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| Friday, 17 August 2012 |
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| PRINCESS CRUISES' NEWEST SHIP FLOATS OUT | |||
| Royal Princess moves out of building dock for two-day float out and then to outfitting dock for final construction; debuts in June 2013 | |||
Alan Buckelew, president and CEO, Princess, and captain Tony Draper, master designate, Royal Princess, attended the event, as well as Nick Nash, master, first Royal Princess, and his daughter, Victoria Nash, who served as the ship’s madrina (godmother). Following the Italian shipyard’s tradition, the float out of a ship is celebrated when the madrina cuts the cord that begins the flow of water into the ship’s dock. Victoria Nash was chosen to serve as the madrina because she has a special connection to the first Royal Princess – as a baby, she was christened aboard the ship. “The original Royal Princess left our fleet some time ago, but we wanted to bring the spirit of that much-loved ship, also a prototype design, to the new Royal Princess,” said Buckelew. “And who better to do that than Victoria...who will now have a special connection with both vessels.” As is tradition, the ship’s bell was used as her christening bowl during that ceremony in 1996, and Victoria’s name was subsequently engraved inside the bell to commemorate the occasion. This same bell will be aboard the new Royal Princess. The two-day float-out process involves slowly letting water into the building dock to set the vessel afloat. The ship is then moved to the outfitting dock where final construction and interior outfitting will take place until the ship debuts in June 2013. The new, 3,600-passenger Royal Princess features an expanded atrium; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway that extends more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; and balconies on all outside staterooms. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall. For more information, and to view photos and videos of the float out ceremony, visit princess.com/royalprincess. |
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