New generation Princess is floated out in ceremony (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
New generation Princess is floated out in ceremony
2:48pm Monday 20th August 2012 in Shipping
Royal Princess and captain Tony Draper,
Southampton -based Princess Cruises’ newest ship Royal Princess has been “floated out” in traditional ceremony from her dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Princess president and CEO Alan Buckelew and Royal Princess captain Tony Draper, pictured, attended the event along with long-time Princess master Captain Nick Nash and his daughter Victoria, who was chosen as the ship’s godmother as she was christened as a baby aboard the first Royal Princess.
Mr Buckelew said: “The original Royal Princess left our fleet some time ago, but we wanted to bring the spirit of that muchloved ship, also a prototype design, to the new Royal Princess.
“And who better to do that than Victoria, who has grown up into a beautiful young lady who will now have a special connection with both vessels.”
The 141,000-ton ship, which will be able to carry up to 3,600 passengers, has moved to the outfitting dock where final construction and interior outfitting will take place.
Royal Princess is the first in the next generation of 21st century superships boasting onboard facilities never before seen on a cruise ship.
She will be officially named in a spectacular ceremony on Southampton’s waterfront in June 2013. A sister ship to Royal Princess will be launched the following spring.
Comments(2)
Old Man of the Sea
says...
7:00pm Mon 20 Aug 12
southy wrote:Southy,
These new class ships could off been built here in this City.
All it would of taken is a bit of foresight and vision. there was a golden opportunity to be able to build a mile long Dry Dock at 101 berth, but at last no vision for the real future from the council and ABP'j.
Why would you want a mile long, dry dock. Where would you put it at 101? At 90 degrees to the quay front up to West Quay, or run it through Mayflower Park? Incidentally, there is a huge difference between a building dock and a dry dock which is a repair facility. Where do you propose to put the construction infrastructure for this mile long dry dock?
southy says...
4:15pm Mon 20 Aug 12
All it would of taken is a bit of foresight and vision. there was a golden opportunity to be able to build a mile long Dry Dock at 101 berth, but at last no vision for the real future from the council and ABP'j.