Princess Cruises‘ newest ship, Regal Princess, successfully completed five days of sea trials this week. The at-sea maneuvers assessed the ship’s propulsion, steering and navigational equipment.Â
The ship is now back in the shipyard for further exterior and interior finishing.   Regal Princess debuts May 20 with a seven-day Mediterranean sailing from Venice.
The 3,600-passenger Regal Princess, a sister to June 2013’s prototypical Royal Princess, is under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Regal Princess will share many amenities and characteristics with its sister. These include an expanded atrium, known as the Piazza; the SeaWalk, a cantilevered, glass-enclosed walkway that will extend 28 feet beyond the ship’s edge and 128 feet over the water; a series of private, for-fee poolside cabanas; an adults-only pool; a pastry shop; and the Princess Live! television studio.
In response to feedback the line received from passengers of Royal Princess, Regal Princess includes two major changes: it will feature a promenade deck and an aft pool.
As with “Royal,” “Regal” is a moniker that Princess Cruises has used in the past. When Princess acquired the Sitmar Line in 1988, two still-under-construction ships were part of the deal. One of the two ships ultimately became the first Regal Princess, and sailed with the fleet until it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2007. It now sails Australia and New Zealand cruises as the Pacific Dawn.
