Princess Cruises‘ latest, most modern cruise ship to date, Sun Princess, has finally arrived on the high seas! The ship is a hub of beautiful public spaces, including The Dome, chic accommodations and simply sensational eateries.
Specialist cruise consultant Kellie Buckland got to experience the pleasure of cruising with the wonderful Sun Princess for the first time, during the ship’s very first sailing!
In this blog, Kellie walks us through her five-night cruise with Sun Princess, detailing some of her favourite places to eat, drink and relax onboard. Read on to find out more about this glittering new addition to the Princess Cruises’ fleet…
I was lucky enough to win a five-night cruise with Sun Princess – and even more lucky for it being the inaugural sailing! Wow, this ship – she is absolutely stunning.
From the cabin I was lucky to call my home for five nights, to the public areas and the staff – everything wowed me from start to finish! Princess Cruises – I will be back!
Princess Medallion App
This is a fantastic app – pre-cruise I entered all my immigration details, debit card details and uploaded a photo. The photo is used for the Medallion so staff onboard can see who you are in order to embark and disembark the ship and also to purchase drinks and other extras.
Once onboard I followed the easy instructions to set up the Wi-fi, watched the safety videos and checked my muster point. You can order food and drinks via the app if you have Princess Plus or Premier package to wherever you are sat on the ship or to your room free of charge. I did try this once for food and it was very quickly delivered.
Another good thing about the app is the crew chat – I had a problem with my bill, sent a message on the app and it was answered very promptly without the need to queue up and waste precious sunshine time in guest services.
Cabin
My cabin was a DB grade – Deluxe balcony on deck 11 (236 sq. ft) – cabin number 11211 – clear view cabin and not overlooked. The layout was the sofa nearest the door then the bed next to the balcony, which seemed more spacious than my friend’s cabin which was laid out in the reverse to mine.
The cabin was modern and bright in décor. The bathroom has a shower only and WC and it is supplied with shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower gel and hand soap – so if you do forget they have it supplied for you.
Plenty of wardrobe and drawer space for all your clothes, shoes and accessories. The bed was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in and the pillows were to die for (I did ask if I could bring it home but it was a no). The cabin has a fridge, kettle, safety deposit box and TV for the latest films, shows and cruise updates. The balcony was a nice size – big enough for two chairs and a small table.
Entertainment
The Dome, Princess Arena, Love By Britto and Spellbound were closed for entertainment whilst we were onboard but they did move some of the shows to The Piazza. The Princess patter magazine is put in your cabin every night with all the entertainment, shows, classes and talks that are happening the following day.
The Piazza – is three-storey with seating all around for amazing views of the dance floor below. During the cruise I saw a Whitney Houston tribute, comedy and magic show, attended the welcome party and danced the night away as this was the ship’s nightclub and DJ Brickhouse played music until the early hours.
Princess Live – I didn’t spend any time here but this was home to Karaoke, Quizzes, Comedians and destination talks.
Casino – one of the biggest at Sea – lots of slot machines, blackjack tables and more. I did have a cheeky go on the slot machine but limited myself to $10 a night – I did win it back on the penultimate night and a little extra so treated myself to a Louis Vuitton bag in Turkey – real of course! (cough cough)
Bars
Lots of drinks at bars are included in the Princess Plus and Premier packages. Prices are in $ and, in my opinion, are similar to London bar prices for most drinks (I feel one of the packages is the way to go, as its good value for money).
O’Malley’s Bar – Fabulous live music late-night bar with a great Irish and Scottish duo that kept us very entertained with their music, banter and jokes. The staff are very friendly and jolly, just what is needed in an Irish bar. Serving all cocktails, spirits, beers, ciders and of course Guinness.
Crooners Bar – Think classy, oldy world 1950 style bar in New York. The cocktails in this bar were so tasty – the Rocher tastes exactly like Ferraro Rocher! The music here was light piano music with singers most nights in between the main entertainment in the Piazza.
Bellini’s – This bar is located on deck 7 of the Piazza, a prime position to watch the shows and dance the night away. They are open till early morning and close when the DJ finishes. Cocktails are amazing and the staff even more so.
The Wake Bar – This is situated on deck 8 at the back of the ship. Amazing views of the Wake and infinity pool. It’s got a summer vibe, lots of sunbeds, daybeds and seating areas for a relaxing drink, chill and dip in the pool. This was my favourite area of the ship.
Good Spirits at Sea – This was a fantastic immersive experience show venue. The cocktails we ordered were made at the front of the bar where a mixologist told us about the cocktail, where the ingredients came from and showed us a video of the country. This did get very busy at times, but it is such a fantastic concept.
Cascades – This bar is attached to The Dome. Quiet bar which was used for our pre-dinner drinks. Amazing light open space – fabulous for watching the sunsets as we sailed.
Restaurants
Inclusive dining
Horizon Dining Room is a three-storey dining room, located on decks six and seven, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is bookable on a first and second-sitting format, via the app or once onboard with the restaurant – they did have one floor for open dining but the queues were a little longer.
Food here is a set three courses that change daily. Amazing views over the wake with floor-to-ceiling windows. Nice and light décor. Staff always helpful and smiley. I ate there 3 times and each time the food was fresh and tasty.
The Eatery – Quick service buffet-style dining, located midship on deck nine, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The choice of food here was amazing – food choices from all around the world – Malaysian, Mexican, Chinese, Mediterranean and British to name but a few. There were an amazing array of salads, sandwiches and puddings plus lots of hot options to choose from.
Lido Outdoor dining – This is situated next to the pools, midship deck 17, so when you want just a quick snack after a day of sightseeing, lying by the pool or having a swim this is the place for you.
International Café – Located at the top deck of the Piazza on deck nine, this cafe is open 24 hours for light bites, sandwiches, cakes and coffees. They have tables overlooking the Piazza entertainment area so you can watch the live performances from the comfort of the top deck with a coffee and a cake.
Speciality Dining
Catch by Rudi – All I can say is WOW! Seafood lovers, this is the one for you. You get a set three-course meal at Catch by Rudi, located on deck nine, aft, but you need to make sure you have not eaten all day!
The portion sizes are amazing. I had the Ole prawns and they were rich in flavour and a little chilli kick. A must is their take on the surf and turf – Fresh succulent steak and lobster – the steak knife was not needed just a butter knife would have cut through it, it was that tender!
The Butchers Block by Dario – Family style bistro on deck nine, aft, designed and imagined by world-famous Butcher Dario Cecchini. Very bright, open-plan restaurant with an open kitchen so you are able to see your meals being prepared and cooked.
Umai Hot Pot and Umai Teppanyaki -Exclusive to the Sun Princess and Star Princess, this restaurant, on deck eight midship, offers an authentic experience with the theatricality of a Japanese Teppanyaki.
Other Areas
Lotus Spa – This spa is two storeys and has its own salt room, steam room, hydro pool, and relaxation areas. It offers treatments such as massages, facials, IV lounges (if you have had a little too many cocktails on the Princess plus), beauty treatments and more.
Wakeview Terrace – Located at the back of the ship. This was my favourite place – a chilled area to relax in the sun, have a nice cocktail from The Wake bar, a swim in the Infinity pool and chill in the hot tubs – just bliss!
The Dome – A multi-level covered deck that, in the daytime, is a place to relax and have some chill time undercover if the weather is not so good. It has an indoor/outdoor pool and at night it becomes a stage.
I feel that I saw so much that Sun Princess had to offer but there was so much more to see, restaurants to eat in, and bars to drink in five nights just wasn’t enough! I do recommend all customers to book at least Princess Plus – amazing value for money and nice to not have to worry about how much to tip.
I loved the little touches like the turn down every night, information in the Princess patter magazine (port of call info, entertainment info and any updates for the next day), and little reminders to turn clocks back or forward.
My cabin was kept immaculately cleaned every day by the friendliest cabin steward – always said hello, good morning, good afternoon whenever I saw him and always smiling. All the staff onboard were so friendly, helpful and I have never said Hello so many times in five days!
