Princess Cruises has officially welcomed Star Princess with a lively christening led by godparents Camila and Matthew McConaughey, a Sheryl Crow performance and a sky-sweeping drone show. Equal parts ceremony and signal of intent, the event sets the tone for a ship built around theatre, design and thoughtful places to unwind, before a maiden year that moves from the Caribbean to the Panama Canal and on to Alaska.
In Fort Lauderdale on 7 November 2025, Princess named Star Princess in a ceremony inside Princess Arena, capped by Sheryl Crow and a drone show. The ship begins Caribbean cruises through spring 2026, then transits the Panama Canal to Seattle for 7-day Alaska Inside Passage itineraries in summer 2026. Headline offerings include Spellbound by Magic Castle, new shows in the advanced Princess Arena, a glass-sphere Piazza, the Sanctuary Collection and Lotus Spa.
Why This Naming Matters for Travellers
A naming ceremony can feel like pageantry, yet it often hints at what a ship will be like to sail. This one married celebrity sparkle with clear signals about entertainment, design and service. For travellers, it means a season ahead that balances energy with ease, so sea days and evenings feel as curated as time ashore.
A Godparent Duo with Personality
Camila and Matthew McConaughey bring an easy warmth to the godparent role, which aligns neatly with Princess’ style of hospitality. Their Pantalones Organic Tequila features on board, so the ceremonial bottle smash was more than a nod to tradition, it tied the celebration to a tangible guest experience at the bar. It also places the ship among an illustrious lineage of Princess godparents that includes Princess Diana, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren.
A Ceremony Built for Stories
The christening unfolded in Princess Arena, with tributes from Princess President Gus Antorcha and Captain Gennaro Arma, then a nine-time Grammy winner took the stage. The night ended with a drone show, a gently futuristic flourish that previewed the ship’s tech-led spectacle. For guests, this translates to a cruise where marquee moments happen both indoors and under the open sky.
What It Signals for Ship Experience
Princess is emphasising modern staging, multi-sensory evenings and flexible spaces. Reading between the lines, the entertainment pipeline will be consistent, not occasional, while quiet corners remain easy to find. That balance is useful on a ship this size, because you can step from buzz to calm without feeling you have left the heart of the action.
Where Star Princess Will Sail First
The inaugural year gives you two distinct moods. First, a sun-splashed Caribbean run tailored to easy beach days and long evenings. Then, a repositioning via the Panama Canal and a pivot to Alaska’s Inside Passage, where scenery becomes the day plan and a warm ship becomes basecamp.
Caribbean Season, November 2025 to Spring 2026
From November 2025 through spring 2026, the ship works classic Caribbean calls designed for a relaxed rhythm. Expect port days that reward simple plans, beach time, a snorkel or two and a late lunch, followed by unhurried evenings back on board. It is the kind of season that suits first-timers and loyal Princess guests equally well, thanks to familiar service layered with fresh venues.
Through the Panama Canal to Seattle
The canal transit adds a modern-engineering chapter to the story, all locks, lakes and changing water levels. It is a moving classroom from your balcony or an observation lounge, and a good pivot point between warm islands and cooler northern waters. The sequence also helps flyers plan, since you can anchor trips around Fort Lauderdale and Seattle with clear lead times.
Debut Alaska Inside Passage, Summer 2026
In summer 2026, Star Princess begins 7-day Inside Passage itineraries from Seattle. This is where the ship’s observation spaces, theatre scheduling and outdoor deck planning matter most, because long daylight and slow scenery pair perfectly with candlelit concerts and late shows. It also means photographers and families can structure days around both deck time and evening entertainment without sacrificing sleep.
Entertainment That Raises the Curtain
Princess has leaned hard into original productions and immersive spaces, which means nights that feel designed rather than improvised. The thread runs from magic and speakeasy intrigue to circus-tinged colour and orchestral glow under glass.
Spellbound by Magic Castle, Reimagined
Returning after its debut on Sun Princess, Spellbound by Magic Castle arrives with a new theme honouring legendary illusionist Richard Valentine Pitchford, known as The Great Cardini. It is part speakeasy, part theatre, all detail, with close-up moments that reward attention. The concept works because it scales, couples can make it a date night while multi-generational groups can trade stories about their favourite sleight-of-hand.
Meridian and Illuminate in Princess Arena
The technologically advanced Princess Arena hosts two new productions. Meridian blends original score with reimagined chart-toppers aboard the grand ship Celestial, a cinematic sweep through masks, fate and release. Illuminate steps under a nostalgic circus canopy to peel back illusion in a burst of chromatic reverie. In practice, you are getting repeatable must-see shows with strong production values, so sea nights feel like opening nights.
Evenings Beyond the Arena and the Dome
Deck parties, lively Piazza happenings and a refreshed champagne waterfall keep the social energy high without demanding your entire evening. The glass-enclosed Dome turns into a Candlelight Concert Series venue, where strings glow in warm light and familiar pieces feel new again. It is a smart counterweight to the big shows, giving you a quieter path to a memorable night.
Spaces, Staterooms and Quiet Upgrades
Good design is about how a ship moves you through a day. Here, balcony choice, adult-only havens and a social heart under glass do the heavy lifting, so you can glide from coffee to pool to show without friction.
Sanctuary Collection and Club
The Sanctuary Collection gathers suites, mini-suites and balcony staterooms into an elevated enclave with an exclusive restaurant, plus access to the Sanctuary Club, a tranquil adults-only pool deck. If you are celebrating, or you simply prefer mornings that start softly, this is the lane to consider. The private-public balance suits couples and multi-generational travellers who want a quiet base with an easy step back into the buzz.
The Glass-Sphere Piazza as Social Heart
Princess’ signature Piazza is reimagined as a sphere of glass with wraparound views, a place to linger for music, coffee or a late-night bite. This is not just a lobby, it is the ship’s living room, where a quick stop often becomes an hour. Daylight pours in at sea, sunsets turn it into a lantern and the programming keeps it feeling alive without tipping into noise.
Wellness, Sport and Sea-Day Flow
The two-storey Lotus Spa and a well-equipped fitness centre anchor the wellness side, while the SkyDeck adds a sports court for pickleball and basketball, a jogging track, splash pad and shaded lounge areas. The value is in the mix, you can shape a sea day in chapters that match your energy and the weather, then arrive at dinner equal parts relaxed and awake.
Food, Drink and the Love Line Collection
Quantity only helps if the quality and intention are there. Here, variety includes thoughtful collaborators, familiar comforts and a growing zero-proof culture, so groups with different tastes can all feel well served.
Thirty Venues with Thoughtful Variety
With about 30 restaurant and bar venues, you can rotate through favourites and experiments without running out of options. The programme blends celebrity touchpoints, high-end ingredients and casual go-tos, which keeps decisions easy when you are juggling show times and sunset plans.
Pubs, Pop Art and Personality
An expanded O’Malley’s Irish Pub adds 32 seats for those who like a proper pint and a singalong, while Love by Britto brings a pop-art wink and 20 extra seats to its specialty dining space. These are mood setters as much as dining rooms, the kind of places you plan an evening around rather than just pass through.
Spirited and Zero-Proof Options
The Love Line Premium Liquor and Non-Alcoholic Collection lines up curated spirits and zero-proof creations with celebrity provenance, from Pantalones Organic Tequila to Sláinte Irish Whiskey, MEILI Vodka and Kylie Minogue’s no-alcohol sparkling rosé. It is a small signal with a big effect, mixed groups can toast together without anyone compromising their preferences.
If this ship sounds like your style, timing is the next decision. Caribbean sun or Alaskan light, both pair beautifully with the entertainment slate and Sanctuary options. To see dates and routes at a glance, our Cruise Finder makes comparisons simple and saves you scrolling through multiple pages.
Travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe or North America, you can use the same view to plan flights into Fort Lauderdale or Seattle and sketch pre or post-cruise stays. Save a couple of front-runners, share them with us and we will pressure-test the plan for show nights, dining times and the right cabins.
Start Your Princess Cruises Plan with Us
The naming of Star Princess was more than a bottle and a bow. It introduced a ship that understands how people actually spend time at sea, alternating headline moments with quiet pockets to reset. Between Spellbound, Meridian, Illuminate, the Candlelight Concert Series and the Sanctuary Collection, your evenings will feel as considered as your days. Caribbean first, Alaska next, the itinerary arc lets you choose your season without sacrificing what happens on board.
If you want a holiday that balances theatre with tranquillity, we will help you match dates, select staterooms that suit your routine and map your week so you never rush. When you are ready, start your plan with a cruise expert and we will line up the details while you look forward to sail-away.
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