Sun Princess Review
Click here to watch my full and in-depth video review on YouTube
If any of you had followed my previous attempt to board Sun Princess on her maiden voyage from Barcelona in February, you can probably imagine just how excited I was to finally board the first Sphere Class ship.
It was truly a cruise like no other - not least because I travelled as a guest of Princess on a media cruise. I do need to tell you that invitation or not, this review is all mine and truly representative of what I experienced onboard.
From the moment I stepped inside, I was captivated by the ship's modern design. Light colours, blonde timbers, white marble. This was Princess, but not as I knew it.
The ship offered a range of completely new venues and facilities. Most notably, the namesake Sphere which spans three decks across the ship’s central atrium called, The Piazza. Effectively walls of glass, the passenger benefit was immediately obvious. No longer is there any hiding from the fact that you’re onboard a cruise. Expansive ocean and landscape views fill the interior of the ship and this became one of my favourite Sun Princess traits.
Compared to the previous generation Royal Class ships, I noticed that all of the public spaces (except for maybe The Piazza itself) had expanded. There are outdoor promenade decks, set comparatively low on Deck 9 that offer complimentary dining venues, beautiful lounging spaces and even access to the brand new Wake View Terrace on Deck 8. That Wake View Terrace itself offers additional lounging space, a bar, two hot tubs and a very on-trend and Instagram-ready infinity pool.
Of course, no cruise experience is complete without dining and Sun Princess delivers 30 bar and food venues, including classic favourites like Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Slice Pizzeria, The Grill and more. Plus brand new additions such as The Butcher’s Block by Dario and Love by Britto (which opened at the conclusion of our time onboard) will keep people intrigued and well fed.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Sun Princess was the attention to detail in every area. From the redesigned, larger cabins with glass shower doors (hurrah!) to the abundance of outdoor spaces, every feature felt like it had been meticulously crafted to enhance the passenger experience, especially compared to the ships of the Royal Class. Even the technology onboard, like the incredible Medallion and OceanNow service was almost trumped by brand new elevators. No longer operated by pressing up or down, travellers choose their destination level from a touch screen and are then directed to a specific elevator that will whisk them to their level. It added a level of convenience and efficiency that I appreciated, especially onboard a ship that can cater for 4,300 guests at double occupancy.
While there were some minor downsides, such as lengthy queues for popular shows, they were overshadowed by the overall excellence of the Sun Princess. As Princess Cruises' newest flagship, it truly represents a step forward in the world of cruising, blending modern luxury with breathtaking ocean views.
I enjoyed my time aboard the Sun Princess, and I can only hope that she, or her sister Star Princess (due to launch in late 2025) will one day make an appearance in Sydney Harbour.
Click here to watch my full and in-depth video review on YouTube