Princess Cruises began in 1965, founded by Stanley McDonald. It commenced with just one small ship – the Princess Patricia – offering cruises along the Mexican Riviera. From those early days, the brand has grown into one of the most recognised names in cruising, thanks to its starring role in the classic TV series The Love Boat, which made everyone dream of life at sea.
Today, Princess Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation and sails all over the world – from Alaska to Australia and they have recently introduced their newest ship – Star Princess. The inaugural three day Caribbean sailing took place from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, stopping at their own private island, Princess Cays and also in Nassau in the Bahamas.
But before the ship set sail, there was an extravagant celebration for the Naming Ceremony of Star Princess. They have broken two traditions with the inauguration of this ship – they normally have one godmother and their ships are always christened with champagne. This time, Star Princess has two godparents – Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila and Star Princess was christened with the McConaughey’s new brand of organic tequila called Pantalones.
“It’s an honour to follow in the footsteps of past godparents and welcome Star Princess into the Princess fleet,” said Camila and Matthew McConaughey. “We are excited to share this moment with the guests who step aboard – coming together with family and friends, making new memories, and sharing a Pantalones cocktail, or two.”
The naming ceremony took place in the Princess Arena in front of a packed out theatre. The excitement was intense and the room was electric. Hosted by travel and lifestyle TV personality Dawn McCoy with introductions and speeches from the President of Princess Cruises, Gus Antorcha and the Captain of Star Princess, Gennaro Arma alongside Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila.
Captain Gennaro Arma said that “I am very proud to be the master and captain of this beautiful vessel. I have been with Princess for 27 years. I always look forward to the moment the guests come onboard, that’s when the ship comes alive. It’s wonderful to see that connection with our crew members and how during the voyage, we all become one big family.”
The celebrations aptly named ‘Out of this World’ continued in the Dome area with a culinary extravaganza for all guests with enticing selections of culinary platters including a huge black tuna on show before being carved and served as sushi all washed down with Pantalaones organic tequila and champagne. If that wasn’t enough, Sheryl Crow played an intimate concert for all the guests at the pool area followed by a spectacular Spirit of Alaska Drone Show. It truly was a ‘Sky Full of Stars’ evening.
The following day, as we finally sailed away from the port, Star Princess let out that unmistakable Love Boat-inspired horn. It wasn’t just a departure; it felt like a ‘Star’ moment. Up on the pool deck, the sail-away party was already in full flow, the DJ blasting holiday sounds across the deck while everyone danced, laughed and settled into the only word that mattered for the next three days: Fun.
But the real magic was happening in the harbour. The port tug boats gathered around us like an escort, firing arches of water into the sky and spinning in perfect circles, almost like they were putting on a show just for Star Princess. It was a surreal send-off – part celebration, part ceremony and it really did feel as if the whole port was cheering us out to sea.
What makes Star Princess so special?
it is a much larger ship – a sphere class – with new features like the glass-enclosed multi-level ‘Dome’ area for entertainment and sunbathing, a larger Piazza – the entertainment hub of the ship – and the new ‘Princess Arena’ theatre. This sailing debuted new shows including the ‘Meridian’ – a love story at sea, ‘Illuminate’ will leave you mesmerised and laughing at the same time and the unique ‘Spellbound’ by Magic Castle experience is a must see. This unique experience was created in partnership with Hollywood’s Iconic Magic Castle. The venue honours the legendary illusionist Richard Valentine Pitchford (The Great Cardini) We were joined by the great nephew of Cardini, Randy Pitchford, the owner of The Magic Castle, for the opening of Spellbound. From the moment you enter the secret door with an ‘S’ on it, you know this is something special. Inside is like….
Well, you need to go and see for yourself! (this is an additional cost which includes two specialty cocktails and a magic show)
With more than 1,500 balcony staterooms, you can wake up to your own private view of the sea every morning. For something even more special, the Sanctuary Collection – which includes suites, mini-suites and balcony staterooms – feels like a unique escape within the ship. Guests here get access to a dedicated restaurant, the serene adults-only Sanctuary Club pool deck – this has really raised the bar on what luxury at sea can feel like.
Each evening, the Princess ‘fairies’ slip a Princess Patter into your room – a wonderfully detailed guide to everything happening the next day. It covers the full schedule, handy info for port stops and tender times, the top three things not to miss, and even a little ‘meet the team’ feature. I have never seen anything so thorough or genuinely useful and mine ended up coming everywhere with me.
Dining
With 30 different food and drink venues on board including eight specialty restaurants ranging from elegant Edomae-style Japanese to bright, art-inspired dining – you’re never short of somewhere tempting to eat. The Eatery itself is a relaxed, buffet-style setup, but one of my favourite spots sits just beside it: the International Café. It’s open 24 hours and serves everything from warm pastries and fresh sandwiches to salads and specialty coffee. You can sink into the comfiest seats, look straight out at the sea and just breathe for a moment. It’s tucked into the Piazza on Deck nine, a gorgeous little hub where you can easily lose track of time just watching the buzz of the ship.
Inside The Eatery, there’s also a Grab ’N’ Go counter, which I loved – perfect for those moments when you don’t want to sit down, you just want to pick something up and wander. You can stroll the decks with a snack in hand or take a seat at any of the viewing areas scattered around the ship.
Lotus Spa
This spa is one of the best I have seen. You can choose a Spa Enclave experience using the indoor jacuzzi, steam rooms, and more any time of the day or evening and you can also book a wide variety of signature services (I opted for a teeth whitening service with Joselito) Also make sure to visit the spa on embarkation day for huge discounts.
From the spectacular shows, the luxurious cabins, the friendly team, the beautiful port stops, the dining options, the variety of activities onboard – this only covers half of what you can experience onboard Star Princess. As Marie Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of Star Princess says, “The success of our brand leads back to our customers and listening to what they want. We have really high standards on what we put out into the market, focusing on the guest experience and if we are hitting the mark right. We like to test, learn and try and see what resonates with our guests as they are right at the centre of everything that we do.”
It’s clear from the moment you step onboard that Star Princess truly shines – you can’t help but be captivated by everything she has to offer.
Travel Facts
Aer Lingus fly direct to Miami and Fort Lauderdale approx. €550
Aer Lingus Airport Lounge € 30pp for a day pass
Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel is right beside the port (I advise to fly in the day before your cruise) prices approx. €229 for 1 night
Seven-night Western Caribbean cruise with Mexico, onboard Star Princess, sailing roundtrip Fort Lauderdale. Cruise departs on Saturday 24 October 2026, calling at Roatan, Belize City and Cozumel. Princess Standard fares start from €585pp, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom.
Published in the Irish Daily Mail on 27/12/2025