for glacier viewing and wildlife days.
A Sphere-Class platform means high-tech staging in Princess Arena, plus multiple evening options across the ship. Whether you are a theatre regular, a live-music wanderer, or a late-night conversation-seeker, the programme is set up to let you dial nights up or down without friction.
Two original productions, Meridian and Illuminate, headline the season. Meridian blends a cinematic score with re-imagined chart favourites to tell a story of longing and release aboard a grand vessel. Illuminate embraces vintage circus imagery, then reveals colour and movement in fresh ways. The Arena’s sightlines and sound design reward repeat visits, since each vantage point unveils details you missed before.
Spellbound by Magic Castle returns with a new theme honouring Richard Valentine Pitchford, The Great Cardini. The speakeasy setting, close-up illusions, and narrative beats make the experience feel intimate, even on a ship of this scale. It is an easy recommendation for couples’ date nights, multigenerational groups, and solo travellers who enjoy cleverly staged surprises.
If you prefer movement and mingling, deck parties and Piazza events keep the pulse going. A refreshed champagne waterfall channels classic cruise theatre without feeling stiff, while small-ensemble sets give you quieter corners when you want them. You can craft a different kind of evening every night, then finish where you started, people-watching in the heart of the ship.
The glass-roofed Dome transforms during the Candlelight Concert Series, creating a warm, glowing atmosphere for strings, piano, and modern arrangements. It is a good match for guests who want an hour of calm that still feels special. The venue’s architecture amplifies the impression, since the sea remains a subtle backdrop to the performance.
Choice brings ease, especially on longer holidays. This ship layers quick bites, pub-style sessions, and lingering dinners, so you can make evenings social without turning them into logistics.
The Piazza carries the brand’s signature social energy and, in this class, it gains a panoramic feel thanks to the sphere-inspired glass design. Morning coffees, mid-day pop-ups, and pre-show meet-ups all land here naturally. The architecture keeps it open, yet some nooks work for a chat or a quiet read between ports.
With about 30 dining and bar venues, you can rotate through favourites while continuing to discover new corners. O’Malley’s Irish Pub has been expanded with more seating, which makes it a practical option for sports on screens or group sing-alongs, while Love by Britto adds a speciality backdrop for celebratory dinners. Celebrity collaborations and careful ingredient choices run throughout, so even casual meals feel well-considered.
The Love Line Premium Liquor Collection assembles well-known labels alongside thoughtful non-alcoholic choices. Mixed-preference groups will find this helpful, since everyone can take part in the toast. The collection fits the celebratory spirit of a new ship, without making those who prefer low-ABV or alcohol-free options feel like an afterthought.
Your base at sea should be easy to love, whether you prioritise private views, a restorative spa day, or an hour on the sports court before sunset.
With more than 1,500 balcony staterooms, private time with the horizon is readily available. The Sanctuary Collection adds exclusive inclusions across suites, mini-suites, and balcony staterooms, giving you a tucked-away feel on sea days. If you like quiet early mornings or late-afternoon pauses, a balcony becomes the best seat in the house.
The two-storey Lotus Spa handles the restoration side, while the fitness centre offers classes that help you keep a gentle routine on holiday. Pools and hot tubs build that relaxed glide from workout to wind-down. You can keep momentum without turning the trip into a schedule, which is often the sweet spot for mixed-interest groups.
Up on SkyDeck, you will find a sports court for pickleball and basketball, a jogging track for laps with a view, a splash pad, and shaded lounges that work across ages. Families can split for an hour, each person following their interests, then regroup for lunch or the evening show. It feels unhurried, even when the day is full.
The routing works well whether you are flying in from Australia, connecting from New Zealand, or pairing the sailing with a European city break. Barcelona is one of Europe’s most connected gateways, which simplifies pre- and post-cruise plans. For North American travellers, the Fort Lauderdale start to the Caribbean season is convenient and supported by plentiful flights.
If Europe is your priority, look to October 2025 for the Western Med launch or the subsequent week. For warm-water days, late 2025 and early 2026 in the Caribbean deliver easygoing port rhythms. If Alaska is on the horizon, summer 2026 offers Inside Passage variety with new-to-region hardware that often books briskly once schedules open.
Couples who enjoy show-forward nights, families who value choice without complication, and solo travellers who appreciate social spaces with good sightlines will feel at home. The mix of modern design and familiar service is a reliable combination, especially if you like to alternate high-energy days with calmer evenings.
If you want to scan dates, lengths, and starting points, explore our Cruise Finder to shortlist sailings that match your calendar. You can filter by destination, season, and ship to get a clear view of what fits.
Thinking about Med versus Caribbean, or tempted by Alaska 2026, the Cruise Finder offers an easy first pass. Build a shortlist there, then bring it to your S.W. Black Travel adviser for help with choosing stateroom categories, dining preferences, and show strategies.
The debut of Star Princess opens a year of options, from Barcelona’s boulevards to Caribbean shores and Alaska’s glacier days. If you would like tailored guidance on itineraries, staterooms, and timing, send a message to our cruise specialist to get personalised cruise advice.