A “new era” of nighttime entertainment will debut this fall when Princess Cruises introduces the world to Star Princess, its second new Sphere-class ship.
The 4,300-passenger vessel is set to debut October 4, 2025, with a slate of new productions designed for various venues onboard, including two original theatrical shows in the Princess Arena, a classical candlelight concert series in The Dome, and a range of immersive events throughout the ship.
“We’re not just putting on shows; we’re crafting moments that will stay with guests long after the final curtain,” said Lorna Warren, Princess Cruises’ vice president hotel operations and guest experience.
She added, “Star Princess was designed to surprise, move, and inspire each and every night.”
The two new mainstage productions, Meridien and Illuminate: A Spectacle of Joy, were created by the production team at Black Skull Creative, a London-based studio that specializes in full-scale shows.
Meridien is being described as a cinematic-style story set aboard a luxury ship, while Illuminate is set in a circus environment with surreal visuals and a multi-generational pop soundtrack.
Both shows will feature original choreography and direction from award-winning creatives and are staged in the 178,000-gross-ton ship’s high-tech Princess Arena.
The cruise line also revealed it is bringing back Viva La Música, which first premiered on sister ship Sun Princess. The Latin-inspired dance show was choreographed by Liz Imperio, known for her work with Jennifer Lopez and Madonna.
Entertainment on Star Princess will span across venues in the ship’s key gathering spaces. In The Dome, for instance, the cruise line is debuting a Candlelight Concert Series.
Held in the glass-enclosed venue at the top of the ship, classical and cinematic performances will be staged by live musicians in a candlelit setting.
The Piazza, a central atrium area also enclosed in glass, will debut the Princess Jamz, a 45-minute music performance led by the ship’s cruise director and a 15-piece Princess World Orchestra.
The performance is planned as a regular event in the heart of the ship.
Also debuting in the Piazza is the Celestial Champagne Soirée, a new take on the cruise line’s traditional Champagne Waterfall.
This event will incorporate music, light shows, and multimedia displays, adding a modern twist to the long-running tradition.
Excitement Is Building for Debut
Star Princess is nearing completion at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Construction began with the keel-laying ceremony on December 11, 2023, and by September 2024, the ship was floated out of dry dock for the first time.
Originally scheduled to enter service in summer 2025, construction delays have pushed the debut to October 4, 2025.
Her maiden voyage will be an 11-night Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona, with calls in ports such as Marseille, France; Naples, Italy; and Gibraltar.
After a transatlantic crossing that begins on October 22, 2025, the ship will reposition to Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades to begin a winter season of Caribbean cruises.
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Arriving on November 5, 2025, her first US voyage will be a 3-night cruise to Princess Cruises’ private Princess Cays in the Bahamas.
The vessel will then continue to offer roundtrip Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that include visits to Belize, Honduras, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.
By spring of 2026, Star Princess will head to Seattle to join the cruise line’s Alaska fleet, offering Inside Passage itineraries and visits to Glacier Bay National Park.
