Princess Cruises appoints Star Princess captains

Arma currently serves as the newbuild site lead for the construction of Sun Princess and Star Princess.

'Capt. Arma and Commodore Nash have remarkable histories with Princess, and will provide great experience and excellent leadership on our newest vessel,' Princess President John Padgett said.

Nick Nash

Nash, a 33-year veteran of Princess Cruises, was promoted to commodore of the line's global fleet in 2020. He currently serves as captain of Enchanted Princess, having navigated the ship out of the Fincantieri shipyard for the first time.

Nash joined Princess in 1989 and was promoted to staff captain in 1997. In 2002, he became captain and has been at the helm of many Princess vessels. Nash also served as president of the Nautical Institute for two years and now serves on the council. He was awarded the UK's Merchant Navy Medal for meritorious service in 2018. He is a chartered master mariner, a fellow of The Nautical Institute, The Royal Institute of Navigation, The Royal Geographical Society and a younger brother of Trinity House.

Gennaro Arma

Arma began his career with Princess Cruises in 1998 as a cadet and moved up the ranks, achieving his first command as captain of Sea Princess in 2015 and navigating the ship on two world cruises. He took the helm of Diamond Princess in 2018 and in 2020 and was honored with the recognition of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest of Italy's orders, and selected among the 20 most influential Italian characters of the year by Vanity Fair in December 2020 after he led Diamond Princess during its long COVID-19 quarantine in Yokohama.

Arma also received the title of Magister of Amalfi Civilization for the Byzantine New Year, the Emanuela Loi award for courage and the Assarmatori prize from the Italian maritime association. He most recently served as captain of Discovery Princess.

Star Princess is scheduled to debut in the Mediterranean im August 2025.