Today in Cruise Port St. Maarten: Grand Princess
A Leader Attracting Apprentices
Port St. Maarten always offers a spectacular view, from the historical bulwark at Fort Amsterdam all the way to the lively boardwalk. The view becomes even more impressive when imposing cruise and sailing ships are in port. While their visitors are on shore excursions, the ships themselves serve as remarkable landmarks during the day.
For example, if you are looking from Great Bay Beach at the ships in port today, you can’t miss the “Grand Princess of Princess Cruises”. Here are some interesting facts about this giant of the seas:
Most Expensive and Largest Ship Ever Built
At the time the Grand Princess was baptized in September 1998 in Italy, it was the largest and most expensive cruise ship ever constructed. The Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, where it was built, was also the birthplace of many frequent St. Maarten visitors, including Enchanted Princess and Nieuw Amsterdam by Holland America Lines.
An Apprentice Task
The British version of The Apprentice featured the ship in week 10 of its second series. In the 2006 series, as Grand Princess sailed from Istanbul to Naples, the participants were tasked with devising and promoting a special service or event for the passengers. Teams were judged on both sales and customer service. One team organized and promoted dance classes and a competition, while the other hosted an above-deck fun day with various activities.
Christened by Olivia de Havilland
Movie star Olivia de Havilland was the “godmother” of this ship, christening it in 1998. At the time, this “Grande Dame” of Hollywood was 82 years old. For those who might have thought she was “older” then, de Havilland would go on to live to 104, becoming the oldest living Academy Award winner before passing away in 2020.
An Innovative Trendsetter
As the flagship of the “Grand” class by Princess Cruises, Grand Princess introduced innovations that would continue on many subsequent Princess ships. Examples include the open-air cinema with free popcorn, Movies Under the Stars, and a wedding chapel. Her first sister ships to adopt these features were Star Princess and Golden Princess.
No Panama Canal, So a Wider Ship
Grand Princess was originally built for the Mediterranean, with the intention of remaining in European and Atlantic waters. This allowed designers to bypass the narrow Panama Canal locks, resulting in a wider and more spacious ship than its predecessors. Its Caribbean tours also benefit from this extra room.
Attracting Children (and Whales!)
Princess Cruises designed Grand Princess to appeal to families. Features such as a Fun Zone with a two-story castle, a dolls’ house, and a whale-shaped pool were part of this effort. Whether the pool attracted it or not, a real whale became stuck to the bow of the ship in August 2017!
If you missed this ship or like “ship spotting” in general, see the St. Maarten cruise ship schedule to see what is in port!
