Princess Cruises is to deploy its two newest and largest sister ships together in the Caribbean.
Sun Princess and Star Princess will be among 10 ships in the fleet making up the company’s largest deployment in the region for winter and spring 2025-26.
The pair of 4,300-passenger Sphere-class vessels, 20% larger than any of the line’s existing ships, will sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on seven-day eastern and western Caribbean cruises.
Sun Princess, the first in the fleet to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), is due to enter service in Europe in February followed by Star Princess in the Mediterranean in August 2025.
Confirmation of the line’s 2025-26 programme of 278 cruises across the US, Caribbean, Mexico and Pacific islands came as construction started on Star Princess at an Italian Fincantieri shipyard with a traditional keel laying ceremony.
On sale on December 20, the season includes a celebratory Mexican Riviera cruise by Royal Princess, marking the 60th anniversary of the company’s first cruise in December 1965 by the ship Princess Patricia.
Meanwhile, Sky Princess will become the first Royal-class ship to homeport at Port Canaveral in central Florida offering eight-day eastern and western Caribbean sailings and six-day sailings to the eastern Caribbean.
Caribbean Princess, Emerald Princess, Enchanted Princess, Island Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Sapphire Princess will make up the Caribbean deployment, covering 29 destinations in 22 countries with 178 departures on 25 itineraries ranging in duration from four to 20 days.
Chief commercial officer Terry Thornton said: “Our 2025-26 Americas programme is our largest ever offered.
“Sun Princess and Star Princess will deliver epic vacations and magnify the beauty of the Caribbean by offering guests the most celebrated views and vantage points available of the islands’ crystal blue waters and exotic charm.”