By
Rebecca Gibson |
Princess Cruises’ latest newbuild Regal Princess arrived in Venice, Italy on 20 May to begin her maiden voyage.
Sister ship to Royal Princess, which was launched last May by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Regal Princess is the 18th vessel in the line’s fleet.
The 3,600-passenger ship has 17 decks and features 1,780 cabins, outside balcony staterooms, private poolside cabanas and the new Princess Live! television studio, as well as a variety of dining and entertainment venues and SeaWalk, a cantilevered, glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28ft beyond the edge of the vessel. Regal Princess also has 16 bars and restaurants, including three dining rooms, and a spa and fitness centre.
“Regal Princess is a magnificent ship and it’s a pleasure to welcome her into our fleet,” said Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises’ managing director UK and Europe. “The variety of onboard options means guests will be spoilt for choice when they take a cruise, from being pampered in the luxury spa, to dining in the specialty restaurants to taking a dip in the fresh water pools.”
Regal Princess departed for her inaugural cruise from Venice, Italy, to Athens, Greece, on 20 May 2014, which includes calls at Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight visit in Istanbul.
The vessel will then sail a six-day trip from Athens to Venice, calling at Kusadasi, Santorini, Katakolon and Dubrovnik. Both voyages can be combined into a 13-day Grand Adventure or added to a 2 June cruise for a full 20-day Mediterranean trip.
Regal Princess will then sail two itineraries on Princess’ signature Grand Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer, before she is officially named in November in the US. After her naming ceremony, she will sail a season of Eastern Caribbean cruises.