Sun Princess – Princess Cruises Reveals Bespoke Next Generation Ship for 2024

Princess Cruises has given a sneak peek of Sun Princess, their latest and most advanced ship yet. Set to launch in early 2024, it boasts a modern design inspired by sun rays and offers enhanced spaces for guests to enjoy. Highlights include an impressive Arena theater and a unique three-story dining venue - a first for Princess - promising an unforgettable cruising experience.

“With the construction of any new ship, we have the incredible opportunity to design standout spaces with our guests’ preferences in mind,” said John Padgett. “With the new platform and size of Sun Princess, we’re uniquely able to refresh venues we know our guests love and expand upon, redesign and elevate them to the next level. We know our sun-inspired designs will exceed expectations and elevate the entire Princess experience.”

The largest-ever ship built by Princess is currently being constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard and is expected to make its debut in early 2024. Weighing in at 175,500 tons, the vessel pays homage to its Italian roots with its standout features, including a state-of-the-art Piazza and The Dome, an innovative entertainment space inspired by the terraces of Santorini. In addition, Sun Princess will incorporate the Princess Medallion, an exclusive technology that further enhances the already exceptional personalized experiences offered by Princess. This technology allows Princess to provide first-rate cruise ship amenities on par with the world's largest ships while still delivering the personalized service typically found on smaller ships within the industry.

A first look video featuring renderings of Sun Princess can be found here, and images can be found here.

New Innovative Guest Experiences

The ship offers guests an immersive experience that highlights light, panoramic views, and innovative features across its service, dining, and entertainment offerings. A standout architectural feature is the three-story Piazza, which creates a suspended, outward-facing space with ample seating for guests to enjoy ocean views in every direction. Additionally, a striking LED screen can be repositioned in the Piazza to provide live entertainment programming. Alongside the Piazza Atrium, guests can look forward to a new coffee shop named Coffee Currents, Bellini’s Cocktail Bar, as well as classic Princess favorites like Crooners Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

The popular and award-winning Alfredo's Pizzeria will feature an open kitchen design, allowing guests to observe the chefs handcrafting pizzas and serving them straight from the oven. A new addition to the kitchen is a professional, open-mouth oven that can reach temperatures of up to 968 degrees, making it possible for chefs to make authentic contemporary Neapolitan pizza. Guests can expect a genuine experience that rivals what they would receive when visiting Italy.

Princess Casino – The Piazza will house the largest Princess casino in terms of both size and number of gaming positions, offering guests convenient access to their preferred betting games. The casino's expansive floorplan guarantees comfort and entertainment, and over 200 of the latest and most popular slot machines and video poker games will be available to guests, catering to a wide range of interests.

Crown Grill – a well-loved dining destination for Princess guests seeking a flawlessly grilled steak, has been transformed on Sun Princess into a classic steakhouse with contemporary accents. Guests will be greeted with inviting leather booths, circular seating, and custom artwork designed exclusively for the restaurant, creating an unforgettable dining experience. Furthermore, the restaurant features the largest show galley on a Princess ship, providing guests with a view of their food being prepared.

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria – The newly reimagined Sabatini's Italian Trattoria will offer a contemporary, elegant Italian dining experience with a casual touch, ideal for families. Freshly made, unique pasta courses will be a standout feature, prepared daily. The restaurant will feature a crisp, geometric design, with a pasta room where guests can observe the pasta-making process. The intimate bistro-style nooks and dramatic circular main room will provide an inviting atmosphere for guests.

The Dome

The most notable feature onboard Sun Princess, besides the Piazza, is The Dome, the first-ever true glass-enclosed dome built on a cruise ship. Inspired by Santorini's terraces, The Dome is a multi-level, covered deck offering a comfortable and relaxed indoor/outdoor pool during the day, complete with a unique water feature. In the evening, the pool is transformed into a stage, and The Dome becomes a sensational entertainment venue, showcasing a South Beach vibe, state-of-the-art lighting effects, and breathtaking aerial performances.

Sun Princess's interior design captures the beauty of the ocean and provides uninterrupted views of the outside from dawn to dusk. The ship's brighter and lighter decor and finishes enhance the guests' experience by offering more vantage points to enjoy the incredible destinations and ocean vistas during their Princess cruise vacation.

Newly Appointed Suites and Staterooms

Sun Princess boasts 2,157 staterooms, comprising 50 suites and 100 connecting rooms, spread across 21 decks. Notably, the ship offers more outdoor balcony space, with all balcony staterooms featuring an in-room sofa.

Moreover, the ship introduces a new level of suite accommodations, the Signature Collection. Along with premium amenities, Signature Collection suites provide guests with access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge, and Signature Sun Deck, a private enclave in the Sanctuary.

All Princess ships, including Sun Princess with its Club Class accommodations, will now feature the Reserve Collection. This collection comprises the top-positioned mini suite staterooms and includes Reserve Collection Cabana rooms, which feature a balcony and private cabana, as well as an extra-large outdoor lounge space. Access to the Reserve Collection Restaurant is also included with these premium accommodations.

Sun Princess incorporates sustainable features as part of Carnival Corporation's green cruising initiative. This vessel is powered by LNG fuel technology, as are 11 other new ships in the corporate fleet. The ship's inaugural season, featuring Mediterranean itineraries, will begin in early 2024. The first three voyages will be available for purchase starting at 3pm Eastern on Friday, September 16.

The third vessel to bea the name Sun Princess continues the legacy of its predecessors, which sailed from 1974 to 1988 and from 1995 to 2020. The second ship held the record for the most balcony cabins and was the first in the cruise line to offer a 24-hour cafe. Further information on Sun Princess, including dining options, entertainment, and onboard features, will be disclosed in the upcoming months. Additional details about the ship are available at www.princess.com.