Recently, I was invited by Princess Cruises aboard their newest ship, Sun Princess, based in Southampton. Sun Princess is Princess Cruises’ first spherical-class ship and can carry 4,300 guests and 1,600 crew members. Her tonnage is 177,882 and she can reach a speed of 22 knots. Like many other Princess ships, she was built in Fincantieri, Italy.
This is the first time I’ve been on board in a while as I’ve been very busy with work and family life lately. It was part of a larger press conference that included special guest performances from British singer Sam Ryder and Southampton native DJ Scott Mills, as well as updates from Princess Cruises’ top brass.
The Sun Princess is a large ship and may seem a little intimidating to some at first glance. On the boat, however, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by its size at all. I think this is partly because of the way the ship is laid out, and I feel like most of the areas you need to visit regularly are easily accessible.
- The ship is 1,133 feet long and 200 feet tall
- There are 30 restaurant and bar venues, including 13 specialty dining venues
- There are 12 bars and coffee shops in total
- The Sanctuary is an exclusive rest area on the ship that can accommodate 200 people – guests staying in the Sanctuary Collection have automatic access to the rest area
- There are five swimming pools and nine hot tubs
- The store carries several high-end brands including Breitling, Chanel, Dior, Longines and Tag Heuer
- The ship features three new Princess Cruises features – the Dome, the Sphere and the Arena (the most technologically advanced theater at sea)
There are many dining options aboard Sun Princess.
Horizons Restaurant – Deck 6, 7 & 8
The Horizons dining room is located aft and features a stunning rear window that spans the entire height of the dining room. Each level of Horizon Restaurant offers a slightly different culinary experience, but the bottom two levels both offer the standard Princess Cruises signature menu.
I dined in the American restaurant, which is part of the three-story Horizon Restaurant. My understanding is that Americana generally does not enforce a dress code because it offers a less formal dining experience than the other two levels. It usually offers American dishes such as ribs and chicken wings.
I had smoked salmon as an appetizer, then beef, and ice cream for dessert. The food is full of flavour, hot and hearty. My only criticism would be the lack of vegetables, but that could be because the meal was part of a special event. The service was very good, the atmosphere was very relaxed, the lighting was warm, and the seats were comfortable.
Restaurant – Deck 9
This is the ship’s buffet, located on Deck 9, offering both self-service and a la carte dining options. I really like that the coffee station is easily accessible and close to the door.
Alfredo – Deck 9
For fresh pizza daily, head to Alfredo’s on Deck 9. I tried the pepperoni pizza and it was delicious.
There are many specialty dining options on board for an additional fee.
Umai Teppanyaki – Deck 8
I really like the decoration of this Japanese restaurant. It reminded me of a Teppanyaki restaurant I went to on my honeymoon. There’s a real emphasis on eating together and being able to see what’s going on around you, as guests can see the chef cooking in front of them. I would definitely pay the extra to eat here.
Britto’s Love – Deck 17
It’s a collaboration between artist Romero Britto and Princess Cruises’ director of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin. Guests can enjoy a seven-course fixed-price menu for an artistically inspired dining experience.
Makoto Ocean – Deck 8
Chef Makoto Okuwa brings his expertise to Sun Princess to bring you delicious Japanese creations such as sushi (with a twist).
Enchanted by the Magic Castle – Deck 8
This unique experience is created in partnership with The Magic Castle, a private Hollywood club. Enjoy a dramatic dinner followed by exclusive access to the Victorian speakeasy-style lounge, which is hidden behind an unassuming door.
Sabatini Italian Restaurant
I love the look of this stylish Italian restaurant. The menu looks really tempting and its location close to the shop means it’s easy to get to for those wanting to visit the theater or the pub.
There are many bars on the Sun Princess, but my favorites are:
O’Malley’s Irish Pub – Deck 7
This busy Irish pub is popular with guests. It has its own menu and a wide selection of cocktails. Drinks on board are quite expensive and are not included in the cruise fee. But let’s be honest, drink prices in UK pubs and bars have also increased quite a bit recently, so cruise lines may increase their prices to reflect this.
good mood at sea
I love this cozy little bar located near the theater. It has a lovely atmosphere and the staff are attentive and welcoming. There are dedicated bartenders offering a wide range of cocktails and I think this would be a great place to read your book at sea.
Guests can choose from different accommodation options.
suite
There are 80 suites on Sun Princess, of which the Sky Suite is the largest. I visited the owner’s suite, which was very nice, but it was smaller than some suites I’ve seen on other ships in the past. I would compare the size of the suites I saw to one of the premium suites on the P&O Cruises Britannia.
Mini Suite
Guests can book cabin suites or mini-suites with indoor/outdoor cabanas. Mini suites are larger than balcony cabins and feature a separate seating area with a TV. Guests who book a mini-suite on the cabin deck have access to an exclusive outdoor space with a comfortable seating area.
cabin
Guests can choose to book a Deluxe Balcony Room, Ocean View Room or Interior Room.
I didn’t have much opportunity to tour the cabin, but I could at Princess Cruises website.
Guests staying in suites have exclusive access to the two-story signature suite lounge.
Lotus Spa – Deck 5 and 6
This two-story spa features a range of treatment rooms (single and double). Guests can also relax in the hydrotherapy pool, steam room or sauna. Fees apply.
Sanctuary Collection
With 80 Signature Collection suites, 123 mini-suites and 12 superior balconies, guests enjoy exclusive access to this adults-only retreat. We had a welcome drink here, it’s a lovely space with comfy furniture, bar area, cabanas and pool.
square
This airy space is the central point of the cruise, where you’ll find cafes, bars and live entertainment. Princess claims it was inspired by European squares, which are especially lively at night. I felt like it lacked the wow factor of other Princess Cruises atriums and it definitely left me feeling overwhelmed. I’m also not keen on the fact that the casino is right next to the square. Since I never go to the casino, it was really frustrating having to walk through the casino to get from one part of the ship to another.
Dome – Deck 17 and 18
I went to the Dome at the beginning of my boat trip. It was inspired by the terraces in Santorini, overlooking one of the swimming pools. During the day it is used as a pool area, but at night it becomes an entertainment space. There was no one inside, it felt very small, and since it holds about 250 people, I had a hard time figuring out how it was used. However, at night, the entire area comes alive with Scott Mills DJing in the dome. Live music, drinks and lights come together to create a lively atmosphere. You could see the party going on from the dock.
Princess Arena – Deck 7 and 8
According to Princess Cruises, this is the most technologically advanced Princess Theater design, with three configurations to maximize sight lines and provide a truly captivating experience. The stage can be configured to accommodate keyhole stage productions as well as traditional theatre.
I’m not sure I quite like the layout of the 990-seat Princess Arena theatre. It felt less traditional than other places I’ve stayed and the decor was pretty basic in my opinion. It worked really well for our Sam Ryder show, but I’m not sure how great it would be for a bigger show.
Kids Club – Deck 6 and 7
I was not allowed into the kids club as there were guests staying on the boat at the time. The kids club is suitable for children from 6 months to 17 years old. Children can be accommodated at the Firefly Park Kids Club, Neon Grove Tweens Club or the underground teen lounge.
I love the decor on the Sun Princess. On board, you’ll find modern, muted tones like grays and beiges that work really well. The artwork was also very tasteful, something I couldn’t match on many cruises I’ve been on in the past. The design of this ship feels very different and much less American than other Princess Cruises ships. In terms of style, I’d say it’s somewhere between the higher end, newer P&O Cruises ships, with a touch of MSC Cruises.
I was impressed by Spellbound, the ship’s hidden Victorian lounge. For an additional fee, guests can visit this unique venue that combines the worlds of magic and mixology. They sipped theatrical cocktails in a themed room while enjoying a magic show by a talented magician. I particularly like the ghost piano, which can play any song you ask for (as long as you speak to it loud and clear). I would like to see more places like this on cruise ships.
It was hot on the boat, which was a shame. There may be some teething problems with your air conditioner, but this is something to keep in mind.
The dome feels small and I’m not sure if it’s the best use of space. It works great at night, but I don’t like how segregated the pool area is during the day. It feels a bit disjointed. I’m not sure how much it would add to the Sun Princess experience.
The store doesn’t seem to have much access to the outdoor deck area. On older cruise ships this would be used as the promenade deck, but most of it is closed to guests (plus the huge lifeboats hanging off the deck).
The atrium lacked the wow factor that Princess Cruises is known for, but the space was used well and had a nice buzz. There are often live performances on the ground floor of the atrium, and the surrounding bars and cafes are packed with people. But there is nothing outstanding about the design of the atrium, which is a pity.
final thoughts
I really like the Sun Princess and I have recommended this ship to several people. I’m not sure there’s much for families with young children (like mine) to do, especially since I didn’t see any kid-friendly outdoor spaces (like a paddling pool). It’s a pity that I didn’t check out the kids club as that was something I was particularly interested in.
If you want to try something new but don’t want to lose the comfort and service Princess Cruises is known for, this might be the ship for you. If you’re cruising with a company like P&O Cruises or Marella Cruises, this ship will be a step in a new direction without necessarily taking a giant leap into the unknown.
You can find more information about Sun Princess at Princess Cruises website.
Follow me on social media
Source link
