Star Princess

Launched in 2002, Star Princess is the 3rd Grand-class Princess Cruises ship, together with Crown, Diamond, Caribbean, Grand, Emerald, Ruby, Golden (Pacific Adventure since 2020) and Sapphire.

NEWS: In 2021, Star Princess will be transferred to P&O Australia's fleet and renamed Pacific Encounter after a scheduled refurbishment. The ship starts operations for P&O in November 2021. In 2020, Golden Princess (as Pacific Adventure) also joins the P&O AU's fleet.

IMPORTANT: CruiseMapper's Star Princess cruise schedule now also lists all Pacific Encounter cruises planned by P&O Australia.

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a US cruise company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (founded 1977), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - world's largest passenger shipping company. Among Princess Cruises assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.

The 108,977-ton, 2,602-passenger cruise ship Star Princess might be a vessel which design was created over more than a decade ago, but Princess has not shown its age yet. The liner is big and offers mainly pluses - and occasional minuses - of its size with a wide diversity of onboard facilities which appeal to just about anybody. At the same time, Star Princess offers guests a choice of a traditional cruising experience or a modern one - or even a smattering of elements of both. During ship's 2008 dry-dock Star Princess received a boatload of new facilities, which included the Piazza, an energetic amusement space, on-site bakery, Internet cafe, and wine and sushi bar; the Sanctuary, an adults-only zone which boasts padded lounges, shady and sunny places; the for-fee Crown Grill, which menu blends seafood and steakhouse fare (instead the existing steakhouse on the cruise); and 7 new suites, each suite with sitting room, walk-in closet and shower/tub combo. Retail therapy got a makeover this time around as well, with a doubled-in-size Essence shop store on Deck 7 and Meridian Bay shifted to the site of the former Essence shop on Deck 6.

Cruise itinerary program

Star Princess itinerary program is based on cruises from San Francisco to Hawaii, Mexico and Alaska, alternating seasonally.

P&O's Pacific Encounter cruise ship starts its inaugural cruise on November 11, 2021, with a 15-night "Southeast Asia and Australia" repositioning from Singapore to Brisbane. The maiden voyage visits ports in Indonesia (Lembar) and Australia (Darwin NT, Cairns QLD, Airlie Beach QLD, Brisbane QLD). Prices started from USD 2300 (quad share cabin).

Pacific Encounter will be homeported in Brisbane. The maiden voyages (in 2021) visit South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia and Vanuatu). The itineraries are themed "Barrier Reef Discovery" (7-night), "Pacific Island Hopper" (7-night), the themed "Comedy Cruise" (4-night cruise to nowhere), "Whitsundays Cruise" (4-night to Airlie Beach), plus the Christmas (9-night, visiting New Caledonia and Vanuatu) and New Year's Eve (8-night, visiting Vanuatu).

Cabins

Most Star Princess staterooms are 170-sq.foot balcony rooms (515). Almost 80% of ship's outside accommodations have private balcony views. There are a total of 1297 staterooms in 34 categories. 25 are the wheelchair accessible rooms. The largest aboard Star Princess is the Grand Suite (615 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Star Princess passengers choose between open seating and two assigned dinner seatings; breakfast and lunch in all Princess restaurants are open seating. Alternative dinner venues include the reservations-only Sabatini’s Italian and Crown Grill restaurants (both with cover). All Princess Cruises Lido buffets are open around the clock. The Wheelhouse Bar serves a pub lunch, and a grill and pizzeria offer casual snack choices. The ice-cream bars and patisseries charge for premium ice cream and speciality coffee. A wine bar offers extra-charge artisan cheeses and evening snacks. Chef’s Table and Ultimate Balcony Dining options are also available, as is afternoon tea and room service.

Follows the complete list of Star Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Capri Restaurant (ship's aft Dining Room; dinner only - offers “Anytime Dining” between 5:30 p.m. -10 p.m.)
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
• Portofino Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room for Breakfast 7-9 a.m., Lunch 12-1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features “Anytime Dining” for Dinner between 5:30-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m.)
• Amalfi Restaurant (dinner only aft Dining Room; with 2 fixed seatings at 5:45 and 8 p.m.)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Trident Grill & Prego Pizzeria (self-service, complimentary fast food bar)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Both the Vista Lounge and Princess Theater can host featured entertainers and production shows, and each of the shows runs several times. The Princess Theater is more like a Broadway theatre than a cruise-ship typical show lounge. It features same-level orchestra seating, stadium seating behind, as well as a few boxes. The Vista Lounge is cabaret-style, with chairs grouped around small drink tables and big windows making the room light during the day. The Explorers Lounge and Wheelhouse Bar are located side by side on the Promenade Deck. These smaller entertainment venues host karaoke, pianists, dance bands and theme parties, as well as games and trivia during the day.  

Follows the complete list of Star Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour speciality coffee bar and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Princess Star Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Shooter’s Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Vines Shop; Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Star Grand Casino 
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars); Vista Lounge & Bar
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Scoops Bar (Sundaes Ice Cream Bar, complimentary)
• Outrigger Bar (poolside bar); Tradewinds Bar
• Star’s Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Hearts & Minds (Wedding Chapel)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Conservatory (recreation area); The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area); The Oasis relaxation area
• Calypso Reef & Pool area; Neptune’s Reef & Pool area
• The Skywalker (Jogging Track); Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard, Deck Chess; Princess Links mini golf course
• Skywalkers Disco Nightclub.

Star Princess 2017 refurbishment review

The list of deck plan changes following the ship's 15-day drydock refurbishment in 2017 (December 3-15, done in San Francisco CA) includes:

• All passenger cabins received new bedding (all beds were replaced with Princess Luxury Bed).
• The ship's kids and teen lounges (part of "Camp Discovery") were renovated and updated via a partnership with Discovery Channel (as part of Princess Cruises' complimentary onboard children program "Discovery at Sea").
• To the onboard Boutiques (Shops of Princess) were added "Fragrance & Cosmetic" and "Effy Fine Jewelry".
• Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria (speciality restaurant) was updated with new decor and a new menu (partnership with Chef Angelo Auriana).
• The ship's wellness complex (Lotus Spa and Fitness Center) was upgraded with the latest gym equipment.
• The onboard Casino was redesigned and received new carpeting.
• Among the other upgrades were new upholstery and carpeting throughout the ship.
• The ship's 2018 refurbishment was part of Princess Cruises' USD 450 million multi-year fleet renovation program "Come Back New Promise".

Princess Cruises Star cruise ship was christened by godmother Gunilla Antonini - wife of Dr Corrado Antonini (executive chairmen of the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri). The liner started its inaugural cruise (26-day maiden voyage) in the Pacific Ocean on February 13, 2002. Star is fleet's first Grand-class vessel, with sisterships Golden (Pacific Adventure) and Grand. The other (similarly-designed) liners from this series are Caribbean, Crown, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire.

Fun fact is, that earlier there was another vessel with the name "Star Princess". Currently, this ship cruises under the name Columbus (former "Pacific Pearl" operated by P&O Australia).

Pacific Encounter inaugural cruise 2021 itineraries

Star Princess' last itinerary for Princess Cruises was the 30-day relocation cruise from Alaska to Asia (Vancouver to Singapore) - priced from ~USD 2700 pp.

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The renamed Star Princess starts as Pacific Encounter for P&O Australia with the 15-day repositioning cruise from Singapore to Brisbane.

Next is the 7-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" itinerary.

Follows the 7-day "Pacific Island Hopper" itinerary.

Godspeed to the new ship!