| Date Published: April 28, 2003 |
 |
More current news for Princess Cruises:
 Duchess of Cambridge Christens Princess Cruises' Newest Ship, Royal Princess
Princess Cruises' Newest Ship Debuts in Southampton
Royal Princess Cruise Ship Returns to Dry Dock Before June Launch
Princess Cruises Profile and Reviews
Latest Cruise News Headlines
|
|
|
| Princess Cruises Announces New Build Project |
In an announcement that warms the heart of all who are tired of reading
about cruise industry malaise, war and disease, Princess Cruises has placed
an order for a new ship. Well, sort of. The 116,000-ton ship, a sister to
Caribbean Princess -- the first in a new design for the cruise line and
which is anticipated for a summer 2004 launch -- will also be deployed,
year-round, in the Caribbean. The ship, dubbed, temporarily, Caribbean
Princess 2, will have the same unusual features as its older sibling, such
as "Dive-In Movies,² held on a giant, outdoor state-of-the-art LED screen
located poolside, and Club Fusion, a Jules Verne-themed "edutainment"
lounge. As with the original Caribbean Princess, the second ship, according
to a company statement, will also make a bigger effort than is usual to
theme onboard programs and amenities around the region in whose seas it
sails.
But, in an interesting sign that times-have-changed, the Caribbean Princess
2 announcement was made under Carnival Corporation auspices -- and is, in
fact, the ship that was originally slated to be the fifth in the fleet of
Holland America's Vista class. Holland America, a Carnival Corp. company, is
now, of course, a sister cruise line. Another departure from the usual
Princess Cruises new ship press release is the unusually feisty reference it
makes to Royal Caribbean, now a major competitor in that region.
Princess plans to spend $500 million to build Caribbean Princess 2 at
Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard and is anticipating delivery in May 2006. | |
Cruise News Headlines
More Princess Cruises News
Princess Cruises Reviews
Princess Cruises Deals
|
|
|
|
|
|