This month myself and Caitlin were lucky enough to be invited to join Sun Princess as she made her inaugural sailing. We joined the ship part way through her first sailing in Athens and spent 5 days sailing around the Mediterranean and disembarking in Barcelona. Along the way we stopped off in Messina & Palma de Mallorca, as well as spending a couple of days at sea which let us really get a feel for this brand new ship.
If you’ve ever been on a Princess Cruises ship before then you’ll know that familiar feeling as soon as you step onboard, the staff are incredible and treat you like family. With this being a new class of ship for Princess there were some new features and venues, but as a whole you can tell the vibe and atmosphere on the ship is the same Princess Cruises that you would find on any ship throughout their fleet.
Princess Cruises Check-In & Embarkation Process
The check-in process with Princess was really easy, as I’d been on Princess Cruises before I already had their Medallion App downloaded, so all I needed to do was log in and my booking automatically paired with my email address and popped up on the screen. From here I was able to fill in all of the necessary information such as passport details, add a card for my onboard account and a few other things. You have to agree to the onboard contract and once all that is done you’ll be checked in, you can then log into the same Princess account online and download your luggage tags. If you don’t have a smartphone or would prefer to do it all online rather than the app you can do that as well. Or if you would rather not do anything online at all, you have the option to check in at the port as normal when you arrive.
As we were joining the cruise half way through, our embarkation process was slightly different to a normal cruise, however it all went seamlessly, we were through security, given our medallions and on the ship within 15-20 minutes, everything was well organised to get us onboard as quickly as possible. During a usual cruise your embarkation wouldn’t be too different, arrival times may be staggered so not all passengers are arriving at once, so make sure you note down your arrival time on embarkation day. You will still collect your medallion at the port before you embark as well as getting a security photo taken if you haven’t already done so in the app.
Sun Princess Accommodation
During our 5 nights onboard Sun Princess we were staying in a Deluxe Balcony, all balconies onboard Sun Princess are Deluxe. Fitted with a full sofa which can be turned into a bed if needed, plus either 2 twin beds or a queen bed. You can also choose between two different layouts, the first would be like the picture above with the beds towards the balcony end of the cabin and the sofa towards the door, or you can have it the other way around with your sofa towards the balcony end of the cabin. This can be done at booking stage as different cabins have different layouts, so if you do have a preference make sure to let our cruise specialists know!
We were staying in cabin 11250 which was classed as mid-forward, the cabins are spacious and modern and came with plenty of storage and hanging space for clothes. There was a huge flat screen TV in the room loaded with plenty of movies to watch if you fancied. In our cabin there was also a kettle with tea and coffee that was replenished as needed. The bathroom was modern with a light up mirror for getting ready, and the shower was spacious enough.
The balcony was a good size and came with 2 chairs and a table to sit and enjoy the views. The only point I would make about this particular cabin is that we were above the new Cabana deck which is located on deck 9 so we could see right down onto that private area, as well as having a large corner balcony to the right of us, meaning our balcony was overlooked. If you would prefer a completely private balcony I would suggest looking at a different deck or cabin number.
Sun Princess Public Areas
Sun Princess being a new ship, everything is so modern and clean. She is Princess’ largest ship to date but definitely doesn’t feel it when you’re onboard. There are plenty of venues and spaces for guests to spend their days, at points throughout our sailing we questioned whether she was actually full (which she was!).
One of the main hubs on Sun Princess is the Piazza, this central space spans across three decks and is surrounded by shops, bars, restaurants, plus this is where you’ll find the shore excursions & future cruise teams. On deck 7 is the Piazza centre stage, where the onboard team will organise live music, shows and other fun things throughout the day and night to keep you entertained.
Up on decks 17 & 18 you will find the main pool areas, with 2 swimming pools and 6 whirlpools, plus plenty of sun loungers and sitting space for all guests onboard. Up here there is a bar for your favourite poolside cocktails as well as 3 different food stations from burgers and hot dogs to tacos and pizza, you name it you can get it on the lido deck. To the front of the ship on deck 17 you will find the Sea View Bar, this bar is surrounded by even more sun loungers and plush chairs to relax in, as well as some more whirlpools. This area of the ship is covered with a glass ceiling so you can still relax and enjoy the views even if there is any unfortunate weather. The Seaview Bar also connects to a new venue for Princess Cruises, called The Dome, the two spaces are connected by an indoor/outdoor pool area which looked amazing, if you’re not wanting to take a dip you can just use the doors!
The dome is a brand new space built for Sun Princess and takes on a beach club vibe by day and turns into an entertainment space by night, with acrobats, live musicians and more. If you head to the back of the ship on deck 8 you’ll find yet another pool, this time an infinity pool, offering some of the greatest views out to sea. Here you’ll also find more whirlpools, a bar and more comfy seating.
This ship is definitely built for the sun, with the amount of outdoor spaces available to guests. However if you are looking to stay inside on your Sun Princess sailing then there is plenty of space for that too. From Princess Live where they host different shows and entertainment to Good Spirits at sea, a new venue tucked away on deck 7, with handcrafted cocktails and a more quieter atmosphere. You also have O’Malleys Irish pub, International Cafe, The Wheelhour Bar and so many other amazing venues to choose from.
For those of you who like to be active on your holidays, there is a fully-equipped gym onboard, located on Deck 18 as well as a brand new space on deck 19 called Park 19. Park 19 is a great place for kids and kids at heart to spend their days, with ropes and obstacle courses suspended in the air, as well as slides a running track and comfy seating areas to hang out and relax.
Sun Princess Dining
If you’ve ever been on a Princess sailing before you know the food is incredible! This time was no different. The main restaurant onboard Sun Princess is Horizons, this restaurant spans across decks 6, 7 and 8. With deck 8 being dedicated to their American Diner and has a different menu to decks 6 & 7. Decks 6 & 7 are open for Breakfast and Dinner, whereas deck 8 is open for brunch from 10-3 and then opens again from 6-10 for dinner. We had the opportunity to dine in both options in Horizons and the variety on the menu each night is great, the food, as always, tastes really good. And a special shout out to the staff in Horizons deck 6 as they were incredible every night. We chose to dine in Horizons deck 8 diner for lunch on our sea day and it did not disappoint from chicken wings to po boys and everything inbetween, if you’re looking for some good old American style food then this is not to be missed.
Dining onboard Princess is personalised to you, if you would like to eat at the same time every night, or if you would like to book as you go and see how you’re feeling day to day then you can also do that too. All dining options are bookable through the Princess Medallion App whether it is complimentary or speciality make sure to get your table booked if there is a specific time you would like as to not be disappointed.
If you’re looking for something less formal then The Eatery is for you, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner there is a variety of options here to suit everyone, from Mediterranean and Italian to Mongolian and Asian cuisines. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, or want to try something new then there are plenty of other restaurants that you can book, but do come with a supplement. Supplements can range from $14.99pp to $45 depending on the venue. You can choose from Sabatinis, Crown Grill, Kai Sushi, Catch by Rudi as well as a new dining experience, Butchers Block by Dario. We had the opportunity to dine in Butchers Block and it was like nothing I had seen before. We had course after course of different types of steak, from tartar to t-bone, they had it all. The meats came with a couple of sides, however I think we would have liked to have seen more of the sides to pair with the meats, as well as finishing off with an olive oil cake which was delicious.
Two casual dining options that I was pleasantly suprised by was Alfredo’s Pizzeria and O’Malley’s Irish Pub. For just $14.99pp in Alfredo’s you can get a starter, main and a dessert. The pizzas are handmade and woodfired right in front of you and come out so fresh and delicious. We also dined in O’Malleys Irish Pub which serves traditional English Pub food, from fish and chips to steak and Guiness pie! Again I was surprised at how tasty the food was for a venue that’s not classed as a main dining spot onboard. The menu here was vast and very reasonable, with starters and desserts from $5 and mains from $10. If you are on Princess Plus you get 2 casual dining options included in your cruise fare, which Alfredo’s and O’Malleys fall under, meaning you can eat here complimentary once per venue during your cruise if you wish.
Princess Plus
If you’re not familiar with Princess Plus, it is an added value extra that Princess Cruises launched a few years ago. For £50pp per night you can add your drinks package, wi-fi, gratuities and more. Having tried and tested Princess Plus on this sailing, I can tell you with the utmost confidence that it is more than worth it. If you look at each inclusion individually, the amount you would be paying for everything you get is above and beyond the £50pp per night.
Inclusions
Included in Princess Plus you will get the following:
– Wi-Fi (1 device per guest) however if you do have more than 1 device you are able to log in and out of each device meaning you can use both, just not at the same time.
– Crew appreciation, which are all of your tips and gratuities
– Plus Beverage Package. This includes all drinks up to the value of $15 per drink. You’ll be limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per day but we’re yet to meet anyone who is still standing after the measurements you receive onboard! Included in this is also unlimited soft drinks, teas & speciality coffees.
– Unlimited juice bar
– Premium desserts (2 per day). If you scroll up slightly you will be able to see an example of a premium dessert. They can be found on deck 17 at Coffee & Cones. They have a full menu to choose from and they are essentially huge ice cream sundaes.
– Fitness classes (2 per cruise). Use of the gym is free for all guests, the fitness classes such as Pilates, Yoga etc will fall under this category.
– 2 casual dining meals per guest. As mentioned above we used ours for Alfredo’s and O’Malleys. This doesn’t include any speciality restaurants which are separate and still chargeable.
– OceanNow delivery. Use your medallion app to order drinks & food to your location on the ship free of charge
– Room service delivery.
Princess Premier
If you’re looking to include even more in your next Princess Cruises sailing then take a look at Princess Premier. It costs £65pp per night and includes the following:
– Wi-Fi (up to 4 devices per guest)
– Crew appreciation
– Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 each)
– Unlimited juice bar
– Unlimited premium desserts
– Unlimited fitness classes
– Photo package (unlimited digital + 3 prints)
– Princess Prizes
– 2 speciality dining meals per guest
– Reserved theatre seating (for production shows only)
– Unlimited casual dining meals
– OceanNow delivery
– Room service delivery
Overall thoughts on Sun Princess
Overall we had a great time onboard, the ship is modern and has something for everyone. The cabins are spacious with plenty of room but if I was to sail on her again I would look at the positioning and surrounding cabins to make sure it wasn’t overlooked. As always the food is outstanding onboard and I would definitely come back just for the food. We didn’t get to see much entertainment but I would like to come back onboard and see some of the new shows and entertainment they have lined up. Overall I would definitely recommend Sun Princess and can’t wait to get back onboard already!
V want to cruise from new york port
For around 7 days
Between 15th April to 20th may.
Pls send details