Delivery of Princess Cruises’ Star Princess Will Be Postponed, Nine Sailings Canceled

Princess Cruises and Italian shipyard Fincantieri have announced the decision to postpone the delivery of the next Sphere Class ship, Star Princess.

After a thorough examination of the remaining building milestones for Star Princess, the companies have decided to move the ship’s delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025. The delay means that Star Princess‘ first nine scheduled sailings are now canceled.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” Princess president John Padgett said in a press release.

This isn’t the first time in recent history that Princess Cruises and Fincantieri have postponed a new ship’s debut after inaugural cruises were sold. The brand’s newest ship Sun Princess was also delayed due to similar issues.

In preparation for the ship’s first Caribbean season, Star Princess will now embark on two new round-trip voyages from Barcelona: an 11-day Mediterranean cruise on October 4, 2025 and a 7-day Mediterranean sailing on October 15, 2025.

These new inaugural sailings will be followed by a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale on October 22, 2025. The three new cruises will open for sale on April 30, 2024.

What to do if your Star Princess cruise has been canceled

Cruisers who are booked on any of the impacted sailings will be given the option to cancel and receive a full refund of the cruise fare. Or, you can use your credit to book any Princess cruise worldwide—including aboard Star Princess, sister ship Sun Princess, or any other Princess ship.

Guests who choose to rebook will receive future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit depending on the cruise they select.

Princess has also promised to protect travel agent commissions on all bookings that have been paid in full.

About Star Princess

Star Princess is the second in the new Sphere Class of ships for Princess Cruises. Like her sister Sun Princess, Star will feature new architectural elements like The Dome, the cruise industry’s first geodesic feature on the top deck, and The Sphere, the suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the heart of the ship. Star will also offer new food and beverage concepts, an expanded casino, and a two-story Lotus Spa.

More news about Princess Cruises

Were you booked on one of the canceled inaugural voyages on Star Princess? Do you think Princess Cruises has offered enough compensation for your canceled vacation? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

(Please note that Should Be Cruising is not affiliated with Princess Cruises. If you have questions about your specific booking, please reach out to your travel agent or the cruise line.)

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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