Speaking in Barcelona following the naming of Sun Princess – whose own maiden voyage has been put back by 20 days – Padgett said: “We will do anything it takes to get the ship out right – we won’t put a ship out before it’s ready.
"We adjusted the schedule for Star [Princess] to take some pressure off because everyone knows Sun Princess came out a little hot – we went from zero to 100% with no shakedown cruise on the largest ship we’ve ever built. That’s pretty gutsy."
Shipyard delays meant the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess started sailing without key stage shows and the pioneering glider ride on its top deck.
Princess announced last Friday (19 April) the debut of sister ship, Star Princess, has been put back from July to September next year. It will sail in Europe and the Caribbean before doing a season in Alaska.
Hours before British actress Hannah Waddingham christened Sun Princess, the cruise line announced it is introducing its first "ship within a ship" concept.
Guests staying in the Sanctuary Collection – 80 Signature Collection suites, 123 mini suites and 12 premium deluxe balconies – will have exclusive access to the ship’s top-deck retreat with private cabanas, a pool and hot tubs. Other perks include private dining and priority reservations for speciality restaurants.
"Our new Sanctuary Collection offers guests those ultra-private, tucked-away spaces that rival any high-end resort and surpasses the offerings of comparable cruise lines featuring similar ship-within-a-ship amenities,” said Padgett. The Sanctuary Collection will debut in October 2024.
Asked what travel agents should tell their customers about Sun Princess, Padgett told TTG: “This is the best expression of Princess ever. What Sun Princess does is give their clients more of what they want – anything they loved on our ships we took it to the next level but the Princess level of personalisation and service remains.”
He added: “I want [us] to be a global brand with world-class service, food, beverage and entertainment.”
