Princess Kate launches superliner with the flick of a champagne bottle

THE Duchess of Cambridge had time for one last event before the birth of her first child. Brian Crisp was there as the Princess launched a glamourous new superliner.

The staircase from the piazza aboard Picture: Supplied

"I NAME this new ship Royal Princess. May God bless her, and all who sail in her."

With these words Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, unleashed the Nebuchadnezzar-size bottle of Moet &Chandon champagne as the crowd, and bottle, exploded in raucous approval.

In what is scheduled to be her final solo public appearance before the birth of her child, Kate Middleton's connection to the Royal Princess is a stroke of marketing genius by Princess Cruises.

Dressed in a Hobbs dalmatian-print coat for the launch, Kate Middleton is one of the most photographed, loved and influential women of her time. Such is her influence on fashion in the UK that the coat she was wearing at the launch - which costs Pound169 ($A278) - was completely sold out before the 30-minute ceremony had ended. Princess Cruises is hoping she has the same effect on ticket sales.

Seasoned cruise watchers waiting in the cold on the Southampton docks said that they had never seen a larger media throng at the christening of a ship.

Ironically Princess Diana launched the last Royal Princess in 1984. Ships have had godmothers since the mid-19th century and Princess Cruises have bestowed the honour on many famous women, including Baroness Margaret Thatcher and film star Audrey Hepburn, for its previous 16 ships.

The Duchess of Cambridge launches . Picture: Supplied

Princess Cruises said the link with Kate Middleton had created a frenzy of positive press in the run-up to the launch. That's something the industry needed after a series of bad-news disasters in the northern hemisphere had sapped consumer confidence.

"Choosing a godmother is important for a ship. It symbolises the spirit of the vessel for its entire life," president and CEO of Princess Cruises Alan Buckelew said.

"We can think of no more fitting godmother for our magnificent new ship. Her Royal Highness is an inspiring ambassador for Britain and she is admired around the world for her style, her grace, and her compassion for others."

When asked what characteristics the ship and Ms Middleton shared he said: "Both are magnificent, gracious and serene."

While MiddletonKate is now preparing for her own July 14 delivery, the Royal Princess is making its way around the Mediterranean, winning over a new generation of cruises.

The numbers for Royal Princess are impressive.

It can accommodate up to 3600 passengers at any one time. It has 36 suites, 314
mini-suites, 1070 balconies and 1780 staterooms.

All outside cabins have balconies and the good news is that they have made the showers bigger on this ship. In what Princess says is a first all cabins also have access to an easy-to-use on-demand television that offers free movies, television shows and some live channels.

The staircase from the piazza aboard Picture: Supplied

There are more than 1300 crew, including a smattering of Australians.

At 141,000 tonnes the Royal Princess, the first new ship in the fleet since 2008, is also the biggest ever made by this company. It isThe Royal Princess is the first in a new generation of ships for Princess Cruises. Three years ago it was a dream, nothing more than sketches on spare pieces of paper, now it is being touted as the most beautiful ship in the world.

The ship has maintained the basic DNA of a Princess cruise liner. There is no doubt returning passengers will recognise the things that have influenced them to become frequent cruisers with Princess.

The first thing you will notice, however, is that the atrium area - which has always been the hub of Princess cruises - is about 50 per cent bigger than on earlier-design ships. It is an on-board destination with a mix of restaurants, bars, lounge areas and the wickedly good Alfredo's pizza bar on level six. Alfredo's serves up a true pizza, one you are likely to find in Naples rather than those poor imitations fast-food chains deliver. There is a flow through this area that makes sense for passengers, encourages them to linger and, ultimately, spend more money at the bar or the gelato shop.

The spa has also been moved from the top deck down to this atrium area. When asked about the move a Princess executive said that it had taken a while for the company to realise that spas don't need views. "For the most part people are face down, with their eyes closed."

By cruise ship standards the Lotus Spa is setting new industry standards - both on land and at sea. The enclave area with its Turkish Hammam, sensory showers and hydrotherapy pool is world class. There are 15 treatment rooms offering everything from simple manicures through to indulgent couples room spa treatments.

Where the spa used to be Princess has expanded its Sanctuary style of adult-only cruise area - the perfect place to enjoy the sun.

Before the launch one of the ship's big selling points had been the Seawalk, which is a glass-bottomed walkway that cantilevers almost 10m beyond the edge of the ship. When you walk out on it and look down, the water is more than 40m below.

Now it isn't a theme park ride, but it is also not for people who don't like heights. What is does give you though is an understanding of just how big this ship is.

There are no plans for Royal Princess to visit Australia at this time buthowever, locally, Princess will continue to offer Australians the biggest choice of ships and destinations sailing from Australia, with four ships deployed in the region including Diamond Princess, Dawn Princess and Sun Princess.

Go2 - Royal Princess

To book a cruise on Royal Princess see princess.com or ph 13 24 88.

Today Royal Princess commences its maiden 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona to Venice. Ports of call will include Toulon (for Provence), Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Athens and then arriving in Venice.

Royal Princess will complete a season of 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises from June 23 through to September 27.