Sea Princess

Launched in 1998 and built by Fincantieri shipbuilders in Italy, Sea Princess - along with its sister ships Dawn Princess and Sun Princess - is a Sun class vessel operated by Princess Cruises.

In 2002, the craft was transferred to the P&O fleet and renamed Adonia in a ceremony presided over by Princess Anne and Zara Philips. For the next three years, the ship was an adults-only vessel featuring a gorgeous lounge and relaxation space.

When P&O's Arcadia was launched in 2005, Adonia became Sea Princess once again and gained some added features, such as the Movies Under the Stars outdoor cinema.

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In 2009, the craft was dry docked in San Francisco for a complete refitting. This included the building of new facilities, as well as a number of remodelling and redecorating projects. The propulsion and steering equipment was also refurbished.

Much of the work was filmed by National Geographic and the project was featured on a television documentary programme called World's Toughest Fixes.

Currently, the craft sails under the flag of Bermuda and spends most of its time travelling along America's western seaboard, offering journeys from San Francisco to Alaska. In addition, voyages are available through the South Pacific, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 2,272
Year entered service: 1998
Beam (ship width): 105.6 feet
Draught (ship depth): 26.5 feet
Length: 857.2 feet
Tonnage: 77,499
Crew: 850
Maximum speed: 22.4 knots
Number of passenger decks: 14
Number of lifts: 11
Number of swimming pools: 4
Number of cabins: 1,008

Food, cuisine and dining

Passengers on Sea Princess will enjoy a broad spectrum of dining options, ranging from customary cruise food and service, to speciality menus sure to tickle the taste buds.

There are two main dining rooms, both offering similar fare. The Traviata is the traditional option: lusciously decorated, it's open for three meals a day, with two dinner services available. Those who choose to eat in this location will enjoy the same great service every night, giving you the chance to get to know your waiter, as well as your dining companions.

If you're looking for more flexibility, then the Rigoletto is the Anytime Dining facility. This option allows you to show up to dinner whenever you're ready and you'll sit in a different place each night.

Sea Princess is also home to the Sterling Steakhouse - a gorgeously decorated venue perfect for a romantic meal and serving delicious steaks and other items from the grill.

You could also try out one of the vessel's more casual dining facilities such as:
• Horizon Court Buffet
• Patisserie
• Sundaes ice cream bar
• Cafe Corniche
• Riviera Grill

Alternatively, why not splash out with Ultimate Balcony Dining one night during your cruise? This fabulous service is the perfect choice for a romantic meal or an intimate party and brings the restaurant to your stateroom.

You'll have your own personal waiter to provide first-rate service and your choice of cuisine. Gorgeous extras include candles and fresh flowers. And dinner isn't the only option available - it's a great choice for a peaceful breakfast.

Standard room service is also available 24 hours per day.

On-board entertainment and activities

No cruise would be complete without a show or two and Sea Princess has two venues - the 550-seat Princess Theatre and 480-seat Vista Lounge. Located on opposite ends of the ship, both offer various entertainment options like comedy performances, concerts, educational lectures and cabaret acts.

You can also watch some great entertainment outdoors with Movies Under the Stars.

Informal activities are often organised on the pool decks - such as competitions, games and dance classes. Elsewhere, you can find classes about subjects like wine tasting, photography, cooking and arts and crafts.

With so much to see and do on Sea Princess, be sure to check out the Princess Patter. This is the ship's newsletter and it's delivered every night to your cabin, providing information about the various shows, presentations and other events going on.

Of course, the vessel is also home to a variety of bars and lounges where you can enjoy your favourite drink and some live music, while the Monte Carlo Casino is a popular destination if you're feeling a bit lucky!

Spas and fitness facilities

A cruise is a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy a bit of pampering - and Sea Princess won't disappoint in this regard. The liner has been fitted out with a variety of luxurious options that are sure to take the weight of the world off your shoulders.

One of the most popular destinations is the Sanctuary. This VIP area is specially designed for peace and tranquillity.

Large, comfortable loungers line the deck and plenty of staff are on-hand to serve refreshing drinks, tasty treats, or to even offer a spring water mist or cold face towel. The ground is covered in artificial grass, for a more natural appearance and the area is full of lush greenery. In addition, large windows looking out to sea will give visitors an amazing view while soothing music is played in the background.

Massages and other treatments are offered in the Sanctuary, or you could also head off to the Lotus Spa for a facial, body wrap, exfoliation or aromatherapy session.

For those who prefer to unwind with a trip to the gym, the ship has a large fitness suite with exercise machines and an aerobics studio. You could also get your adrenaline pumping with a swim in the pool, a jog on the athletics track or a round of virtual golf. There's also a sports court for games like basketball, volleyball and badminton.

Cabins

With just over 1,000 cabins, Sea Princess offers a wide range of stateroom options for guests to choose from. There are five different types of accommodation, which are further categorised into 19 price ranges, depending on the location, amenities and dimensions of the rooms.

Suites and mini-suites are the most sumptuous and spacious options and guests who choose these will enjoy cruising in comfort and style.

If you're looking for cruise deals or to save money, you may want to consider one of the smaller rooms. These include staterooms with balconies, cabins with views or interior rooms with no view. These are smaller and more basic spaces, but still include all the luxuries you'd expect from a high-end hotel.

For example, all guests, no matter which accommodation they choose, will enjoy a turn-down service with chocolates on pillows, as well as an en-suite bathroom.

All rooms are also equipped with a good-sized television, which generally offers satellite broadcasts of American cable networks like CNN, ESPN, Discovery, Cartoon Network and a movie channel - subject to signal quality. In addition, toiletries and hair dryers are provided with all rooms.