Monday, April 1, 2024

A first look at Sun Princess, the giant new ship from Princess Cruises

new princess cruise ship

The oldest Princess cruise ships — those built in the late 1990s and early 2000s — can be as much as 30% smaller than the line's newest vessels. These are the top of the range suites, and although not quite a “ship within a ship”-concept, these suites do offer exclusive access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge and a private Signature Sun Deck. At the aft of the ship, on Deck 8, you'll find another new-to-brand space, the Wake View Terrace. Which although it seems like an exclusive, members-only space (the line calls it the Wake Club), is in fact open to all. It has an infinity pool which actually juts out over the edge of the ship, terraced seating, loungers and a bar. It will be the 16th Princess ship to join the fleet, and in a nod to its storied past, Sun Princess will be the third Princess ship to bear the name – the first being the original "Love Boat" from the iconic 1970's TV series, launched in 1974.

A Taste of Italy, Enjoyed in Luxury

Our fine jewelry connoisseurs will find the best curated collections from Diamonds International and global renowned high-end jewelry brands on board Sun Princess®. In other words, its space-to-passenger ratio is greater, making the ship feel roomier — if only modestly. Now located just off the Piazza, you can take in world-class views then indulge in a little retail therapy in these elegant boutiques. The second ship in the Sphere-class series, to be called Star Princess, is due to begin sailing in 2025. "The Cabana cabins is a new format for Princess, which we think is something that families will truly enjoy as effectively you get multiple different spaces within your cabin, so you can spread out," Padgett said. "It's pretty spectacular. What we believe is we are creating entertainment that is more engaging, more interactive, give new views from the guest perspective, and they'll get closer to the entertainment."

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Our Largest, Most Premium Stateroom With Accommodations for Up to Five Guests

Under development for more than six years, Sun Princess is the first of Princess' new Sphere Class of vessels. They have been designed to be significantly bigger than previous Princess ships and offer several notable new-for-the-line features. Note that all Princess Cruises ships are renovated and upgraded on a regular schedule every few years, so even the oldest Princess vessels have newer carpeting, updated furniture, modern decor in cabins and other updates.

Freshwater Pools & Hot Tubs

With top deck dining venues, Slice Pizzeria, The Mix, Salty Dog Grill and Coffee & Cones you’ll have even more options to choose from during your stay on board Grand Princess. Relax at The Sanctuary, a tranquil haven reserved for adults, enjoy Movies Under the Stars® poolside or see an award-winning Broadway-style production show in the Princess Theater, showcasing an even more immersive audio experience. Still, the Grand-class vessels are big enough to offer a lot of onboard venues. The Grand-class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. Measuring 145,000 gross tons, Discovery Princess is the biggest Princess cruise ship ever built and has more restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top pool space than many older Princess ships. The newest Princess cruise ship is typically also the Princess ship with the most up-to-date restaurants, bars, attractions and cabins.

Signature Restaurant

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Introducing Love by Britto, created in partnership with Romero Britto, the world-renowned artist known for his bold, colorful and joyful style. This artistic-inspired experience aboard Sun Princess® celebrates the love of life through colorful design and an imaginative prix fixe menu curated by culinary virtuoso Rudi Sodamin. Spellbound, a spectacular one-of-a-kind experience created in partnership with The Magic Castle™.

Timeless Steakhouse Traditions

new princess cruise ship

This is not the way most other cruise lines do these special suite areas. The entertainment offerings on board the Sun Princess are just as innovative and thoughtfully designed as the ship itself. In fact, we're transforming the future of entertainment not just at sea, but anywhere. Our belief is that entertainment should always feel new, exciting, and keep you on your toes with spaces and experiences that you won't find anywhere else. This inspired stateroom offers the added indulgence of a private balcony with well-appointed outdoor furniture and a relaxing view of the scenery that surrounds you, whether a rainbow-colored sunset over the ocean or a new city to explore.

I miss my quieter atrium, and I suspect other Princess regulars will feel the same. That said, The Piazza as a bigger entertainment space might be just what Princess needs to draw in younger, more entertainment-driven customers, particularly the coveted "new to cruise" crowd that hasn't sailed with the line before. The Dome on Sun Princess isn't anything close in size (or impressiveness) to the massive new glass-covered dome atop Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas — the new world's biggest cruise ship. Sun Princess has the liveliest night scene of any Princess ship in the fleet. And that's a saying a lot, as Princess ships are traditionally lively at night. Princess has long been known for having lots of entertainment running at once in multiple venues.

The middle level of the main dining room (called Horizons) offers come-when-you-want anytime dining with the normal drawn-out service. The lower level (also called Horizons) offers the more traditional fixed-seating dinner format that once was de rigeur at Princess. Notably, a large chunk of the top deck of Sun Princess is covered with a family-friendly play zone called Park19 — the sort of thing that, until now, Princess just hasn't done. Park19's marquee attraction is Sea Breeze, a hang-gliding-like ride experience that is billed as a first on a cruise ship.

We’re bringing back the Crab Shack, a unique pop-up dining experience with everything from clam chowder and popcorn shrimp to a steamer pot (crab legs, shrimp, clams!). Princess is nearly 20 years behind some of its big-ship competitors in adding suite zones to ships. But the line is finally acknowledging it might have made a mistake in not jumping on the trend. The bed itself is cloud-like comfortable, with high-thread-count cotton sheets that had me drifting into a deep slumber in no time. For those of you who want to watch a show before bedtime, a large and crisp TV is positioned perfectly on the wall just beyond your toes. More power points are above the nightstands next to the bed — a U.S.-style outlet, a USB port and a USB-C port on each side.

This casual top deck eatery takes its name from the famous venue in the resort town of Hilton Head Island, SC. Enjoy original menu items from the cafe like the prime burger and chicken strip basket – along with Princess favorites like hot dogs and chicken sandwiches. Uncover the legend of Jake, the iconic dog in the yellow hat, and pick up some branded merch too.

new princess cruise ship

Princess offers a selection of staterooms that provide full wheelchair-turning space. In addition, these staterooms include a roll-in shower equipped with grab bars and a fold-down bench seat, an easy access closet and accessible writing desk. This new stateroom design offers a stunning wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Whether the relaxed view of the deep blue sea, or inspired scenery of a new city on the horizon, the Deluxe Oceanview ensures picture-perfect snapshots from the comfort of your room.

I was impressed with the presentation and quality of the Horizon menu items. It was a step up from what you'll find in the included restaurants on some other big, mass-market ships. That said, Princess isn't trying to be a family line like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line. You won't find the truly over-the-top family attractions such as giant water parks, go-kart tracks and water coasters that those lines offer sprawled across Sun Princess' top decks. Until recently, the average age of a Princess cruiser was nearly 60, and its ships catered heavily to older couples and retirees.

Alas, none of these attractions were open this week, as they weren't quite ready — despite the ship being on its second sailing with paying passengers. But from what I saw, it will be a major upgrade to the family-fun experience on a Princess ship. It's also the first Princess ship with a separate suite complex aimed at the growing number of big-ship-loving vacationers willing to pay big bucks to be extra pampered while at sea.

It’s also the perfect setting for cocktails before dinner or a leisurely breakfast. "This is an historic day as our new Sun Princess sets sail on her inaugural voyage, and our guests get to experience our sensational, next-level Love Boat firsthand," John Padgett, Princess Cruises' president, said Wednesday as the vessel began its first voyage. "The ship is a magnificent showcase of advanced design, technology and craftsmanship, with elevated spaces and experiences all focused on taking the Princess vacation experience to a new level." As noted above, it's the first of all-new Sphere-class series of vessels for the line that, as of now, will be made up of two ships (Princess could order more Sun-class ships in coming years — we'll see). Unveiled way back in 1998, it's the namesake vessel for the line's Grand class of vessels, which remain at the core of the Princess fleet. Discovery Princess is part of Princess Cruises' six-ship Royal class of vessels, which is comprised of bigger ships than the line's earlier classes of vessels.

If Princess ships have a signature element, it is The Piazza, a central atrium-like space found on most Princess ships that serves as a sort of town square. You'll typically find an espresso drink-serving, conducive-to-conversation cafe at the base of each of these spaces and other venues for conversation, such as wine and Champagne bars, plus a few shops. Some of the piazzas are surrounded by pizzerias and seafood bars, too. Infused with light, our next generation Piazza connects you to the world with dynamic views and innovative experiences.

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