WORK BEGINS ON "REGAL PRINCESS"
New Flagship of
Princess Cruises Fleet
The start of construction of the new "Regal Princess" passenger ship was
marked with the laying of its keel, weighing approximately 500 tons,
during a ceremony held today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. .
Official Start of Construction
We've mentioned on several occasions that the official start of construction of a new ship begins when the first block of steel is laid. It is known as the laying of the keel. This tradition includes the laying of a ceremonial coin to bring good fortune.
Regal & Royal Princess
Princess Cruises ordered two ships from Fincantieri shipyard. "Regal
Princess" will be the second of two ships ordered from Fincantieri in
2010, both of which using the same prototype design. It will therefore
have the same record-breaking vital statistics as "Royal Princess", the
largest ship ever built in Italian shipbuilding history: 141,000 gross
tons, with a capacity for 3,600 passengers.
These ships represent a new technological benchmark in Europe and worldwide for their innovative layout, and the outstanding performance and top quality of their state-of-the-art technology.
Regal Princess also takes a name from our past that we think is well suited for this spectacular ship,” said Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of Princess Cruises. “Today’s keel laying is an exciting event as it marks a key milestone in our newbuilding program.”
Following a traditional blessing by a priest, the ship’s keel was moved into position by a huge crane onto the keel blocks. The computer-guided maneuver took only minutes, but is a major accomplishment for Princess Cruises and the shipyard.
Regal Princess will offer many of the same special features as Royal Princess, which debuts in June 2013. Among these are a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.
These ships represent a new technological benchmark in Europe and worldwide for their innovative layout, and the outstanding performance and top quality of their state-of-the-art technology.
Regal Princess also takes a name from our past that we think is well suited for this spectacular ship,” said Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of Princess Cruises. “Today’s keel laying is an exciting event as it marks a key milestone in our newbuilding program.”
Following a traditional blessing by a priest, the ship’s keel was moved into position by a huge crane onto the keel blocks. The computer-guided maneuver took only minutes, but is a major accomplishment for Princess Cruises and the shipyard.
Regal Princess will offer many of the same special features as Royal Princess, which debuts in June 2013. Among these are a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.
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