Princess starts work on new Chinese cruise ship

Construction work has commenced on Princess Cruises’ latest ship, which will be tailored to the needs of the Chinese market.

An official keel-laying ceremony was held recently at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, where Carnival and Princess officials celebrated the occasion with a traditional Chinese lion dance.

This yet-to-be-named ship will make its debut in summer 2017.

“The lion dance has been part of the Chinese culture for thousands of years and is performed on various auspicious occasions and celebrations,” said Cherry Wang, country director of Carnival China, who travelled to Italy for the ceremony.

“According to traditional Chinese belief, the lion signifies courage, wisdom and good fortune, and brings happiness, longevity and good luck. We believe this special ceremony will bring prosperity and good fortune to Princess Cruises and our guests in China.”

The 141,000-tonne, 3,600-passenger ship will become the third ship in Princess’ new Royal Class, following the Royal Princess and Regal Princess. Like its two predecessors, the new vessel will feature a multi-story atrium, a glass-bottomed SeaWalk which extends 8.5 metres over the edge of the ship, plus a range of entertainment and F&B facilities.

In addition, the new ship will offer a series of facilities and attractions designed specifically for the Chinese market, such as a Lobster Grill restaurant, an ocean-view hot pot dinner option, ballroom dancing and large duty-free shopping areas.

Additional details about the new ship’s features and deployment schedule will be announced over the coming months.

sourced:traveldailymedia.com