Good Spirits and Magical Surprises - Day 2 Sun Princess

By Cruising With Honey - 18:09

Day 2 aboard Princess Cruises.

Sleep. How good is a sleep in on sea day especially when the sea is not playing very nice.

Despite the roll, the remedy was ordering breaky using the Princess Medallion app via Ocean Now. If you haven't used it yet, I can honestly say Princess Medallion is the best tech at sea. With Ocean Now, a few taps on your smartphone (you can also use your TV) you place your food and drink order and like magic, a crew member will bring you your order, wherever you are on the ship.

In my case this morning, a large coffee and egg muffin was delivered straight to my cabin. I wish I had this at home....

You’re always in great spirits in Good Spirits

So you might know the ingredients to your favourite cocktail, but do you know how to shake-up these delicious elixirs?

Enter master mixologist and world-renowned liquid chef Rob Floyd. Yes, you read that right, liquid chef. Just like a well-balanced dish that ignites every sense, so too perfectly crafted libations.

For an hour, Rob Floyd and his team of bartenders in Good Spirits Bar on Deck 7, stirred and shook, expertly adding spirits and flavours - and even a sprinkle of gold dust - creating drinks with flair and, most importantly, lots of interesting flavours.

Be warned, if you attend a cocktail-making class, ensure your stomach is appropriately lined as these cocktails sure pack a punch. Fun and entertaining with a dash of audience participation to mix things up.

Meet Rob Floyd

Eating at the Eatery

What is a cruise ship without a buffet? One of the biggest drawcards for cruising enthusiasts is the flexibility of going to the buffet and choosing from a massive array of dishes.

For Princess Cruises regulars, the buffet is not in it’s usual location on Deck 16, rather on Deck 9 and is called the Eatery rather than The Marketplace.

At the entrance of the Eatery is the International Café and the coffee bar. The location means cruisers walk through the Atrium. At first, it took a little getting used to, but with the ample outdoor and indoor seating, the Eatery seemed to be a winner with guests.

I particularly enjoyed the Asian selections (I LOVE dumplings) and the mezze plates. With so many dining options to choose from onboard, I only ate at the Eatery once.

I must admit, I preferred the International Café for a snack, especially the quiche and Portuguese tarts. Dangerously good.

Could it be magic?

I’m a sucker for magic shows, I mean who doesn’t enjoy being amazed by sleight of hand? Sun Princess has introduced a new experience in partnership with The Magic Castle called Spellbound.
(Click here to find out more about Magic Castle

The night begins with an exclusive themed dinner which sets the tone for the rest of the night.

After dinner, guests are escorted to a hidden bar. Then the magic really begins. Inside, paintings come alive, a ‘ghost’ plays a piano any song on demand and even cocktails are presented with much flair and theatre. A magic show follows that’s pretty amazing.

Here’s a tip for the lads, make sure you wear a blazer/jacket as the dress code is strict. Ladies, feel free to dress to the nines and make it a special evening.

Watch me dance the night away

I know I’ve said it before, but the Atrium is awesome. There’s always something happening, bars on every level and for me, it’s the heart of the ship. The band this night was on fire and I spent the night dancing until the band AND the DJ packed up.

What a jam-packed day, and yet I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of the Sun. Tomorrow is a another sea day so another opportunity to explore this bright lady.

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Sun Princess

All Aboard Sun Princess - Day 1

By Cruising With Honey - 08:56

Day 1 aboard Princess Cruises

WHAT A SUNSATIONAL DAY!

Civitavecchia was busy. The Roman port was hectic with excited passengers waiting to board, luggage in tow. There was a palpable buzz of excitement in the air.

I only had eyes for one lady; the Sun Princess.

I had waited 13 months to see the completed ship, and now as I stood staring up at her hallmark sphere, traversing 9 decks, I was virtually jumping out of skin to get on board.

But first, check in. As I was traveling with a group of other Australia media, we had a dedicated crew member to assist. Handing out our Princess Medallions (more about this later) and tagging our bags took next to no time. Before I knew it, I was crossing the gangway. The process took next to no time. Princess has the boarding process down pat!

All aboard Sun Princess

I must admit, sometimes boarding day can be overwhelming, especially when it’s a new ship. It can be hard to know where to start, where to look. Not this time. This could be because I was onboard before passengers and the decks were quiet. But I also believe it was a combination of the calm palette and the light filled spaces.

First impressions

WATCH MY MINI SHIP TOUR

Princess Cruises promised that this new Sun was going to gleam with sunlight – most notably due to the design of the Sphere. This striking architectural feature resembles a glass-enclosed globe and lets in an abundance of light creating a sense of being at one with the sea and sky outside while enjoying the comfort of being indoors.

Walking through the decks, the colour scheme was very soothing. No gaudy colours or overstimulating patterns, just a nuanced sea of blues and beige, interjected with shiny chrome and sparkly stair cases. The multilevel atrium was bright and had a huge LED screen.

While Sun is different to other Princess ships, she retains the charm and elegance of her sisters in the fleet. I started with doing a quick walk around to see some of the bars and restaurants, plus the shops and entertainment areas, including the Princess Arena. So far, Sun Princess looked amazing.

Cabin life, oh so nice

One of the most exciting things about boarding day is opening your cabin door and seeing where you’ll be calling ‘home’ for the duration of the cruise. It’s like opening a present! My cabin was a Verandah cabin, forward on Deck 10. It was spacious, modern, light and tastefully decorated with calm colours.

WATCH MY CABIN TOUR

The modern bathroom had plenty of space for toielteries and the shower had a glass door. No more icky, plastic curtains. Shudder,

More spaces to love

As my first walk through was quite quick, I joined the media group for a more thorough tour, this time seeing many of the standout areas which included the Dome which has an inside /outside pool, amphitheatre style seating and a stage. Then and there, I fell in love with the design and knew it would be a favourite space for passengers.

Horizons and wakeviews

Ever since my shipyard visit , I was trying to envision the 3-level main dining room. I wasn’t sure how the void would work in the middle and if it would be disjointed. Stepping into Horizons (the main dining room that spans decks 6, 7 and 8) my fears that this space would feel confused were put to rest.

The 3 levels are joined by a staircase at the entrance and is more like a high-end restaurant than a regular cruise ship eatery.

Deck 6 and 7 are more formal while Deck 8 is a more casual and has an American-style menu (including all-day breakfast). Here’s a Honey Tip: Check opening times for each level as they do vary, especially on port days.

My favourite feature? The expansive wake views that fill the floor to ceiling windows. Why can’t I have wake views for breakfast every day?

Dinner in Horizons was yummy (especially my salmon main course) and I couldn’t pass up on indulging in the signature Love Boat dessert. What else would I have?

Day 1 complete and I already knew the next 5 days would zoom by. Hasn’t anyone invented a machine to make time stand still yet?

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Sun Princess

On My Way To The Sun - Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise

By Cruising With Honey - 17:50

Chasing the Sun

406 days ago I stood on an incomplete ship in a shipyard.
Cables protruded from walls and floors, the hum of saws filled the air and workmen’s brows were furrowed in concentration as they hammered and drilled, determined to finish the ship in time.

I tried to envision how this stellar floating marvel will look once complete, but I couldn’t quite imagine how she will come together.
Tomorrow, I’ll be stepping foot aboard the Sun Princess, and finally, the wait will be over.

What to expect on the Sun Princess

If you’re familiar with Princess Cruises, you will know the name Sun Princess and a little bit of the history of the vessel. To be clear, this new Sun - the third Sun to be precise to shares the iconic legacy.
The first MS Sun Princess launched in 1974 and sailed until 1988 and had the first 24-hour cafe for the cruiseline. The Sun Princess also featured in several episodes of the Love Boat and in the original 1976 movie.

The second Sun Princess was launched in 1995 and was in operation until 2020. One of the biggest claims to fame for Australia is that she was the largest ship to ever cross underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge when she entered Sydney Harbour for the first time in October 2007.

Sun Princess 3.0 heralds the first in the Sphere Class for Princess Cruises and will accommodate 4000 guests. A second Sphere Class ship, Star Princess is set to launch in July 2025.

Large and bright, but not a floating amusement park

I’ve been aboard several large new ships, and the fear before sailing on these new vessels is that the number of passengers will be too overwhelming and the spaces crowded. The promise with Sun Princess is that despite her large size and 4300 guest capacity, that she will not feel overcrowded. Let’s see tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are some figures:

Guest Rooms: 2,150
Number of decks: 21
Length: 345m
Gross Tonnage: 175,500 GT
Powered by Liquid Natural Gas

And now it’s time to fly

Every journey begins with a single step – but in my case, this one begins with two plane rides, crossing oceans and datelines to get from Sydney to Rome. While this 30-hour commute seems overwhelming, it always amazes me that a) Australia is SO far from the rest of the world and b) modern air travel ferries people every day from any point in the world to embark on an adventure. It truly is a marvel.

I think I can hear last calls for my flight, see you all in the Eternal City.

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Princess Cruises

Sun Princess comes alive! Live from Fincantieri Shipyard, Italy

By Cruising With Honey - 15:42

Sun Princess Shipyard visit, Fincantieri, Italy
Princess Cruises

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, Cruising With Honey was one of the first to step aboard the 175,000 tonne Sun Princess at Ficantieri Shipyard, Monfalcone, Italy. Read about the latest updates, the history and the future of the largest ship most innovative Princess ship – the first LNG powered ship for the line.

A 24-hour Flight to See the Sun

Hard hat on? Check. Steel capped boots? Laced up. Bubbles of excitement building up? Absolutely. As I stood alongside, looking up at the currently-under-construction Sun Princess at the shipyard, I couldn’t wait to board this enormous ship so she could reveal all her secrets – before anyone else could!

Sun Princess 3.0

The name Sun Princess has a long and beloved history. Images of the ‘Love Boat’ automatically spring to mind, with “exciting and new” cruise adventures. The Sun Princess, which is currently under construction, is set to debut in early 2024. She’s the third vessel to be given the name Sun. Here’s a look back at the impact of this iconic legacy.

Come Aboard, Sun’s Expecting You!

Launched in 1974, the first MS Sun Princess sailed until 1988. At that time, Sun Princess had the largest number of balcony cabins and had the first 24-hour cafe for the cruiseline. For fans of the TV Show, The Love Boat, the Sun Princess features in several episodes and in the original 1976 movie. For many people, the Sun Princess inspired and motivated people to take their first cruise.

After she was retired from service, a second Sun Princess was launched in 1995 and was in operation until 2020. When she was built, she was the largest ship in the world and also featured on the revival of The Love Boat TV show. One of the biggest claims to fame for Australia is that she was the largest ship to ever cross underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge when she entered Sydney Harbour for the first time in October 2007 - amazingly with only a vertical clearance of approximately 2.5m!

Now, in 2023, the ship currently under construction that also has the name Sun Princess emblazoned on her hull, is the first in the Sphere Class for Princess Cruises and will accommodate 4000 guests.

That’s a Whole Lot of Shipyard!

The water taxi/bus ride from Venice – where I’d spent the last two days exploring the watery ancient city and quaffing Aperol Spritz’ – gave me the chance to reflect on where I was and what I was about to experience. I was the only Australian cruise journalist/blogger to be invited by the PR Princess team in Australia to join other media from the US and the UK (about 40 others) for this special event. To say I felt extremely grateful and lucky to visit Finacntieri shipyard was an understatement.

But, before I could get onboard, I was ushered to the site office WATCH HERE to meet some of the people behind the magic and hear all about the build.

First up, Head of Communications and SVP Princess Cruises Vicki Johnson who welcomed the media and introduced Captain Genaro Arma who would be leading the next stage of construction.

Head of Communications and SVP Princess Cruises Vicki Johnson and Captain Arma

“You are literally the first to step on board who aren’t construction workers or who aren’t on the project, so this is a real special treat,” Ms Johnson said.

“Let me remind you, it is a construction zone. First, they start with the outside of the ship, and once she is sea-worthy and able to move, she transitions to a different part of the shipyard so they can start working on the interior,” she said.

Next, Captain Arma, spoke about the milestones of the build, noting that Sun Princess was in the “early stages of her life”, but jokingly added “she floats, which is good thing.”

“Sun Princess is our first LNG vessel – actually the first one ever built here in Fincantieri – and the largest vessel built here in this shipyard as well as the biggest for our fleet,” Captain Arma said.

“She is what we call ‘dual-power’ as she can use diesel engines as well, but our main goal is to use LNG.

“This is a big step forward, a sustainable ship by all means. I can guarantee, no other ship right now, has all the options that Sun Princess has, to be so sustainable. It’s a big step forward for the entire industry.”

A video presentation was then given by Director of New Build and Guest Experiences and Product Development Richard Parker WATCH HERE followed by a rundown of the cabin categories WATCH HERE

And then, donning my hard hat and steel capped boots, I was heading onto the bus to take me to see the Sun! I might have been just a little excited when I arrived. Shipyard Arrival Live

Honey from Cruising With Honey Sun Princess Cruise Ship

Here Comes The Sun

I’m not one of those people who can picture things from plans or drawings. I need to see things in ‘real life’ for it to be tangible, for it to come alive. Despite reading all about Sun Princess and seeing the renders, nothing could compare to stepping aboard and seeing the ship come to life before my very eyes.

FOR MORE PICS FROM ONBOARD CLICK HERE

Let’s not sugar-coat it, the inside of the ship – as Vicki Johnson described – was a construction zone. Cables, sheet metal, scaffolding and tools. Banging, hammering and the high-pitch screech of electric saws filled the interior. It was exhilarating.

As I made my way through the different public areas, escorted by passionate engineers and designers, the ship’s features were unfolding, piquing my imagination.

First stop was Deck 7 and the Piazza WATCH HERE, which is the heart of any ship. With a focus on light, the Piazza is a “cutting-edge entertainment space inspired by the terraces of Santorini.” I was imaging myself stepping aboard, ready to sail, and being dazzled by this space.

As we walked through the Retail space WATCH HERE images of boutique brands, jewellery stores and other shops materialised. While I’m not a big shopper on cruise ships, I’m a big ‘window-shopper.’ I could easily see myself walking along Deck 7, peering in the brightly-lit window displays.

Everything was very fascinating, but it wasn’t until I arrived at where the main dining room, Horizons was being built that my excitement went up a gear. The three-level restaurant - another first for Princess - is going to be very, very impressive. WATCH HERE

The space will be open and flexible and feature different dining options. For instance, the upper level (deck 8) will be more casual. A decorative sculpture will be installed that will stretch from deck 6 to deck 8 in the middle of the void. The three decks will each have their own personalities and offer different dining experiences and range in levels of formality.

There was so much more to see, and time was running out. Moving outdoors to Deck 8, it was here that I could grasp the enormity of Sun Princess and what she’ll look like in a port or to other ships as she glides along the sea. Spanning 21 Decks she was huge! I stood in what will be the infinity pool (aft Deck 8) craning my neck up to see right to the top. WATCH HERE

Honey from Cruising With Honey at Sun Princess Cruise Ship

It’s no secret, my favourite spot aboard a ship is the aft, getting lost in those mesmerising wake views. I stood for while, wishing I had a time machine to transporting me forward a year to be in the very spot, somewhere in the Mediterranean sea.

On and on we walked, checking out the Princess Live theatre, the outdoor cabana deck, the casino and so much more.

Is Sun Princess Worth the Glowing Hype?

I could write thousands more words, but I’ll try to sum up my thoughts in a just one: Iconic.

Okay, here are a few more. Sun Princess – keeping in mind she is still under construction – will be a game-changer to the industry, combining all the things Princess cruises is known and loved for by millions of loyal Princess guests.

For me, Princess’ hallmarks are a focus on innovation, style, food, evolution and joy, while still keeping the traditional features that highlight the essence of a cruise voyage. She has kept all the attributes that cruisers need to make a cruise sacred; ensuring you’re enjoying a relaxing holiday where YOU are the main character.

Sun Princess will elevate the cruise experience, without moving too far that she becomes an amusement park.

As I disembarked after the whirlwind tour, my senses a little overwhelmed, I thought to myself that I couldn’t wait to sail on her when she was completed, as Sun Princess had definitely left her mark on me. Funnily enough, I had cheekily left my mark on her.

In a year or so, I’ll return to Deck 8, port, mid ship to run my fingers over this space. It’ll be covered with paint and art, but I’ll know that a little piece of Cruising With Honey will remain there forever.

* Cruising With Honey was a guest of Princess Cruises and was hosted during her stay in Venice. All views are her own.

Facts and Figures

Inaugural Season: 2024

Guests: 4,300

Guest Rooms: 2,150

Number of decks: 21

Length: 345m

Gross Tonnage: 175,500 GT

Powered by Liquid Natural Gas

Built: 2023 by Fincantieri, in Monfalcone, Italy.

Dining Options

More than 29 bars and restaurants, including

● Main Dining Rooms, including Horizons Dining Room

● Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

● Alfredo’s Pizzeria

● Crown Grill and BarWheelhouse Bar

● World Fresh Marketplace featuring The Bakery

● International Café

● Ultimate Balcony Dining

● 24hr Room Service + OceanNow® delivery

Showrooms and lounges

● The Dome

● Princess Theatre

● Princess Live!

● Princess Arena

Highlights

Sun Princess is not only the newest Princess Cruises ship, it’s also the largest Princess ship to ever be built.

● Sun Princess is more than twice as long as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and

weighs more than three times the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

● She is also the first Princess Ship, and one of 11 new vessels in the Carnival

Corporation fleet, to be powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). This is the first of

many steps towards greening our fleet of ships into the future.

● Sun Princess also features the first three-story dining venue - Horizons Dining

Room. The venue will have stunning wake views and unparalleled natural light,

giving the room a modern, formal feeling.

● The Dome, a cutting-edge entertainment space, is the first of its kind

indoor-outdoor venue, inspired by the terraces of Santorini.

● The Signature Collection suite accommodation, taking our remarkable amenities to another level. Signature Collection Suites include access to the Signature Lounge and signature Sundeck, which is an exclusive area of The Sanctuary.

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Good Spirits and Magical Surprises - Day 2 Sun Princess

Day 2 aboard Princess Cruises.