A SOUTHAMPTON-BASED cruise company has announced plans for a new ship.

Princess Cruises, part of the city’s Carnival group, has placed an order for its sixth ‘Royal’ class vessel, which will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

The ship will boast a central atrium hub with multiple dining, entertainment and retail venues.

The vessel, which will carry 3,560 passengers, is not expected to hit the water until 2022.

It will also feature the company’s “Movies Under the Stars” experience - the largest outdoor screen at sea.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises’ vice president for UK and Europe, said: “The decision to grow our fleet is testament to the success of Princess Cruises around the world.

“With four new ships now due for delivery, starting with Majestic Princess in March, these are incredibly exciting times for Princess Cruises.”

The new ship will also offer a feature for tech-lovers in the Ocean Medallion - a first-of-its-kind wearable device which is slightly smaller than a £2 coin.

Part of the Ocean Medallion Class, the device will offer enhanced services and a more personalised experience for guests by acting like a concierge.

Features include helping users navigate the ship, streamlining the boarding process, booking recommended shore excursions and even ordering their favourite drink.

The Ocean Medallion has no discernible technology – no on-off switch, no charging, and no menu to navigate.

The device, which can be worn as a pendant on a wristband in a clip or just placed in a pocket, can activate services and experiences throughout the ship without passengers having to push a button or take any action.

Pairing with the Ocean Medallion is the Ocean Compass - a personal digital experience concierge accessible by all guests using interactive displays throughout the ship, on stateroom TVs or via passengers’ own mobile devices.

It will guide their way to venues around the ship, make spa reservations, arrange celebrations, view photographs, and learn about the destinations they will visit and activities at each port of call, and more.

“We are in the business of providing our guests incredible vacation experiences that create memories that they will cherish for a lifetime,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

“Ocean Medallion Class will deliver an elevated cruise vacation experience by connecting people, places and cultures from around the world in a more profound way.

“The service Princess guests have always loved will be amplified by the Ocean Medallion.”

Two Princess Cruises ships will be stationed in Southampton this year.

The Crown Princess ship will operate from the city from April 22, while the Caribbean Princess will begin its journeys from May 1.

Passengers of the Crown Princess will explore Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, while Caribbean Princess will take passengers around Ireland and Scotland.

The two ships will remain in Southampton throughout spring and summer before leaving the city towards the end of the year.

The Crown Princess will depart from Southampton on September 2, heading towards East America and stopping at cities including New York, Boston and Halifax.

Caribbean Princess departs for the Caribbean on September 22.

Princess Cruises has another three ships being built with one, named Majestic Princess, set for launch in March this year.

Majestic Princess, which will be based in Shanghai, will be able to carry 3,560 passengers and will bear the Chinese name Shèngshì Gōngzhǔ Hào, which translates as “Grand World” or “Grand Spirit”.

The ship will begin its first cruise from its home-port in Shanghai on July 11, 2017 after a short season in the Mediterranean.

It will then transport guests to a variety of destinations in Japan and Korea.

The other two ships, which are both currently unnamed, will launch in 2019 and 2020.