I was recently invited by Princess Cruises to step aboard their newest cruise ship, Sun Princess, in Southampton. The first of Princess’s sphere-class of vessels, Sun Princess can carry 4,300 guests and 1,600 crew. She has a tonnage of 177,882 and can speed up to 22 knots. She was built in Fincantieri, Italy like many other Princess Cruises ships.
This was my first ship visit for some time, as I’ve been very busy with work and family life lately. It was part of a big press event which featured special guest performances from British singer Sam Ryder and Southampton native DJ Scott Mills, as well as updates from the most senior people at Princess Cruises.
Sun Princess is a big ship and for some people that might seem slightly intimidating at first. However, onboard, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the size at all. I think this was partly because of the way the ship is laid out, and I felt that most of the areas you would need to visit regularly are very accessible.
Key facts about Sun Princess
- the ship has a length of 1,133 feet and a height of 200 feet
- there are 30 restaurant and bar venues, including 13 speciality dining options
- there are 12 bars and coffee shops in total
- The Sanctuary is the ship’s exclusive 200 capacity top-deck retreat area – guests in Sanctuary Collection accommodation automatically get access to the retreat
- there are five pools and nine hot tubs
- the shops sell a number of high-end brands including Breitling, Chanel, Dior, Longines and TAG Heuer
- The ship has three features that are entirely new to Princess Cruises – the Dome, the sphere and the Arena (the most technically advanced theatre at sea)
Inclusive dining on Sun Princess
There are a number of dining options on Sun Princess.
Horizons Dining Room – Deck 6, 7 and 8
Horizons Dining Room is at the aft end of the ship and it features a stunning rear window that spans the full height of the restaurant. Each level of the Horizons Dining Room offers a slightly different culinary experience, although the bottom two levels both serve the standard Princess Cruises’ signature menu.
I ate in the Americana restaurant, which is part of the three level Horizons Dining Room. My understanding is that Americana doesn’t normally enforce a dress code as it offers a less formal dining experience than the other two levels. It normally serves up American-style cuisine such as ribs and chicken wings.
I had a starter of smoked salmon, followed by beef, with ice cream for dessert. The food was full of flavour, hot and plentiful. My only criticism was the lack of vegetables on offer, but this may have been because the meal was part of a special event. The service was excellent and the ambience was very relaxed, with warm lighting and comfortable seating.
The Eatery – Deck 9
Located on Deck 9, this is the ship’s buffet which features self-serve and a la carte dining options. I really liked the fact that the coffee stations were easy to access and close to the door.
Alfredo’s – Deck 9
For fresh pizzas daily, visit Alfredo’s on Deck 9. I tried the pepperoni pizza and it was delicious.
Speciality dining options
There are number of speciality dining options that require an additional charge once onboard.
Umai Teppanyaki – Deck 8
I loved the decor of this Japanese restaurant. It reminded me of a teppanyaki restaurant I went to on my honeymoon. There was a real emphasis on eating together and being able to see what happens around you, as guests can watch the chef create their meal right in front of them. I’d definitely pay the extra fee to eat here.
Love by Britto – Deck 17
This is a collaboration between artist Romero Britto and Princess Cruises Head of Culinary Arts Rudi Sodamin. Guests can enjoy a seven-course prix fixe menu artistic inspired dining experience.
Makoto Ocean – Deck 8
Chef Makoto Okuwa brings his expertise to Sun Princess with delicious Japanese creations, such as sushi (with a twist).
Spellbound by Magic Castle – Deck 8
This unique experience has been created in partnership with private Hollywood club The Magic Castle. Enjoy a theatrical dinner followed by exclusive access to a Victorian-inspired speakeasy style lounge, hidden away by an unassuming door.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
I loved the look of this sleek-looking Italian restaurant. The menu looked really enticing and its location near the shops means it’s easily accessible for those wanting to visit the theatre or a bar afterwards.
Bars
There are a number of bars on Sun Princess, but my highlights were:
O’Malley’s Irish Pub – Deck 7
This busy Irish pub was very popular with guests. It has its own menu, but also an extensive selection of cocktails. The drinks prices on board were quite high and they aren’t included in the cost of your cruise. But to be honest, prices of drinks in pubs and bars in the UK have also gone up a lot recently, so it’s possible the cruise lines have raised their prices to reflect this.
Good Spirits at Sea
I loved this cosy little bar, which is tucked away near the theatre. It had a lovely atmosphere and staff were attentive and welcoming. There was a great selection of cocktails on offer with special mixologists, and I could see this being a great spot to read your book on a sea day.
Accommodation
Guests have a choice of different accommodation options.
Suites
There are 80 suites on Sun Princess, including Sky Suites which are the largest. I had a look around the owner’s suite which was very nice, but it was smaller than some suites that I have seen on other ships in the past. I would compare the size of the suite I looked at to one of the premium suites on board P&O Cruises Britannia.
Mini suites
Guests can book a cabana suite which features an indoor/outdoor cabana, or a mini suite. Mini suites are larger than a balcony stateroom and they have a separate seating area with TV. Guests booking a mini-suite on the Cabana deck, get access to an exclusive outdoor space with comfortable seating areas.
Staterooms
Guests can choose to book either a deluxe balcony, ocean view or interior stateroom.
I didn’t have much of a chance to look at the staterooms, but more information can be found on the Princess Cruises website.
Guests staying in a suite have exclusive access to the Signature Suite Lounge, which spans two storeys.
Wellness
Lotus spa – Deck 5 and 6
This two-storey spa has a range of treatment rooms (both single and double occupancy). Guests can also relax in the hydrotherapy pool, steam room or sauna. A fee applies.
The Sanctuary Collection
Featuring 80 Signature Collection suites, 123 mini-suites and 12 premium balconies, guests can enjoy exclusive access to this adult-only retreat area. This was where we had welcome drinks and it was a lovely space, with comfortable furnishings, a bar area, cabanas and a pool.
Entertainment
The Piazza
This airy space is the central point of the ship and it’s where you’ll find coffee shops, bars and live entertainment. Princess claim it was inspired by the squares of Europe and it was particularly lively in the evening. I felt it lacked the wow factor of other Princess Cruises atriums and it did leave me feeling underwhelmed. I also wasn’t keen on the fact that the casino was situated straight off the Piazza. As I don’t ever use a casino, it was frustrating having to walk through it to get from one part of the ship to another.
The Dome – Deck 17 and 18
I went to the Dome at the beginning of my ship visit. Inspired by the terraces of Santorini, it overlooks one of the pools. During the day it is used as a pool area, but at night it becomes an entertainment space. It felt quite small without people in it and, as it holds around 250 people, I was struggling to work out how it was used. However, in the evening Scott Mills DJ’d in the Dome and the area came alive. There was a great buzz with the mixture of live music, drink and lights. You could see the party going on from the quayside.
Princess Arena – Deck 7 and 8
According to Princess Cruises, this is the most technologically advanced Princess Theatre design and has three configurations to maximise sight lines and deliver a truly captivating experience. The stage can be configured to accommodate keyhole stage productions as well as traditional theatre.
I’m not sure I liked the layout of the 990 capacity Princess Arena theatre very much. It felt less traditional than others I have been in and the decor was quite basic in my opinion. It worked really well for our performance of Sam Ryder, but I’m not sure how great it will be for larger performances.
Kids Clubs – Deck 6 and 7
I wasn’t allowed into the kids clubs as there were guests staying on board at the time. The kids clubs cater for children aged from 6 months to 17 years. Children are placed into either Firefly Park Kids Club, Neon Grove Tweens Club or the Underground Teen Lounge.
What I liked about Sun Princess
I loved the decor on Sun Princess. Onboard you’ll find modern, muted tones, such as grey and beige, and this worked really well. The artwork was also really tasteful, which is not something I can say about many cruise ships I’ve been on in the past. The ship felt very different in design to other Princess Cruises ships and was much less Americanised. In terms of style, I’d say it is somewhere between a higher end, newer P&O Cruises vessel, with a touch of MSC Cruises thrown in.
I was really impressed by Spellbound, the ship’s hidden Victorian-inspired lounge. For an additional fee, guests can visit this unique venue which blends magic with the world of mixology. They are treated to magic from talented magicians in themed rooms, while sipping on theatrical cocktails. I particularly liked the ghost piano that can play any song you request (as long as you speak to it loudly and clearly). I would love to see more of this type of venue on cruise ships.
What I didn’t like about Sun Princess
The ship was very hot, and this was a bit of a shame. It’s possible that the air conditioning had some teething issues, but it’s something to keep in mind.
The Dome felt quite small and I’m not sure it’s the best use of space. It worked well in the evening, but I didn’t like the segregation over the pool area during the day. It felt a bit disconnected. I’m not sure how much it adds to the Sun Princess experience.
There didn’t appear to be much access to the outside deck area by the shops. On older cruise ships this would serve as a promenade deck, but most of this was closed off to guests (plus the enormous lifeboats overhang the deck).
The atrium lacks the wow factor that Princess Cruises are known for but the space is used well and it has a nice buzz about it. There are often live performances at the bottom of the atrium, and the bars and coffee shops that surround it were bustling with people. But there is nothing that makes the design of the atrium stand out, which is a real shame.
Final thoughts
I really liked Sun Princess, and I’ve already recommended the ship to several people. I’m not sure how much there is for a family with young children (like mine) to do, especially as I didn’t see any outside space for young children (like a paddling pool). It was a shame I didn’t get to check out the kids clubs, as this was an area I was particularly interested in seeing.
If you want to try something new, but without losing the familiarity of comfort and service that Princess Cruises are known for, this could be the ship for you. If you cruise with the likes of P&O Cruises or Marella Cruises, this ship would be a gentle step in a new direction, without having to take a giant leap into the unknown.
You can find out more about Sun Princess on the Princess Cruises website.
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