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Ship review: Star Princess, Princess Cruises
Discover the second ship in Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class
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Overview: Launched in October, Star Princess is the second ship in the line’s Sphere Class, after Sun Princess.
Like its sister, Star Princess has a capacity of 4,300, a cool colour palette, lots of natural light provided by the Sphere atrium in the midship and The Dome venue at the forward and is powered by liquefied natural gas.
However, Star Princess features a few modifications including a separate non-smoking casino area.
Cabins: About half of the 2,150 cabins are balcony staterooms, which sleep up to four and offer a convertible bed with cloud-like mattress toppers, premium Beekman 1802 toiletries, plus motion-sensitive floor lights that help you find the way to the bathroom without waking up your travelling companion.
Exclusive to the Sphere Class are the 146 Cabana Mini-Suites. As well as their own private terraces, guests have access to a Cabana deck with hot tubs and cushioned cherry-coloured sunbeds.
Sanctuary Collection suites include access to a private pool at the aft, relaxing bar and dining area, exclusive restaurant and lounge, plus a bell to call for a flute of champagne.
Food and drink: There are 30 restaurants and bars in total. Complimentary dining outlets include a buffet, American-style diner, a grab-and-go cafe, three-storey à la carte restaurant and various alfresco options, from Detroit pizzas on deck nine to tacos and burgers by the pool.
Casual dining includes two busy standouts – sushi spot Makoto Ocean and Alfredo’s Pizzeria. Speciality restaurants carry a charge of $60 per adult and $30 for children.
Ensure clients book in advance for the heart-shaped dishes in Love by Britto or the entertaining chef commentary at Umai Teppanyaki – though beware the sizzling hot plate and flying egg rolls at the latter.
Image credit: Princess Cruises
Facilities: There are two main pools on the lido deck, an indoor-outdoor pool in The Dome, plus an indoor spa pool. A padel court and shuffleboard dominate the top decks, while the cross-trainers and spin bikes in the gym put me through my paces – though fitness classes are available only in the Princess Premier package.
The entertainment offering on Star Princess includes two new shows: circus-themed Illuminate and Bridgerton-inspired Meridian, both staged in the 990-seat Princess Arena.
Entertainment is dotted across the ship, from aerialists in the atrium to folk musicians in O’Malley’s Irish Pub.
USP: There are only three places where you can experience the Magic Castle fraternity of magicians: the original venue in Beverly Hills and the Spellbound by Magic Castle bars on Sun and Star Princess.
Spellbound takes on a new speakeasy theme on Star Princess, honouring vaudeville magician Richard Valentine Pitchford. The cost has also been reduced from $149 on Sun Princess, which included dinner, to $45, now including two cocktails and a magic show.
Book it: A seven-night Inside Passage cruise (round-trip from Seattle) costs from £729 per person, cruise-only, based on two sharing an inside stateroom. Departs May 10.
onesourcecruises.com
Lead image credit: Princess Cruises
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