I was in a hurry to make dinner reservations on Princess Cruises’ new ship. But when we arrived at the restaurant, we stopped to take in the view.
From the windows of Makoto Ocean, a sushi restaurant that is part of a spherical structure near the center of the ship, I could see the sun setting below the horizon, a reddish-orange dot on the Mediterranean Sea. Sun Princess is designed to facilitate such scenes.
“We wanted to give our guests the maximum opportunity to celebrate that outside view in the way we designed[the venue]and arranged the furniture,” said Princess, vice president of entertainment experiences. President Dennis Savvis told USA. today. “It’s really unique to have so much glass on a ship.”
This was one of several notable features during recent voyages (the ship is currently cruising the Mediterranean before moving to the Caribbean in October). Here are her three takeaways, the first of this line’s aptly named Sphere class.
1. Design that expresses views of the sea and harbor
Makoto is not the only venue where you can enjoy views like this.
Other spaces within the Sphere include The Piazza, a lobby-slash-entertainment venue that also offers expansive views of decks 7, 8, and 9. One morning, while drinking coffee at International His Cafe, I was looking at the lights glinting on the water. At Alfredo’s Pizzeria, many seats offer views while you eat.
The same goes for other places on the ship. In the Horizons dining room, floor-to-ceiling windows face the ship’s wake. On the other side of the ship is a geodesic dome that Princess said was inspired by the hills of Santorini, resembling a giant solarium.
The space will also host shows such as acrobatics, and will feature multiple loungers, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a cascading bar (a nice place to cool off, as it felt a bit stuffy inside the dome at one point on a sunny day). ). sea day).
The overall effect helped bring in outside elements.
2. The ship is bigger, but still intimate.
Sun Princess is the largest ship in the Princess fleet, with a 21-story ship that can accommodate 4,300 guests. But that doesn’t mean everything is huge.
Given the scale of the service, many of the spaces on board feel particularly intimate. One night I walked into Good Spirits at Sea, a cocktail bar created in partnership with mixologist Rob Floyd that also hosts classes, and after thinking I was lost, I found myself on Deck 7. I found the shop tucked away on the corner. It offered a laid-back alternative to other noisy nightlife options.
On Deck 9, The Eatery, the ship’s buffet-like venue, gives way to a narrow hallway to the stern, complete with backlit wood panels and benches. Finally, they reopened and opened specialty restaurants “The Catch by Rudy” and “The Butcher’s Block by Dario” (respectively by Princess’ Head of Culinary Arts Rudy Sodamine and the famous butcher (created in partnership with Dario Cecchini).
Even the multi-configuration Princess Arena felt cozier than its nearly 1,000-person capacity would suggest. I was sitting in the second row from the end of my section to watch vocal group ODY・C perform, but I was still close enough to see clearly.
3. This line focuses on family-friendly activities
A portion of Sun Princess’ expanded footprint is being used to expand the line’s family offerings.
Park19, a new space on the ship’s top deck, offers a variety of activities in an outdoor setting. Sabis said the line sought to balance the interests of its core customers with the growing family market, “prioritizing spaces that everyone can enjoy.”
“There are some attractions that at first glance you might think, ‘Oh, it’s for kids,’ but this space is actually really comprehensive,” she said. “Our attractions are available to suit different levels of ability and mobility.”
These include the Coastal Climb, an obstacle course that culminates with 360-degree views from The Lookout Observation Deck (the highest point accessible to guests on board, also accessible by elevator), and the Net Ropes Course. included.
Billed as the first roll glider on a cruise ship, Sea Breeze will allow passengers to glide along the outer edge of the ship on electric tracks. (The vehicle is also ADA accessible, but Sabis said getting into the seat requires some degree of maneuverability.) ).
It’s about the same time as the ship approaches the amusement park (princess version). “We’re not in a competition to see who can do it bigger and better,” Sabis said. “If you want to get a really nice bird’s eye view of the Sun Princess and where the ship is sailing and its surroundings, you can do that. But while you’re driving, you have the option of pushing a lever a little bit to speed it up a little bit, and then you can get a little bit more speed. It will be thrilling.”
It was not yet available when I was on board as the cruise ship was going through a testing, certification and training process, but it is scheduled to open on April 27th. The Sun Princess’s original launch was delayed due to cruise line reasons. Quote The opening of some onboard facilities has been postponed due to the need for “additional technical work” at the shipyard.
When is the best time to take a cruise?:I tried to break it down by region.
There’s also a hammock area for lounging when you need a break, a recreational court that can host activities from table tennis to morning meditation, and a jogging track. Other locations on board include the Firefly Park Kids Club and hangout spaces, Neon Grove and The Underground, for his teens and his teens, respectively.
The reporter for this article received access to this cruise from Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
