Ship review: Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess

Overview: The largest ship in the Princess fleet, and the first in the all-new Sphere class, brings a host of pioneering features. There’s a big focus on light and space, most visible in the eye-catching orbs that protrude from the sides of the 4,300-passenger ship and the glass dome dominating the front.

Family facilities are enhanced with the Park19 activity zone, which includes the new-to-ocean Sea Breeze aerial rollercoaster zipline. Sun Princess is also the first in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Cabins: The 2,157 staterooms include 1,500 balcony cabins – the most on any Princess ship – 50 suites and 100 connecting cabins. The new Signature Collection suites include access to a private lounge, dining room and sun deck, although they are in different areas rather than a dedicated ship-within-a-ship complex.

Also new are sunny Cabana Mini-Suites that come with their own cabana area and a balcony. Decorated in muted tones, cabins are well designed and include innovative touches, such as motion sensor lighting in bedside cabinets.

Food and drink: Princess fans will find favourites, such as Sabatini’s Italian and the Crown Grill steakhouse (pictured below), plus a lot more among the 29 restaurants and bars. The speciality restaurants, which all cost an extra $45, include the new Umai Teppanyaki, which serves up great food and entertainment in equal measure.

Horizons dining room has been given a facelift and now takes up three floors – with the best tables overlooking the back of the ship, a casual American diner at the top and more formal dining on the other levels.

Meanwhile, couples can push the boat out with the $149 tasting menu at the artistically inspired Love by Britto, while pub lovers can head to O’Malley’s for toe-tapping Irish tunes.

Facilities: Sun Princess has five pools, including the spectacular Wake View infinity pool, and a large gym. The glass-enclosed Dome (pictured below) is a pool and lounging area by day and performance venue by night, with thrilling aerial shows. The redesigned Princess Arena showcases four productions – three of them new – in an adaptable space that can host theatre in the round.

Meanwhile, the lively Piazza, the central three-storey atrium, is an all-day entertainment hub with a packed programme of music, performances, game shows and classes, such as line dancing.

USP: Accessed through a tucked-away door, Spellbound is a unique and atmospheric bar and small theatre venue combining magic, mystery and mixology, with cocktails such as Escape from Houdini’s Chest served from a smoke-filled casket. It costs $149, including a themed meal.

Book it: A seven-night Mediterranean with France & Italy cruise, departing on April 5, 2025, and sailing from Barcelona to La Spezia, with calls at Gibraltar, Marseille and Genoa, costs from £849 per person in an interior cabin, excluding flights.
onesourcecruises.com; princess.com