Star Princess Begins Her Maiden Voyage from Barcelona
Princess Cruises’ newest Sphere-class ship, Star Princess, officially began her maiden voyage on October 4 from Barcelona, marking the start of an 11-day Western Mediterranean sailing. The 177,800-ton ship is the line’s 17th vessel and the second in its new Sphere class, following Sun Princess.
This inaugural cruise includes stops in Marseille, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples, Sicily, Cartagena, and Gibraltar, with a return to Barcelona on October 15. After wrapping up her Mediterranean debut, Star Princess will cross the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale, where she’ll be christened on November 6, 2025, before starting her first Caribbean season.
Princess Cruises president Gus Antorcha described Star Princess as one of the most spectacular ships ever built for the brand and wished Captain Gennaro Arma and his crew safe voyages ahead. Arma, who oversaw the ship’s construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard, called leading her first sailing “an honor” for his entire team.
Onboard, guests can experience more than 30 restaurants and bars, over 1,500 balcony staterooms, and the new Sanctuary Collection of suites and mini-suites with exclusive perks. Entertainment includes Spellbound by Magic Castle, two new stage shows—Meridian and Illuminate—in the high-tech Princess Arena, and a Candlelight Concert Series held beneath the ship’s glass-covered Dome.
Dining highlights range from Love by Britto, an art-inspired specialty venue, to an expanded O’Malley’s Irish Pub. The Love Line Premium Liquor Collection features spirits and wines from celebrity partners, including Camila and Matthew McConaughey, Liev Schreiber, Jason Momoa, and Kylie Minogue.
After her Caribbean season, Star Princess will transit the Panama Canal and head to Seattle for summer 2026 Alaska Inside Passage cruises, becoming one of the newest large ships to sail the region.
Photos courtesy of Princess Cruises.
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.