Royal Princess

Several cruise ships have carried the name Royal Princess:

Dusit Thani Group

The Dusit Thani Group of companies, also known as Dusit International is a Bangkok-based hotel and resort company. The company was founded in 1948 by Honorary Chairperson Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui. Today, Dusit International has over 22 hotel properties located in Thailand and overseas with plans to open more in the future.

History

The group's origin dates back to 1948 when Honorary Chairperson, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, opened her first hotel, the “Princess” in Bangkok.

Thanpuying Chanut embarked upon a luxurious city-centre property, Dusit Thani Bangkok, which has become the company’s flagship hotel. Dusit Thani first opened in February 1970.

The company takes its name and much of its character from the ideas of King Rama VI, whose thoughts on the modern state blended Western and Thai influences. In 1987, Dusit acquired a hotel which was renovated to become the first resort property, Dusit Thani Pattaya, followed by another beach resort in Phuket – Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. In 1989, Dusit Thani Hua Hin opened (earlier known as Dusit Resort and Polo Club). Royal Princess Chiang Mai was opened in Chiang Mai, capital of the north in 1991, followed by a second northern hotel in Chiang Rai – Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai opened the same year.

Royal Princess (2013)

MS Royal Princess is a cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, and the third ship to sail for the cruise line under that name. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Royal Princess is the flagship of the Princess fleet, a designation held up to that point by Grand Princess.

Princess Cruises ordered Royal Princess, as well as her fleetmate Regal Princess, both at the time unnamed, on 17 February 2010. The final contract was signed on 4 May 2010.

Construction of Royal Princess began on 15 March 2011 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy when the first plate was cut. The next major milestone in construction occurred on 20 October 2011, when the ship's keel was laid. She was launched in August 2012; fitting out continued, and Fincantieri delivered her to Princess Cruises in Spring 2013.

The ship measures 141,000 GT and has a capacity of 3,600 passengers. Her amenities include a pair of public areas cantilevered over the side of the ship on the top deck—a walkway on the starboard side and a bar on the port side. She also has fewer pools than previous Princess Cruises ships and features expanded public areas, including the movie theater, the "Sanctuary" bar and the central Piazza atrium. The ship will also have more dining options than previous Princess vessels. The ships of this class are one of the first passenger vessels built compliant to the new safe return to port requirements.