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Shining Debut of New Sun Princess Just One Year Away: Inaugural Team of Esteemed Mariners Announced.

Princess Cruises is a leading name in the world of luxury cruising, and they are set to raise the bar once again with the upcoming debut of their latest vessel, the Sun Princess. The ship’s debut in the gleaming Mediterranean is just a year away, and the anticipation is palpable. The Sun Princess is the first of Princess Cruises’ next-generation ships and will offer a range of new vistas, venues, and experiences, along with newly inspired signature spaces, all while celebrating the cruise line’s legacy as The Love Boat.

The ship is currently in its final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard, and it takes an equally talented team of revered mariners to oversee the ship’s completion and officially take delivery of the ship. Princess President John Padgett announced the highly experienced team that will guide Sun Princess through the remainder of her construction phase and bring her out for the anticipated inaugural season.

The team of esteemed mariners includes Captains Craig Street and Paolo Arrigo; Staff Captains Brian Whelan and Valerio Esposito; Hotel General Managers Ralph D’Souza and Simona Stumberger; and Chief Engineers Gaetano Guida and Davor Pavlovic-Kalifo. With collective 150-plus years of service, they will be instrumental in the ship’s progress, delivery, and beyond.

Princess Cruises is known for its exceptional customer service and the new team of mariners upholds this tradition. The team boasts an impressive level of experience and expertise, having worked on various Princess Cruises vessels and high-profile projects.

Captain Craig Street, who joined Princess as a deck cadet in 1990, will be leading the team. He worked his way up through the ranks, taking command of Star Princess in 2008 and has since served as captain of 13 Princess ships. Street developed an appreciation for travel at an early age as he spent much of his youth living with his family overseas in various countries, including Nigeria, Singapore, Dubai, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. With a keen interest in flying, he also holds a private helicopter license and when time permits, enjoys playing golf in the amazing ports Princess visits.

Captain Paolo Arrigo, an accomplished mariner whose career spans more than a quarter-century at sea, joined Princess Cruises as a deck cadet in 1996 after serving for a year in the Italian Coast Guard. He has worked for Princess’ shoreside headquarters on a variety of high-profile projects, including managing elements of the development and launch of the MedallionClass Experience. His extensive maritime experience and easy rapport with guests and crew made him a natural choice to serve as captain of the reality-based television program, The Real Love Boat, which recently completed its first season and attracted millions of new viewers to the brand.

Staff Captains Brian Whelan and Valerio Esposito are also part of the team. Whelan began his maritime career 23 years ago with Princess Cruises and holds a Master Mariners’ Certificate. Esposito has been with Princess Cruises for more than two decades, having commanded virtually every ship in the fleet, and is currently the staff captain of Majestic Princess.

The team also includes Hotel General Managers Ralph D’Souza and Simona Stumberger, both of whom have played critical roles in the launch of various ships in the past. D’Souza joined Princess in 2006 as a junior purser and worked his way through the ranks to become hotel general manager in 2019. Stumberger has been with Princess Cruises for over a decade and has played a critical role.