Princess Cruises founder dies

Stanley McDonald, whose experience with a floating hotel at the Seattle World’s Fair led him to found Princess Cruises in 1965, has died. He was 94 years old.

McDonald retired from Princess in 1980, five years after selling the company to Britain’s Peninsula Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Both companies are part of Carnival Corp. now.

Princess Cruises said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened about the passing of our founder, Stan McDonald. Without his bold vision that people would love to vacation on the seas and explore fascinating ports along the way on ships full of exciting amenities, the vacation world would be very different today.

McDonald made a brief appearance by video two weeks ago at the christening of the Regal Princess in Fort Lauderdale, where he greeted the crowd on the ship’s “Movies Under the Stars” poolside video screen, a Princess innovation.

Princess posted a 6-minute YouTube video tribute to McDonald.