Princess Cruises Finalizes Plans to Add Two Next-Generation Ships

Princess Cruises has signed the final contracts with Fincantieri shipbuilders for the construction of two next-generation cruise ships, which are expected to be added to its fleet in 2023 and 2025.

With the order, originally announced last summer, Princess is set to add five ships over the next six years.

“Princess Cruises continues to grow globally, adding new ships to our fleet built by our long-time trusted shipbuilding partner, Fincantieri, who brings decades of expertise to these next-generation cruise ships,” Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ president, said in a statement.

The ships will debut at 175,000 gross tons and will be built to carry 4,300 guests — larger than Majestic Princess, which debuted in 2017; and Sky Princess, which is expected to debut in 2019. Both of those ships carry 3,560 passengers.

The new vessels are being designed with Princess’ MedallionClass platform in mind. At the heart of the MedallionClass is the OceanMedallion, a piece of wearable technology that Princess introduced last year, which holds a guest’s information so that crew members can identify them during the sailing. The technology allows guests to open their cabin, make payments, and embark and disembark, all through a small pendant that can be worn on a wristband, a necklace, or kept in a pocket.

Announcing the news, Swartz called the OceanMedallion “the most advanced wearable device available within the global hospitality industry.”

The ships will be the first in the fleet to be dual-fuel powered, using LNG technology and “the world’s cleanest-burning fossil fuel.”