Introducing the Sun Princess: the Love Boat of your dreams
Images by James Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
The Piazza and the Dome
Princess Cruises hopes to set the standard in cruise ship design with the Sun Princess, its newest vessel that set sail last month.
The modern cruise industry can tip its collective hat to Princess Cruises, which was featured in the iconic Love Boat series of the 1970s and 80s. The series introduced the concept of cruising to new audiences and generations and helped usher in a cruising renaissance.
The cruise line first set sail in 1965 with cruises to the Mexican Riviera and is currently celebrating its 55th year cruising to Alaska and the famed Glacier Bay National Park.
The Sun Princess continues that storied Princess tradition. The ship features an array of new design elements and technological innovations like The Dome, a glass-enclosed geodesic multimedia entertainment venue.
Princess Cruises has also been a leader in welcoming LGBTQ+ guests, with their ships and itinerary serving as popular venues for gay and lesbian couples looking to tie the knot at sea.
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Sun Princess during sea trials
“This is an historic day as our new Sun Princess sets sail on her inaugural voyage, and our guests get to experience our sensational, next-level, Love Boat firsthand,” John Padgett, Princess Cruises president said on the ship’s maiden voyage. “The ship is a magnificent showcase of advanced design, technology, and craftsmanship, with elevated spaces and experiences all focused on taking the Princess vacation experience to a new level.”
Image by James Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
The Piazza is the three-story heart of the Sun Princess
The Piazza is the central space of the Sun Princess. The three-story plaza features entertainment throughout the day and evening and is the perfect meeting spot for a drink before heading off to one of the restaurants and dining rooms centrally located around the Piazza.
Images by James Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
The Butcher's Block by Dario and Crown Grill specialty restaurants
Specialty dining includes The Butcher’s Block by Dario, the Crown Grill steak house, Kai Sushi by Makoto, and The Catch by Rudi.
But Sun Princess is rolling out Spellbound by The Magic Castle. Much like its popular 360 Experience on the Discovery Princess, Spellbound is an interactive multimedia immersive dining experience that includes a live magic show.
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The aft-facing Horizons main dining room features stunning three-story floor-to-ceiling views
The three-story Horizons main dining room features stunning aft views from its floor-to-ceiling windows.
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A Reserve Collection Cabana Suite
A new class of Reserve Collection Cabana Suites opens to an exclusive viewing deck with food and drink service.
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The exclusive Signature Collection Lounge
There’s also the exclusive Signature Collection Lounge with views rivaling the Horizons main dining room.
Image by James Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
The Arena allows for performances in the round
Princess Cruises is touting its new Princess Arena as “the most technologically advanced entertainment venue at sea.” The theater can support shows both in the round or in a more traditional proscenium configuration.
“The Princess Arena is an engineering marvel that allows us to create awe-inspiring entertainment, offering our guests a completely different experience every night,” said Denise Saviss, vice president of entertainment experience for Princess Cruises. “Not only will our productions shine, but the venue itself, with its state-of-the-art stages, captivating lighting design, and immersive surround sound, will deliver show-stopping spectacles on every voyage.”
The Sun Princess has four shows scheduled for the Princess Arena featuring music ranging from classic ’80s hits to Latin favorites perfect for dancing as well as classic rock.
Image by James Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
The Dome is a multimedia entertainment space also perfect for sunning and sightseeing
The Sun Princess’s most stunning design element is the massive forward-facing geodesic dome appropriately named The Dome.
The Dome provides amazing views day and night through its glass structure, but also features state-of-the-art tech and lighting capabilities to provide the perfect venue for an array of shows and performances.
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Entertainment includes Cirque Eloize
The Dome will feature multimedia shows including creative collaborations with Cirque Éloize, which has been a driving force in the Montreal cultural scene for decades.
“The Dome is a transformational space that creates a stunning vista with sweeping views of the ocean and creates an unprecedented setting to stage avant-garde spectaculars that will absolutely fascinate our guests,” said Francois Leroux, senior vice president, of Creative Design and Entertainment for Princess. “We’re thrilled to bring this collaboration with Cirque Éloize to life with three original shows, created specifically for this innovative and spectacular space on our next-generation Sun Princess.”
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The Sun Princess set sail on its maiden voyage in February 2024
The Sun Princess is currently at sea in the Mediterranean and will set sail later this year with cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
You can learn more about the Sun Princess as well as other Princess Cruises destinations like Alaska and the Mexican Riviera at princess.com.
