Princess Cruises delays new ship, causing disruption for thousands of passengers

Princess Cruises fans will have to wait a little longer for the debut of the highly anticipated Star Princess ship. The cruise line announced on Friday that the launch of the 4,300-passenger vessel has been pushed back from August 2, 2025, to October 4, 2025, due to construction delays.

This two-month delay will result in the cancellation of eight Europe sailings ranging from nine to 10 nights, scheduled between August 2, 2025, and October 20, 2025. Additionally, a 16-night transatlantic sailing from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale, originally set for October 20, 2025, to November 5, 2025, has also been canceled.

In place of the canceled sailings, Princess Cruises has added a new inaugural voyage for Star Princess out of Barcelona on October 4, 2025. This 11-night trip around the Mediterranean will be followed by two more new voyages: a seven-night Mediterranean trip on October 15, 2025, and a 14-night transatlantic trip on October 22, 2025. Bookings for these new sailings will open on April 30.

Passengers booked on the canceled Star Princess sailings have the option to switch to any other Princess cruise and receive a future cruise credit and onboard credit. They can also choose to receive a full refund for the fare they paid.

The Sphere Class ships, including Star Princess, are the first new class of ships to debut at Princess in nearly 11 years. These ships are significantly larger than previous Princess vessels and offer new features such as exclusive suites, cabana cabins, and a glass-dome-topped pool area. Despite the delay, Princess Cruises is working hard to ensure that Star Princess meets the highest standards for its guests when it finally sets sail in October 2025.