Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilder that is the world’s biggest builder of cruise ships, said it has floated out Sun Princess at its yard in Monfalcone.

The vessel is the first of two LNG dual fuel powered ships for Carnival group member Princess Cruises and at 175,500 gross tons, it is the largest cruise ship built in Italy so far. It will be delivered in the first quarter of next year.

This will be the third ship to be called in the history of Princess Cruises - the first one was built in 1972 and the second in 1995.