Newbuild is the first Princess Cruises vessel that was purpose-built for the Chinese market
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has officially delivered Princess Cruises’ first China-bound newbuild, Majestic Princess, to the line and its parent company Carnival Corporation.
The official handover took place at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard during a ceremony attended by Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni; Carnival Corporation’s chairman Micky Arison, the company’s president and CEO Arnold Donald and Stein Kruse, CEO of Holland America Group. Princess Cruises was represented by president Jan Swartz; Anthony Kaufman, executive vice president of international operations; and Cherry Wang, vice president and general manager of the Princess Cruises’ brand offices in China. Fincantieri was represented by CEO Giuseppe Bono and chairman Giampiero Massolo.
“Fincantieri proudly delivers Majestic Princess today to our long-term partner, Princess Cruises,” said Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s CEO. “The collaboration between Fincantieri, Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises to tailor Majestic Princess for China makes her special for us. We are proud to deliver this stunningly beautiful luxury cruise liner and highly value the partnership we have with Princess Cruises dating back to the 1980s.”
Majestic Princess will sail a preview cruise from 31 March to 4 April, which will cater for invited loyal Princess guests, international media, travel agent partners and brand partners from around the world.
On 4 April, the 143,000gt ship will depart from Rome, Italy for her inaugural five-day Adriatic Sea cruise, which calls in Kotor, Montenegro and Corfu, Greece. Following this, Majestic Princess will sail 7-, 14-, 21- and 28-day cruises from Rome, Barcelona in Spain, or Athens in Greece.
The vessel will them embark on a 49-day ‘Silk Road Sea Route’ voyage from Rome to Shanghai, visiting a total of 22 ports including Athens, Dubai, Cochin, Singapore, Port Klang and Xiamen. She will begin her first cruise from China on 11 July.
“Majestic Princess has arrived and we are thrilled to add this new jewel to our crown representing the newest, most stylish and most luxurious flagship to our fleet,” said Swartz. “We are ready to deliver an exceptional international cruise vacation experience to our guests.”