Editor's Note (this story was last updated on February 27, 2024):
On Jan. 24, 2024, Princess Cruises and Fincantieri announced a delayed delivery of Sun Princess, and the ship's inaugural 10-day voyage, originally set to depart from Barcelona on Feb. 8 has been cancelled. On Feb. 14, the line had to cancel a second cruise scheduled to depart on Feb. 18, though it has taken delivery of the ship ahead of further technical work to be completed at the shipyard. The new maiden voyage is now scheduled for Feb. 28 from Rome.
According to Princess: "Guests who were booked on one of the inaugural voyage[s] will receive a full refund of the cruise fare along with any additional onboard services that were pre-purchased, as well as a 50% future cruise credit that can be used on a future Princess voyage."
The cruise brand is also offering financial reimbursement for select travel costs for guests who have already arrived ahead of their sailing and for guests who have not yet started their travel. Princess is also protecting travel agent commissions.
When Princess Cruises’ upcoming new Sun Princess launches in early 2024, it will feature fan-favorite venues and reveal some new offerings, adding to the previously announced enhancements to the Piazza and The Dome.
“With the construction of any new ship, we have the incredible opportunity to design standout spaces with our guests’ preferences in mind,” said John Padgett, president of Princess . “With the new platform and size of Sun Princess, we’re uniquely able to refresh venues we know our guests love and expand upon, redesign and elevate them to the next level. We know our sun-inspired designs will exceed expectations and elevate the entire Princess experience.”
When complete, Sun will be Princess’ largest-ever ship carrying 4,000 passengers and featuring the line’s full-service and interactive Princess Medallion experience. The vessel is currently being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the country that has inspired the ship’s design heritage. It will also be the first in the fleet to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), just one of 11 such fueled ships for parent company Carnival Corporation.
Sun Princess will begin sailing in the Mediterranean in early 2024, and its inaugural season is already on sale.
Here's a peek at what clients can expect onboard Sun Princess.
Horizons Dining Room
Combining what typically had been three separate main restaurants on previous Princess ships will be Sun’s singular triple-decker Horizons Dining Room and its focal architectural sculpture.
Stretching from deck 6 to deck 8 — and scenically overlooking the stern — each level will sport unique personalities and serve distinct experiences, with varying degrees of formality. The line promises a venue that is “open and flexible, featuring dining options to suit every mood.”
As previously announced, Sun Princess will have a permanent Magic Castle showroom, and it was revealed the experience will begin in an exclusive section of Horizons. Reserved in advance, a special shared dinner beforehand will be available three times nightly at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for $149 per person.
And Princess head of culinary arts and master chef Rudi Sodamin has collaborated with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to offer all-new dinner menus in Horizons for the maiden Mediterranean season.
The triple-decker Horizons Dining Room
Credit: 2023 Princess CruisesPrincess Arena
Similarly innovative for the line will be the Princess Arena, evolving on and opening up earlier Princess Theater designs. Three different configurations will take advantage of the venue’s in-the-round orientation, thanks to moveable seats and an overall capacity of more than 1,000 patrons. At the center of it all will be a visual anchor crowning the stage and incorporated into shows, which will be further encircled by tide-inspired curved walls.
The Arena theater will house three new productions and one remounted favorite. “Fiera!” will return with its classic musical love story. The new “Vallora, A Pirate Quest,” will debut onboard, featuring themes of searching for what’s lost, as well as all things family and love, set to 1980s tunes like Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.”
“Stage Struck” will showcase musical theater with numbers from show such as “Rent,” “Dreamgirls,” “My Fair Lady” and more. And lastly “Viva La Musica” will include dancing from Latin American choreographer Liz Imperio and hits such as Miami Sound Machine’s “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and Pete Rodriguez’s “I Like It Like That.” The latter will also be interactive, with a dance couple inviting spectators to the floor.
The Dome, meanwhile, will be home to a trio of acrobatic performances: “Blue,” “Come Fly Away” and “Artbeat.” Additionally, the ship will host new takes on the line’s sail-away party, welcome show, themed deck party, farewell show and other game shows.
Dining Favorites
Returning to Sun will be Crown Grill, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria and Alfredo’s Pizzeria, baking some of the best pies at sea with a new open-mouth oven that can reach temperatures of 968 degrees.
The reprised Crown Grill, the ship’s signature steakhouse, features a more contemporary design with leather booths, circular seating and modern art, as well as a show galley. And Sabatini's will feature a bistro-like geometric environment complete with a “pasta room” for viewing the venue’s fresh pasta making.
As for the new dining venues coming to Sun, they were previously presented, and now we know Kai Sushi will be led by sushi master Makoto Okuwa, recognized for his Edema-style sushi, which is "a rather modern Japanese cuisine initially created by the Edo (old name for Tokyo) fast food businesses during the 1820’s, combining fresh raw fish and cooked rice which is seasoned with vinegar,” according to the line. A cover charge of $39 per person will apply.
Additionally, the Good Spirits at Sea Lounge will host Royal Afternoon Tea with Royal Chef Darren McGrady, personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and other royals and U.S. presidents. He will digitally share his stories through visual media. The experience will be $30 per person on select sea days. And French winemaker Gerard Bertrand, considered for his award-winning Cote des Roses and other top-selling wines, will curate wine tastings onboard in the same lounge virtually for $40 per person.
The Crown Grill is the ship’s signature steakhouse.
Credit: 2023 Princess CruisesEntertainment and Other Activities
Meanwhile, a classic Princess Casino, the largest in the fleet, will be located in the central Piazza with more than 200 slots and video poker games.
The casino will feature a “Buffalo Zone,” bringing popular games from Aristocrat onboard. There will also be new linked blackjack and poker table progressives and a high-limit slot section, as well as other interactive audio-visual experiences. Altogether, the facility will measure in at about 9,000 square feet, with 10-foot-high ceilings, 227 slot machines and 13 live tables.
Princess Live! will also be back. Taking cues from past Explorer’s Lounges, it will offer a comfortable and interactive setting for game shows, trivia and the daily Wake Show, among luxurious fittings and inviting lounge seating. Attached bar service and a large LED screen at the stage will be showcased.
And The Shops of Princess will consist of five modern retail stores, in addition to an art gallery. Among the shops will be The Premium Watch Lounge, The Fine Timepieces Boutique and The Beauty & Wellness Boutique, selling the likes of Breitling, TAG Heuer, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton and Rolex, as well as Chanel, Dior, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Clinique and more. Additional pop-ups will feature Tom Ford, Prada, Oakley and Maui Jim, plus Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Pandora Jewelry.
Rounding out the spaces on Sun will be newly designed takes on Crooner’s, the Wheelhouse Bar, International Cafe, Good Spirits and a Gelateria.
