Princess Cruises Christens Star Princess Tournament of Roses Float With Celebration Ambassador Jill Whelan

Rhea-AI Summary

Princess Cruises (NYSE: CCL) christened its Tournament of Roses float, Star Princess, on Dec. 23, 2025 in Pasadena with Celebration Ambassador Jill Whelan performing a ceremonial bottle break using Pantalones Organic Tequila.

The float, built by Artistic Entertainment Services, depicts the ship's Sphere Class features including The Dome and sphere-shaped Piazza, celebrates the 2026 inaugural Alaska season, and will travel Colorado Boulevard during the New Year's Day Rose Parade.

The float is approximately 55 feet long and 21 feet high, will use more than 300,000 flowers, and the Rose Parade routinely draws about 800,000 on-site spectators and > 28 million U.S. TV viewers.

Key Figures

Rose Parade spectators 800,000 spectators New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade route audience

U.S. TV viewers 28 million viewers U.S. television audience for Rose Parade broadcast

Parade route length 5½ miles Tournament of Roses Parade route distance

Float length 55 feet Princess Cruises Rose Parade float length

Float height 21 feet Princess Cruises Rose Parade float maximum height

Floral materials 300,000+ flowers Decoration count for Princess Rose Parade float

Star Princess Alaska season 2026 Upcoming inaugural Alaska season for Star Princess

Market Reality Check

$31.69 Last Close

Volume Volume 24,192,316 is roughly in line with 20-day average 24,451,044 (relative volume 0.99). normal

Technical Price 31.66 is trading above 200-day MA of 25.91, near the 32.8 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

While CCL was up 3.47% pre-news, key peers like CUK (-2.82%), RCL (-2.73%), TCOM (-1.24%) and VIK (-1.12%) were down, indicating stock-specific strength versus a softer travel/cruise peer group.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 22	Ship enhancement news	Positive	+3.5%	Crown Princess drydock completed with casino, pub, and lounge upgrades.
Dec 19	Wave sale promotion	Positive	+9.8%	Holland America launched large Wave promotion across 500+ cruises.
Dec 19	Earnings & dividend	Positive	+9.8%	Record 2025 results, debt reduction, and dividend reinstatement announced.
Dec 17	World cruise launch	Positive	-0.6%	Seabourn unveiled a 120-day 2028 Cape to Cape world cruise.
Dec 16	Sports rights & promo	Positive	-1.4%	Princess gained FIFA World Cup 26™ broadcast rights with fare discounts.

Pattern Detected

Recent brand and commercial announcements have often coincided with positive price moves, though there are instances where upbeat marketing news saw modest negative reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, Carnival-linked brands have highlighted fleet upgrades, new itineraries, and major commercial wins. On Dec 16, Princess secured FIFA World Cup 26™ broadcast rights paired with a fare promotion. Seabourn later announced a 2028 120-day world cruise. Holland America launched a large Wave promotion on Dec 19, the same day Carnival reported record $26.6B revenue and reinstated its dividend. Most of these updates, especially the earnings and promotion news, aligned with strong positive share reactions, framing today’s Rose Parade float announcement as another marketing-focused brand visibility event.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Princess Cruises’ use of the Rose Parade to showcase the Star Princess and its 2026 Alaska season, reinforcing Carnival’s focus on brand visibility and destination marketing. Placed alongside recent record 2025 results, fleet upgrades, and Wave promotions, the float underscores an effort to keep demand strong as CCL trades near its 52-week high. Key factors to watch include booking trends for Alaska, pricing power across brands, and any further updates on fleet deployment and promotional campaigns.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

IMAGES AND B-ROLL MEDIA KIT

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises embraced a cherished maritime tradition in a uniquely festive way, celebrating a symbolic christening of its Rose Parade® float with a ceremonial break of a bottle of Pantalones Organic Tequila. The christening took place at the Pasadena facilities of Artistic Entertainment Services (AES), the acclaimed builder behind the float's intricate floral and signature design. This symbolic gesture honors the cruise line's nautical heritage while introducing the float that will soon dazzle millions during the iconic New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade.

Jill Whelan, Princess' Celebration Ambassador pronounced, "I name this float Star Princess – may God bless her and all who cruise down Colorado Boulevard on her."

The float brings to life Princess' newest ship featuring its signature Sphere Class architecture including The Dome, a next-generation relaxation and entertainment space atop the ship; and sphere-shaped Piazza, the architectural centerpiece of the ship with its dramatic curves. Designed to evoke the awe and wonder of sailing through Alaska's Inside Passage, the float celebrates the upcoming 2026 inaugural Alaska season for Star Princess.

As the #1 cruise line in Alaska, Princess will bring "The Great Land" to life in vivid color and imagination. The float will showcase towering glaciers shimmering in icy blues, soaring bald eagles, spouting humpback whales, and bears salmon fishing - all crafted from thousands of fresh flowers, seeds, bark and natural elements. The design reflects the breathtaking landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable wildlife encounters that define a Princess Alaska cruise.

Famous for its brilliant sunshine and pageantry when much of the country is bundled up for winter, the Rose Parade attracts 800,000 spectators along its 5½-mile route and more than 28 million U.S. television viewers, with millions more watching around the world. The beloved New Year's Day tradition features intricately crafted floral floats, spirited marching bands, and high-stepping equestrian units.

The Princess Cruises float, designed and built by Artistic Entertainment Services, measures approximately 55 feet long and 21 feet high, and upon completion will be decorated with more than 300,000 flowers and natural materials.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at princess.com.

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses^®:
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade^®, the Rose Bowl Game^® and a variety of associated events. The Tournament's 935 volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization within the community and serve on one of 31 committees that ensure the success of the parade and game. Collectively, they contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed "The Magic in Teamwork," will take place Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, followed by the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.

About Pantalones Organic Tequila
Pantalones Organic Tequila, co-founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey, is an award-winning super premium USDA-certified organic spirit crafted that celebrates having fun, doing good, and not taking life too seriously.

Launched in the U.S. to critical acclaim, Pantalones Organic Tequila has quickly become a standout, earning multiple prestigious awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Made from 100% organic blue Weber agave in the heart of Jalisco, Mexico, each expression in the portfolio, Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo, offers a unique tasting experience marked by exceptional craftsmanship and organic practices.

About Princess Cruises:
Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. Star Princess, the brand's newest and most innovative ship, launched October 2025, and sister ship to Sun Princess, named Condé Nast Traveler Mega Ship of the Year for a second consecutive year. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK). 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/princess-cruises-christens-star-princess-tournament-of-roses-float-with-celebration-ambassador-jill-whelan-302648987.html

SOURCE Princess Cruises

FAQ

What did Princess Cruises announce about the Star Princess float on Dec. 23, 2025 (CCL)?

Princess Cruises christened the Star Princess Rose Parade float in Pasadena on Dec. 23, 2025, with Jill Whelan as Celebration Ambassador and a ceremonial bottle break.

How does the Star Princess float reflect Princess Cruises' Sphere Class ship features?

The float depicts Sphere Class elements including The Dome and the sphere-shaped Piazza to echo the ship's design and Alaska Inside Passage theme.

What are the size and decoration details for the Star Princess float (CCL)?

The float measures about 55 feet long and 21 feet high and will be decorated with more than 300,000 flowers and natural materials.

When will the Star Princess float appear in the Tournament of Roses Parade and how large is the parade audience?

The float will appear on New Year's Day during the Tournament of Roses Parade, which typically draws about 800,000 spectators along the route and over 28 million U.S. TV viewers.

What theme does the Star Princess float celebrate and which season does it promote for Princess Cruises (CCL)?

The float celebrates Alaska scenery, wildlife and culture and promotes Princess Cruises' 2026 inaugural Alaska season for the ship Star Princess.

Who built the Star Princess float and what florist materials are used?

Artistic Entertainment Services built the float, using thousands of fresh flowers, seeds, bark and other natural elements to craft glaciers, wildlife and scenery.