Star Princess Sea Trials Completed Ahead of October 4 Debut

Published on Aug 13, 2025, 11:38 am CDTUpdated on Oct 3, 2025, 3:24 pm CDT

5 min read

Princess Cruises has crossed a key checkpoint for its newest ship as Star Princess sea trials wrapped in the Adriatic. From August 9 to 12, the second Sphere class vessel left Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard for open water to validate steering, navigation, propulsion, and safety systems under Captain Gennaro Arma's oversight. With trials complete, the LNG powered ship remains on schedule to welcome first guests on October 4 from Barcelona. Princess cites improved maneuverability from twin Azipods and four controllable pitch bow thrusters, plus a slate of 30 dining and bar venues.

Key Points

Why it matters: Sea trials completion reduces delivery risk and keeps the October 4 inaugural on track.
Travel impact: Booked guests gain confidence in 2025 Mediterranean plans, with transatlantic and Caribbean to follow.
What's next: Final outfitting at Monfalcone, crew ramp up, and regulatory approvals before delivery.
Systems tested included steering, navigation, and propulsion in the Adriatic Sea.
Captain Gennaro Arma led trials for the Sphere class newbuild team.
Ship features include LNG power, two Azipods, and four bow thrusters.

Snapshot

Star Princess completed four days of performance testing off Italy, confirming readiness for handover and commercial service. The 4,300 guest ship will debut October 4 on an 11 day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, then sail a seven day voyage on October 15 before a planned transatlantic crossing on October 22 to start a Caribbean season. As the second Sphere class ship after Sun Princess, Star Princess brings larger venues, updated entertainment, and Princess MedallionClass service. Signature spaces include The Dome and The Arena, plus a curated lineup previewed in Star Princess Unveils Spectacular New Entertainment Lineup. Princess says the ship will offer 30 dining and bar options, Sanctuary Collection accommodations, and more balcony cabins for view centric itineraries.

Background

Princess postponed Star Princess delivery in April 2024, resetting the inaugural to October 4, 2025, with revised Barcelona roundtrips and a late October Atlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. Completing sea trials now, with Captain Arma guiding the effort, signals the project has cleared the most significant pre delivery technical hurdle. The design pairs LNG fuel with two Azipod propulsion units for precise handling, quieter operation, and efficiency at varied speeds. Four controllable pitch bow thrusters add lateral movement for tight harbor work. The Sphere platform debuted with Sun Princess in 2024, introducing expanded entertainment and next generation public spaces. Looking ahead, Princess plans to deploy Star Princess widely, including a return to Alaska in 2027 highlighted in Princess Cruises Alaska 2027: eight ships, five lodges.

Latest Developments

Sea trials in the Adriatic confirm systems and schedule

During August 9 to 12 trials, Star Princess sailed from Fincantieri Monfalcone to the Adriatic Sea for measured runs, turning circles, crash stops, and redundancy checks under class and builder supervision. Princess reports successful verification of steering, navigation, and propulsion, consistent with the platform's performance on Sun Princess. The ship's twin Azipods provide 360 degree thrust for forward and reverse movement, while four controllable pitch bow thrusters support precise docking in wind or current. LNG propulsion remains a centerpiece of the class, combining lower local emissions with long range capability for Mediterranean, Caribbean, and repositioning voyages. With technical milestones cleared, the ship returns to the yard for interior finishing, galley calibrations, provisioning tests, and crew onboarding ahead of handover.

Inaugural timeline, deployment, and onboard programming

Princess retains the revised schedule set in 2024, starting with an October 4, 2025, 11 day Barcelona roundtrip, followed by a seven day Mediterranean cruise on October 15, then an October 22 transatlantic to Fort Lauderdale for the first Caribbean season. Entertainment has been positioned as a differentiator, including original productions and pop up performances previewed for the class. Dining and beverage upgrades span 30 venues, with Sanctuary Collection accommodations offering exclusive spaces and amenities. The brand has also tuned add on bundles this summer, which may affect pricing for Sphere class bookings, as noted in Princess Cruises Boosts Premier, Plus Packages for 2026. After the Caribbean, Star Princess is slated for broader deployment, including a high profile Alaska return in 2027.

Analysis

For travelers, sea trials are the go, no go moment that determines whether a newbuild meets its performance brief. The Star Princess outcome suggests the schedule risk tied to last year's postponement has diminished, improving confidence for October Mediterranean sailings and the late month Atlantic crossing. The technical package is tailored for flexible deployment, blending LNG for emissions and range with Azipods for tight port approaches across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Alaska. That matters where berth windows are short, harbor winds can pinch schedules, and arrival precision protects shore time. Capacity wise, 4,300 berths add meaningful supply into popular shoulder season weeks, which can temper last minute pricing spikes, although premium accommodations and Sanctuary benefits will still command a higher fare. Princess is also leaning into entertainment and venue density, which helps distribute crowds, extend dwell time, and lift onboard revenue while improving guest flow on sea days.

Final Thoughts

With Star Princess sea trials complete, Princess has cleared the most consequential technical step before delivery. The October 4 Barcelona debut now looks well supported, with LNG propulsion, Azipods, and four bow thrusters combining to deliver efficiency and control. Entertainment, dining variety, and Sanctuary perks round out the value proposition, while the schedule through the Atlantic crossing sets up a strong first Caribbean season. If you are choosing between late season Europe or the early Caribbean window, expect solid performance either way, plus a chance to experience the newest Sphere class platform soon after launch. That momentum starts here, with Star Princess sea trials.