ONBOARD SUN PRINCESS — I’ll admit that I had my doubts about whether the size of Princess Cruises’ new Sun Princess – the first vessel in the line’s new Sphere Class – would compromise the quality of the onboard product.

After all, at 4,300 guests (double occupancy), Sun Princess is the largest ship in the industry’s premium sector, topping Princess’ Royal-class fleetmates by over 600 passengers.

The Dome onboard Sun Princess (photo credit James Morgan, Getty Images for Princess Cruises)

What I learned, however, on a recent sailing, is that Princess was able to scale up their platform without sacrificing quality, thanks to cutting-edge design, superior guest-facing technology and culinary talent.

In fact, the overall onboard product feels rich, with generously-sized standard staterooms, upgraded cuisine, revolutionary new public spaces, upmarket toiletries and amenities – and lots of natural light.

The lead-in Deluxe Balcony stateroom, at 200 square feet (not including actual balcony space), is both spacious and well-designed. Boasting copious storage options and multiple electrical/USB outlets (all in convenient locations), a Dry Bar hair dryer, luxe toiletries and motion-sensitive nightlights, the cabin design reflects careful planning and attention to detail.

Meanwhile, thanks to Princess Cruises’ wearable tech Medallion, the quarter-sized disc (carried or worn) that enables personalization at scale, guests are recognized by name as they approach dining venues, pay for drinks, unlock their cabin doors on approach, order food for delivery anywhere aboard and more, thereby enabling a streamlined and focused service standard that couldn’t be accomplished otherwise on a 4,300-passenger vessel.

NEW AND ENHANCED DINING OPTIONS

The new culinary program introduced aboard Sun Princess reflects the talent and skill set of Rudi Sodamin, the line’s Head of Culinary Arts, who has reimagined menus in all casual and fine dining outlets to create premium offerings that represent a substantial upgrade from the line’s previous fare.

Princess’ legacy buffet outlet, World Fresh Marketplace, has been reinvented as The Eatery, featuring multiple, full-service stations set up like a food hall.

The fare here has been significantly upgraded, with typical lunch offerings supplemented by a vast Asian station, authentic Italian focaccia, quality carved meats, and perhaps most importantly, an enhanced pastry selection in place of what was previously a weak point in the line’s culinary program.

Lunch highlights at The Eatery include seafood ragu, carved prime rib, poke bowls and dim sum. Breakfast features a vast Asian station, smoked fish, a variety of quiche and an authentically delicious European Liege waffle.

Take note: the venue’s indoor seating capacity, however, is strained at peak meal times – especially when poor weather prohibits the use of the adjacent outdoor area.

Additional casual dining options on the Lido deck are also impressive, with quality pizza-by-the-slice, seafood tacos, sliced-to-order lamb shawarma, and other delicacies.

And Alfredo’s Pizza – long a Princess favourite – has been further enhanced by the introduction of a 700-degree oven to produce authentic, Neapolitan-style pies.

Main dining room menus have also been reworked by Sodamin, taking what had been relatively staid and mediocre fare to another level with tasty, modern dishes.

Specialty dining favourites Sabatini’s and Crown Grill return, of course. But in a first for the line, the master of Edomae-style sushi, chef Makoto Okuwa, brings his ‘Makoto Ocean’ sushi creations to the Piazza.

Meanwhile carnivores will love ‘The Butcher’s Block by Dario,’ where Italy’s most famous butcher, Dario Cecchini, has crafted an entertaining dining experience featuring multiple cuts of beef, which are served family-style in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere.

The Butcher’s Block by Dario (photo courtesy Princess Cruises)

And ‘The Catch by Rudi,’ now on multiple ships in the fleet, displays the complete universe of Chef Rudi’s talents in a loving ode to seafood. Sodamin has also designed the menu at the romantically-themed ‘Love by Britto,’ where works by the famed Miami artist grace a room with breathtaking ocean views.

New outlets for the line also include the guest-driven Umai Hot Pot and Umai Teppanyaki show kitchen.

The three-deck Horizons Dining Room provides guests with multiple dining options:  traditional early and late fixed seating on Deck 6;  reservations and open seating on Deck 7; or American Diner (without reservations) on Deck 8 for an all-day comfort food menu.

Spellbound Cocktail (photo courtesy Princess Cruises)

SPELLBOUND ASTOUNDS

With the good fortune of having visited Hollywood’s famed Magic Castle several times over the years, I was familiar with the charms – inside and out – of that legendary site. The Victorian-style mansion’s hidden doors, creaky floors and parlor of prestidigitation all lend a mysterious air to the magic happening in multiple venues.

But it’s a very difficult invitation to get, so ‘Spellbound by Magic Castle’ aboard Sun Princess is certainly the next best thing.

A special, hosted dinner precedes the magic in an incredibly faithful recreation of the Hollywood original, with over 450 pieces of magic memorabilia lining the walls.  The experience – priced at US$149 – is limited to 90 guests per evening, and they can stay as long as they’d like to enjoy the mysterious surroundings, exotic and spooky drinks (included) and, of course, the sleight of hand show – performed by a certified member of the Magic Castle in an intimate space.

SUN PRINCESS LETS THE OUTSIDE IN 

Building on the cruise line’s much-loved venues, the central Piazza is lighter and brighter aboard the Sun Princess, courtesy of natural light provided by the surrounding Sphere.

It also sees frequent use as a performance venue, with loud music unfortunately spilling over into Piazza-adjacent food-and-beverage outlets.

But the most spectacular new architectural feature aboard is The Dome, situated forward on the top decks, where the glass-enclosed, tiered space – inspired by the hills of Santorini – serves dual purposes as a solarium and performance venue.

And in a design feature that could be called “letting the outside in,” Sun Princess boasts a plethora of floor-to-ceiling windows in myriad public spaces, affording multiple ocean views from public rooms, which are awash in daylight – an atypical, but welcome, feature.

Elsewhere, creators of the Princess Arena, the ship’s primary showroom, used technologically-advanced design to rethink – and revamp – the traditional theatre design, resulting in a venue that is configurable as a theatre-in-the-round, a keyhole format, or a traditional proscenium stage setup.

Sun Princess’ piazza (photo credit James Morgan, Getty Images for Princess Cruises)

PRINCESS FOR FAMILIES: A FIRST

For the first time, Princess has constructed a ship designed to specifically attract families with children, and the three-deck Park19 complex, featuring a ropes course, splash zone, and the first Rollglider ride at sea, is testament to that goal. Although Princess is chasing a family demographic with these top-deck amusements, they’re still relatively tame in comparison to the over-the-top amenities found on some mass-market megaships.

Ultimately, however, while aiming to attract families, the line is doing its best to simultaneously satisfy its core clientele with guest-favourite, familiar venues, restaurants and programming.

It’s essentially the beginning of a new era for the company, with Sun Princess and sister ship Star Princess (arriving in 2025) leading the way.