We just returned from a 3 night preview sailing on this new Sphere Class ship. Since there is lots of information out there about the Sun Princess, I will focus my review on a few features that I think are unique to this class of ship or Princess in general:
- The cabins were for the most part comparable to the newer ships on other premium lines. The bathroom was large and well appointed. There was plenty of storage space, and there were lots of outlets and USB ports at the desk and on both sides of the bed. We had a special D2 cabin with an extra-large balcony that we really enjoyed. I’ll let the video give you a better look: https://youtu.be/vC05IkFcIaY
- Cabana Deck Mini Suite Cabins: This was a unique type of cabin that features a covered cabana where the balcony would normally be, then opens up to a balcony. If you book this category on Deck 9, the balcony then opens to a large private shared balcony area. We took a video that I hope will explain it better than words do. https://youtu.be/gbubqbKUeRQ What the pictures don’t show is how HOT it was in the cabana when it was closed off. The only time I could see this being a real benfit would be if you had a group traveling together that would enjoy using the shared balcony as a gathering place.
- The Sanctuary Collection, which seems to be Princesses’ answer to Celebrity’s Aqua Class/Retreat. The cabins are the same, but Sanctuary Class offers upgraded amenities and services, including a private restaurant and pool area with cabanas available to rent. Sanctuary bookings also include the Princess Premier package features.
- The Dome, which is a beautiful glassed in area on the top deck that they use as an indoor pool during the day and then for shows at night. The space is small for the size of ship. There are also quite a few obstructed viewing areas, so get there early to secure a good seat.
Princess Plus and Premier
I have to say one of the best features Princess offers are their Princess Plus and Premier Packages. Below is a side by side comparison of everything that is included and the current pricing. We had the Plus Package, which did not include specialty dining but was all that we needed. These packages make cruising truly all-inclusive and really elevated our experience.
Princess Medallion
We loved the Princess Medallion! There was no key card to keep track of. It was nice to walk up to our stateroom door and not have to fumble around looking for a key. Our smiling faces popped up on the screen and the green light indicated that our door was unlocked. When we stopped at a bar to order a drink, they knew our names and that we had the Plus Package. We used the app to order drinks and they were delivered to our poolside chair via GPS tracking from the medallion, which they call OceanNow on demand delivery.
Overall, we were very impressed with the Sun Princess and feel that it was comparable to Celebrity in many ways. The food was excellent in the venues that we tried, which were all standard options without an additional charge. The service was also outstanding. Every crew member we encountered was smiling and helpful. The ship was elegant with soothing colors and contemporary décor. The Sun Princess offers a premium level cruise experience. There was nothing not to like, kind of like vanilla ice cream. 😊