God knows I’ve been on cruises before. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Virgin, and even a handful of defunct cruise lines (Bahamas Paradise, anyone?). So when a friend wanted to celebrate a milestone birthday on Princess Cruises, I was excited to see what made the experience different. Even better, the cruise was on Sun Princess, Princess Cruises’ newest ship.
When we booked our Mediterranean cruise aboard Sun Princess, we didn’t know which parts of the experience would stand out the most. Would the ship live up to the excitement of being brand new? Would the Princess experience feel different from other cruise lines? And was the Princess Plus package actually worth adding?
After spending time onboard, exploring the Mediterranean ports, and discovering our favorite spots on the ship, here’s what we loved, what surprised us, and what we would do differently next time.
First Impressions: A Beautiful, Brand-New Ship
Launched in February 2024, Sun Princess is the first ship in the line’s new Sphere Class. Carrying more than 4,000 guests, it’s one of Princess’ largest ships yet. It has a modern layout, innovative entertainment spaces, and plenty of areas to relax. Sun Princess sails the Mediterranean and Caribbean, as well as seasonal sailings in other popular cruise destinations.
We boarded the Sun Princess without incident in Civitavecchia (it was a very quick process, unlike most cruises in the states) after a few days visiting Civitavecchia and Rome. The first thing we noticed about Sun Princess when we boarded in Civitavecchia was that everything felt new.
And I mean really new.
Just one year after her official launch, the design is modern, bright, and elegant without feeling stuffy. There are so many beautiful spaces onboard, and the ship feels like it was designed for both relaxing and socializing. I love to spend the first day on board just roaming: checking out all the spots, trying to find tucked-away secret areas, and getting the vibe of the ship.
We immediately set off to find the secret balcony we’d heard wind of, and discovered it on Deck 10, port side. Wander all the way to the front of the ship, and take a quick left when you see an unmarked hallway. You’ll find a large forward-facing observation balcony that offers amazing panoramic views (and a peek down below at the crew relaxation deck).
We then headed to the Piazza for the Sundown Welcome party. The Piazza was excellent: a three-story atrium with seating all around (and plenty of bar areas) where we joined a massive singalong of 70s, 80s, and 90s hits. And even though we were on the third level, we got multiple shout-outs from the hosts for our enthusiasm (that would become a recurring theme on the ship). We also discovered Princess Live! that night (more on that later).
Princess Plus: Was It Worth It?
Before this cruise, I wasn’t someone who automatically added a drink package. Depending on the cruise, they don’t always make sense for everyone. And of course, I have a blog about drink packages to help you decide if one is right for you.
But on Sun Princess, the Princess Plus package ended up being one of the best values of the trip. There was a great deal when we were booking, so of course we jumped on it. And believe me, the value wasn’t just the beverages.
Yes, having drinks included was convenient (and the espresso became a favorite for many in our group). But what really made the package worthwhile was everything else included:
- Wi-Fi access, perfect for making WhatsApp calls back home and even checking in on the kitties via my Furbo.
- Bottled water, a necessity when you have a drink package and might overindulge once or twice.
- Casual dining options (none of the super-fancy restaurants, but some nice sit-down meals)
- Included treats like gelato
- Crew appreciation (gratuitites)
For us, it meant we weren’t constantly thinking about what was an extra charge. We could grab a coffee, enjoy a dessert, stay connected, and try different dining options without overthinking every decision.
That convenience added a lot of value.
Finding the Best Pool on the Ship
Before sailing, I assumed we would spend most of our pool time on sea days at the main Lido Deck pool.
We went there once, right when we boarded the ship and before we could enter our staterooms. We had some lunch, a few Aperol Spritzes (our official vacation drink), and honestly, never went back. It wasn’t bad. in fact, it was lovely. But by the next time we were going to head to the pool, we’d already found our new favorite spot: the Wake View Terrace.
This aft pool area quickly became our go-to place onboard. It had gorgeous ocean views, a more relaxed atmosphere, and somehow felt like a hidden gem that not everyone had discovered, mostly because it was nearly impossible to find. I’m not sure what I loved more: The infinity edge pool, the mostly-empty hot tubs, or the bar that never had a long wait.
It was the perfect place to chill in the mornings, enjoy breakfast, bask in the sun, chat with fellow cruisers, and unwind after busy port days.
Entertainment That Was Actually Fun
I’m going to be honest here. Often, my least favorite part of a cruise is the entertainment. Its often really hokey, over-hyped, and hard to get a seat. But one thing we really appreciated about Sun Princess was the entertainment.
There were lots of themed events, but thankfully they didn’t feel overly cheesy or forced.
The ABBA-themed party was one of our favorites. Even my 30-something friend loved it (once she realized she actually knew all the songs). It was exactly what a cruise party should be: fun, energetic, and full of people laughing and dancing. Oh, and not too long.
We also loved the silent disco under The Dome, the adults-covered sun deck at the fore of the ship. It was evening, dark outside, and when we arrived, the silent disco was literally silent in more than one way: Our group was the only ones there. The relief on the crew’s face when we showed up was obvious. They’d been waiting for someone. Anyone.
So in a very empty Dome, we decided we were going to be the entertainment. Once we started dancing, and loudly laughing, other people popped in to see what was going on. Eventually, it became one of those unexpected cruise memories that you end up talking about afterward.
Another entertainment highlights for us was the theater. Unlike a traditional cruise theater, this space could be configured in different ways, including an “in the round” setup, which made the shows feel much more immersive. Yes, it was hard to all get seats together, but it was one of those spaces where you could tell a lot of thought went into the design.
The second night, we saw one of the most chaotic (in a good way) shows I’d ever seen: Goronwy Thom, a juggler and comedian from the UK.
I know. Juggler. I said it.
But I can’t really describe the show. It was pure insanity and we all laughed so hard we had tears streaming down our faces. I think of myself as a bit of a comedy snob, and loved every second of it.
A Hidden Gem: Good Spirits at Sea
One of our favorite surprises onboard was Good Spirits at Sea, an awesome craft cocktail experience.
The experience was interactive, with cocktail demonstrations scheduled throughout the evening. The bartenders explained how they made the drinks, shared the story behind the ingredients, and sometimes even offered samples. Some of our favorite drinks included the Coco-Cafe, a chocolate espresso coconut rum cocktail with grated espresso; the Saint Petersburg Mule, a lemon-honey-apple twist on the Moscow Mule, and the Cartagena Cool, which tasted a bit like a rum old fashioned with a bit of cinnamon. But no matter what you ordered, you really couldn’t go wrong.
It was part cocktail class, part entertainment, and definitely worth checking out. Best of all, it was another one of those spots on the ship that nobody seemed to have discovered, so it was never crowded. The last evening was the best, with a flair bartending show and plenty of laughs.
The Little Things That Made a Difference
A few unexpected things really stood out:
The Medallion
The Princess Medallion was one of those features that sounded like a gimmick until we used it.
Being able to see where friends were on the ship was surprisingly helpful. If someone wanted to take an early morning walk or grab coffee, we could see who was already awake and wandering around. It recognized when you were at the door (no fumbling for a keycard), and even showed you pictures of yourself as you walked past display screens on the ship, which honestly could be both a positive or negative!
The Elevators
The elevators deserve recognition because they were genuinely impressive. The technology made getting around much easier than expected. If you’ve ever been stuck on a cruise ship trying to get somewhere after a show or during disembarkation, you know what a mess the elevator banks can be. These helped keep things much more organized,
That said, there was one downside: everyone could see what floor you selected. We had a situation with a somewhat amorous fellow passenger that became a little too uncomfortable at the elevators. Nobody wanted him to know what floors we were staying on!
Dining: A Mixed Experience
The dining experience was probably the area where we had the most mixed feelings.
The good news? Traveling with a group meant we got to try plenty of options. Our main dining room waiter, Alexander (who we quickly nicknamed “Alexander the Great”), made the experience memorable. He would often bring us different entrées and desserts so we could sample everything. We never felt like we were missing out.
We also appreciated the vegetarian and lactose-free options available in the main dining room.
That said, the food was… not amazing. It was on par with the budget cruise lines, and I’d expected a step up. While the food was beautiful and occasionally delicious, most of it was pretty bland. I’m sure it’s not easy trying to cook up food for international tastes, but we all left feeling unimpressed.
The standout dessert, though? The gelato at the shop next to Princess Live! There was always a line, not surprising, considering how bland the other desserts were.
A Few Things to Know Before Sailing Sun Princess
Sun Princess is a beautiful ship, but it does have a few quirks.
The biggest adjustment was the layout. Sometimes navigating from one area to another felt less intuitive than other ships we’ve been on. The easiest way to to get to the Wake View Terrace would have been to cut through the Sanctuary restaurant, but obviously that was a no-go. Probably why so few people discovered it!
Some venues were also smaller than expected. Princess Live!, was the lounge used for comedy shows. It was lovely for trivia and karaoke, but the venue was too small for a comedy show and we missed most of the performances because there simply was nowhere to sit.
We also attempted to visit O’Malley’s Irish pub, but unfortunately the smell of fish and vinegar was so strong that we couldn’t stay for more than one drink. Honestly, I didn’t want to drink Guinness out of a can anyway,
Would I Sail Sun Princess Again?
Yes. We’re already talking about doing a different leg of the Mediterranean loop in another year or two.
As a first Princess cruise experience, Sun Princess made a great impression.
The ship itself was beautiful, the entertainment was genuinely enjoyable, the Princess Plus package added tremendous value, and the ability to explore incredible destinations while having a comfortable home base made the trip special.
The Mediterranean ports were the adventure, but the ship became part of the memory.
Are you ready to book a trip on the Sun Princess, or one of their other many vessels? Let us know!
