SANTA CLARITA, Calif.,
July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Carnival plc marked the beginning of construction of
Princess Cruises' third new generation of ships with the official
keel laying ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone,
Italy. As the keel – the
bottommost part of the ship – was ceremoniously lowered into
position, and shipyard officials celebrated the occasion with a
traditional Chinese lion dance. This, yet to be named ship, will be
customized to appeal to the China
market when it debuts in summer 2017.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150710/235060
Following the lion dance and a traditional blessing by a priest,
the ship's keel – which weighs approximately 500 tons – was moved
into position by crane onto the keel blocks. The computer-guided
maneuver took only minutes, belying the more than two million
man-hours that will ultimately go into building the vessel. The
3,600-passenger, 141,000-ton ship will remain in the building dock
until float out next summer.
"We're incredibly excited to mark this step in the ship's
construction," said Anthony Kaufman,
Princess Cruises senior vice president of Asia operations, who traveled to Italy for the ceremony. "We're very pleased to
be working with our long-term partner, Fincantieri, on our newest
ship and we appreciate their partnership and collaboration to
customize and tailor the ship for the Chinese market."
"The lion dance has been part of the Chinese culture for
thousands of years and is performed on various auspicious occasions
and celebrations. According to traditional Chinese belief, the lion
signifies courage, wisdom, and good fortune and brings happiness,
longevity, and good luck. We believe this special ceremony will
bring prosperity and good fortune to Princess Cruises and our
guests in China," said
Cherry Wang, country director of
Carnival China, who also traveled to Italy for the ceremony.
The new Royal Class ship will
offer many of the same special features as Royal Princess and Regal
Princess, which have been so well-received by the industry.
These include a dramatic multi-story atrium serving as the social
hub of the ship; an over-the-ocean SeaWalk, a top-deck
glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the
ship; the Princess Live! interactive studio; a special Chef's Table
Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a
curtain of light.
Guests will enjoy the international flavor of cruising with
Princess, including experiencing cuisines from China, Japan,
South-East Asia, Italy, France, and North
America among other regions; as well as an array of
international festivals re-created to celebrate cultures around the
world; Princess Watercolor Fantasy, a fountain and music show;
Movies Under the Stars featuring the largest outdoor screen at sea;
and balconies on all outside staterooms. Accommodations will be
configured to appeal to families and multi-generational
travelers.
In addition, the new ship will showcase the exclusive
Princess Class experience designed
specifically for the Chinese market. Delivered by the ship's
dedicated and caring crew, Princess
Class enriches the travel experience of each cruise guest,
enabling them to participate in unique cultural, culinary,
entertaining and inspiring programs including the World Leaders
Dinner, traditional English afternoon tea, a Lobster Grill,
Ultimate Balcony Dining, an ocean-view hot pot dinner option,
ballroom dancing, and an unparalleled duty-free shopping
experience.
Additional details about the new ship's features and deployment
schedule will be announced over the coming months.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available by
visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a
global cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 18 modern
cruise ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of
choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an
environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in
worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.7 million guests each year
to destinations around the globe ranging in length from three to
114 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc
(NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Newsroom:
Additional media information is available at princess.com/news.
For further information contact:
Karen Candy, kcandy@princesscruises.com,
661-753-1540
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/princess-cruises-new-ship-begins-countdown-to-summer-2017-debut-for-china-year-round-cruising-300111780.html
SOURCE Princess Cruises