View source for Sphere-class cruise ship

{{short description|LNG powered cruise ship}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:Sun Princess at Piraeus Harbour.jpg
|Ship image size= 
|Ship caption=''Sun Princess'' at [[Piraeus]], 2024
|image alt=
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Builders=[[Fincantieri]], [[Monfalcone]], Italy
|Operators=[[Princess Cruises]]
|Class before={{sclass|Royal|cruise ship|4}}
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Built range= 2021–present
|In service range=2024–present<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date= 23 July 2018|title= Princess Cruises to Build Two Next Generation LNG Cruise Ships|url= https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2018/07/Princess-Cruises-to-Build-Two-Next-Generation-LNG-Cruise-Ships.html |publisher= Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd.}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024}}</ref>
|Total ships planned=2<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date= 3 September 2021|title= Fincantieri Starts Construction of New 'Sphere' Class Ship for Princess Cruises|url= https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25785-fincantieri-starts-construction-of-new-sphere-class-ship-for-princess-cruises.html|work= Cruise Industry News |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
|Total ships on order=
|Total ships building=1
|Total ships completed=1
|Total ships cancelled=
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|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships scrapped=
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Cruise ship]]
|Ship tonnage={{GT|175,000}}
|Ship length={{cvt|345.3|m|ftin}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|47|m|ftin}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth=
|Ship decks=21
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship power=Dual-fueled LNG power
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed=
|Ship capacity=4,300 passengers
|Ship crew=1,500
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''Sphere-class cruise ship''' is a class of [[cruise ship]]s currently under construction that will enter service with [[Princess Cruises]] in February 2024. They will be the largest ships built for Princess Cruises and the company's first ships powered by [[liquefied natural gas]] (LNG). The first name was revealed to be ''Sun Princess''.<ref name="sunprincess">{{cite web |title=Next Princess Ship Set to Be Named Sun Princess, Debut Spring 2024 |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28273-next-princess-ship-set-to-be-named-sun-princess-debut-spring-2024.html |work=Cruise Industry News |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>

== Design and construction ==
In July 2018, [[Fincantieri]] announced it signed a memorandum of agreement with Princess Cruises, for the construction of two  cruise ships with a [[gross tonnage]] of {{GT|175,000|link=off}}, the largest ships built in Italy. The deliveries were planned for late 2023 and early 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2018/2-navi-di-prossima-generazione-a-lng-per-princess-cruises/ |title=2 Next-Generation LNG Ships for Princess Cruises |date=23 July 2018 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> The construction was to take place at [[Monfalcone]]. The signing of the final contracts was announced in March 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2019/princess-cruises-and-fincantieri-sign-contracts-for-two-next-generation-cruises/|title=Princess Cruises and Fincantieri Sign Contract For Two Next-Generation Cruise Ships |date=27 March 2019 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>

The ships have a capacity of about 4,300 passengers<ref>{{cite news |last=Sloan |first=Gene |date=23 July 2018 |title= Princess Cruises joins list of cruise lines ordering giant new ships |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2018/07/23/princess-cruises-ship-order-finantieri-record-size/817734002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> and will be powered by LNG.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2021/fincantieri-construction-of-new-sphere-class-ship-for-princess-cruises-begins/|title= Fincantieri: Construction of New "Sphere" Class Ship for Princess Cruises Begins |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=3 September 2021 |publisher= Fincantieri S.p.A |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> The vessels measure {{convert|345.3|m|ftin}} long<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--not stated--> |date=15 March 2023 |title=Sun Princess Cruise Ship, USA |url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/sun-princess-cruise-ship-usa/ |work=Ship Technology |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 March 2023 |title=Fincantieri Floats Its First LNG and Largest Cruise Ship Sun Princess |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/fincantieri-floats-its-first-lng-and-largest-cruise-ship-sun-princess |work=The Maritime Executive |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref> with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{cvt|47|m|ftin}}. The ships have 2,157 cabins and are served by a crew of 1,500.<ref name="delivery">{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/construction-navale/fincantieri-livre-le-paquebot-sun-princess |title=Fincantieri livre le paquebot Sun Princess |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |trans-title=Fincantieri delivers the Sun Princess liner |date=15 February 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>

Steel was cut for the first ship by Fincantieri in September 2021. The second ship is planned to be completed in 2025.<ref name="Thakkar">{{cite news |last=Thakkar |first=Emrys |date=3 September 2021 |title=Construction Begins on First Sphere-Class Princess Cruise Ship |url=https://www.cruisehive.com/construction-begins-on-first-sphere-class-princess-cruise-ship/55744 |work= Cruise Hive |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> It will be the largest ship ever built in Italy, eclipsing MSC Cruises' recently launched flagship ''MSC Seashore'' which currently holds the record at 170,412 gross tons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sun Princess Review |website=Cruise Critic |last=Williamson |first=Jeanine |url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=1566 |access-date=19 February 2024 |language=en-gb}}</ref> The first [[float out]] took place on 8 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/03/sun-princess-floats-out-at-fincantieri/ |title=Sun Princess Floats Out at Fincantieri |work=Cruise Industry News |date=8 March 2023 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> ''Sun Princess'' was delivered on 14 February 2024.<ref name="delivery"/> There were technical issues aboard the ship after entering service, delaying its first port of call.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/03/technical-delays-lead-to-change-in-sun-princess-itinerary/ |title=Technical Delays Lead to Change in Sun Princess’ Itinerary |work=Cruise Industry Daily |date=15 March 2024 |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref><ref>[https://www.princess.com/en-int/news/news-releases/2024/01/princess-cruises-fincantieri-mutually-agree-to-postpone-sun-princess Princess Cruises, Fincantieri Mutually Agree to Postpone Sun Princess Delivery February 8 Inaugural Voyage Cancelled]</ref><ref>[https://www.princess.com/en-int/news/news-releases/2024/02/princess-cruises-takes-delivery-of-new-sun-princess-from-fincantieri-additional-work-in-shipyard-required-to-support-new-february-28-maiden-voyage Princess Cruises Takes Delivery of New Sun Princess from Fincantieri; Additional Work in Shipyard Required to Support New February 28 Maiden Voyage]</ref>

In April 2024, it was announced that the delivery of the ''Star Princess'' will be delayed by two months.<ref>[https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/princess-and-fincantieri-to-delay-star-princess-delivery/ Princess and Fincantieri to Delay Star Princess Delivery]</ref> The ship was launched in September.<ref>https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-equipment/fincantieri-s-monfalcone-shipyard-floats-out-star-princess</ref><ref>https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt57a7a4fed12d2120/bltd2e92edcebb43a45/66f55f0753eb027dec90a11b/Star-Princess-float-out.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale</ref><ref>https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt57a7a4fed12d2120/bltb977741ce6564e2f/66f55f6b152ab54cafd33c3d/Star-Princess-float-out-executives.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale</ref><ref>https://www.cruisehive.com/star-princess-reaches-major-construction-milestone-at-shipyard/145730</ref><ref>https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/starprincess-floatout1-889x500.jpg</ref><ref>https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/starprincess-floatout2.jpg</ref>

== Ships in class ==
{| {{Table}} 
! Name !! Gross tonnage !! Capacity !! Builder 
|- 
| {{ship||Sun Princess|2024|2}}<ref name="sunprincess"/>
| rowspan="2" align=center" | {{GT|175,000}}
| rowspan="2" align=center" | 4,300 passengers
| rowspan="2" align="center" | [[Fincantieri]], [[Monfalcone]], Italy 
|- 
| ''Star Princess''<ref>{{cite web |title=Second Sphere-class ship, Star Princess, to debut August 2025 |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/second-sphere-class-ship-star-princess-debut-august-2025 |website=Seatrade Cruise News |last=Kalosh |first=Anne |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
|}

== External links ==
* [https://www.princesscruises.de/en/ships/sun-princess Princess Cruises: Sun Princess]
* [https://www.princesscruises.de/en/ships/star-princess Princess Cruises: Star Princess]


== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Princess Cruises ships}}
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
[[Category:Cruise ship classes]]
[[Category:Princess Cruises]]