New Ship: Sun Princess
Cruise Circle
It’s Princess Cruises but not as we know it, Jim! Here’s what we learned after a few days on Sun Princess, the biggest ship ever built for Princess.
Yep, it's big
Sun Princess holds 4,300 guests, has 1,600 crew, 21 decks and is packed with places to eat, drink, relax and be entertained. We decided to skip our daily trip to the gym and instead opted take the stairs up and down, plus walk from front to back a few times each day - a workout in itself!
You won't go hungry...
There are loads of new places to eat - enjoy upscale dining in Love by Britto or food and fun in Umai Teppanyaki and Umai Hot Pot (you get a pot with broth and cook your meat and veggies yourself). There’s also sushi in Makoto Ocean and pub grub in O’Malley’s Irish Bar. And that’s just for starters; The Butcher’s Block by Dario is a carnivores’ delight and there’s something fishy going on in The Catch by Rudi. Did we mention all the old favs that are back? Sabatini’s, Crown Grill, International Café, Horizons dining room, the buffet. You need at least two weeks on board to try it all.
...or thirsty!
O’Malley’s and Crooners are our go-to for a glass of something sparkling, but whether outside or in, you can’t go far on Sun Princess without tripping over a bar. Magic is in the air See that strange door in the atrium? That’s the entrance for a spectacular evening of close-up magic in Spellbound, a new venue created in partnership with the Magic Castle. While you're still puzzling how the magician knew your card, take a seat for acrobats in the Dome and live bands in the new-look atrium and Princess Arena, aka the theatre, which can be reconfigured into different seating plans, including one where the audience circles the stage.
Family fun
If you’ve ever wanted to hang-glide on a cruise ship, now’s your chance...sort of. Head to Park 19, a new family area at the top of Sun Princess, harness up and set off on SeaBreeze, a roller gliding ride high above the ocean. There’s also a seriously scary ropes course and a jungle gym-like climbing frame and slide, dancing fountains and jogging track.
And so to bed
The suites and cabins look very swish with stylish new wardrobes in place of open plan closets and glass-enclosed showers rather than curtains. There are new Cabana mini-suites with patios and access to a private outdoor lounge. Go for a Signature suite and you get a private lounge and restaurant, a free minibar set up and priority embarkation.
Don't assume anything
If like us you know Princess ships like the back of your hands, prepare to get lost. The Sanctuary has moved to the back of the ship to make room for the glass dome at the front and the Horizon Court/World Fresh Marketplace buffet has moved down from its usual place by the pool to deck nine, behind the International Café, which has moved up from its usual spot at the bottom of the atrium. Top tip: Carry a map for the first couple of days!
