Until now, Princess Cruises’ next ship has only been referred to as belonging to the new “Sphere Class,” but it has finally been given a name (repurposed from previous ships in the fleet): Sun Princess. The vessel has also been delayed from November 2023 to early 2024, when it will first sail a spring and summer Mediterranean season after leaving Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard before heading to its Fort Lauderdale, Fla., homeport by fall of 2024.
During a live event last week, Princess executives promised Sun will be both “grounded in heritage” and “something shiny and new,” referencing lyrics from “The Love Boat” television show’s theme song, which is synonymous with the line.
Design details and renderings are revealing a 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest, 21-deck ship that will be 20% bigger than Princess’ current largest vessel, though it will still be capable of traversing the Panama Canal.
“Sun Princess is a new and bespoke ship platform, designed to simultaneously embrace Princess heritage while boldly pressing into the future with iconic, elegant and pure lines unique to our brand,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “A show-stopping, first-of-its-kind Dome on the top deck and suspended glass Piazza in the center of Sun Princess offer innovative designs showcasing expansive ocean views for incredible opportunities to connect with the sea.”
Sun Princess is a new and bespoke ship platform, designed to simultaneously embrace Princess heritage while boldly pressing into the future with iconic, elegant and pure lines unique to our brand.
Architecturally central to the ship will be a nine-story sphere containing three decks for the line’s signature (and largest-ever) Piazza, and another six levels of staterooms and suites above it. The lower atrium will be outward focused toward sea views and will further encompass a movable LED screen to frame live entertainment offerings. Plus, there will be a new cafe concept titled “Coffee Currents,” and Princess classics such as Bellini’s Cocktail Bar, Crooners Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.
Sun Princess will feature the line’s largest-ever Piazza.
Credit: 2022 Princess CruisesMeanwhile, a second geodesic half sphere called “The Dome” will be positioned at the forward upper decks and will be the first glass enclosure of its kind at sea, inspired by the domes of Santorini, Greece. By day, it will encircle an indoor/outdoor pool and a distinct water feature, and by night it will transform into an entertainment venue, showcasing a stage and lighting that’s reminiscent of South Beach and features aerial acrobatics. Overall, the ship will tout five pools and 14 hot tubs.
It’s all in keeping with the ship’s theme of “more,” according to Padgett, who said guest feedback drove the next-generation ship design — which has been five years in the making — to include more views, more entertainment, more dining (there will be 29 venues in total) and more cabin options.
The fully Ocean Medallion-equipped Sun Princess will have 2,157 staterooms, 50 of which will be suites and 100 with connecting doors, catering to multigenerational groups. There will be more outdoor balcony space, and every balcony cabin will feature a sofa, often missing on earlier ships.
Renderings of Reserve Collection Cabana rooms not only display a private outdoor lounge in addition to a balcony, but also a much-improved bathroom with a larger glass-enclosed shower. The Reserve Collection is the new fleet-wide name for the former Club Class of accommodations, and will include exclusive access to the Reserve Collection Restaurant onboard Sun.
The Cabana Deck
Credit: 2022 Princess CruisesWhat’s more, the private Sanctuary space is expanding to include a dedicated Signature Sun Deck, Signature Lounge and Signature Restaurant, all part of a new Signature Collection ship-within-a-ship complex for guests in its special level of suites.
As an “evolution of Princess,” Sun’s interior design will depart some from darker beiges and golden tones to show brighter and lighter finishes in contemporary, creamier tones, according to Padgett.
As previously announced, Sun Princess will be sustainably fueled by liquefied natural gas and, despite its bigger size, will deliver “amenities typical of the largest ships in the world, while delivering personalized service found on the industry’s smallest ships.”
Sun’s first three voyages are now on sale, and a second sister ship is slated to arrive in spring 2025.
