Sun Princess exterior render

© Princess

Everything you need to know about the brand-new Sun Princess

Discover when our first-ever Sphere class ship will set sail and what to expect onboard

October 2022

By Liz Darke

In case you missed the exciting news, in September we announced details of our newest ship, Sun Princess. The first of an upcoming Sphere class generation, Sun Princess is our biggest-ever ship and will feature a geodesic glass dome, fresh entertainment venues and dazzling suites. In addition to her stunning design, Sun Princess is part of Carnival Corporation’s green cruising focus and is one of 11 new ships to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), one of the world's cleanest of the fossil fuels.

“Sun Princess is a new and bespoke ship platform, designed to simultaneously embrace Princess heritage while boldly pressing into the future with iconic, elegant and pure lines unique to our brand,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy, Sun Princess will embark on an inaugural spring/summer season of Mediterranean cruises from February 2024, followed by Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages out of Port Everglades, Florida in autumn 2024. If you can't wait until then to get a glimpse of what Sun Princess has to offer, get a sneak peek of what's onboard below...

Piazza on Sun Princess render

The spacious, three-storey Piazza with central LED screen © Princess

Mesmerising interior design

Inspired by our Seawitch icon, Sun Princess' interior has clean lines, but also embraces the great outdoors and celebrates the romance of the sea. Her glass-led design welcomes in light and, thanks to an increased amount of vantage points throughout the ship, guests can admire views of their outside surroundings from morning to night, as they sail across the ocean and dock in different destinations.

An upgraded atrium

Embracing her Italian heritage, our newest ship will boast a central Piazza grander than ever before. Sun Princess' Piazza will span three storeys, with a suspended seating area for socialising, as well as other lounge areas for guests to enjoy the vast ocean views around them. A towering LED screen will feature in the centre of the Piazza, which can be moved and reconfigured as part of different performances and live entertainment. Adjacent to the Piazza atrium will be a new coffee shop, Coffee Currents, along with Princess favourites such as Crooners Bar, Bellini’s Cocktail Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria. In total, Sun Princess will offer more than 29 dining and bar options onboard.

The Dome on Sun Princess render

The light-filled Dome as a relaxation area during the daytime © Princess

An onboard architectural first

Possibly the most stand-out structure onboard Sun Princess is The Dome. Inspired by the terraces of Santorini in Greece, this glass-enclosed dome will be a multi-level covered deck and is the first of its kind to ever be constructed on a cruise ship. During the day, The Dome will be home to an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a relaxation area with an innovative water feature. At night, the pool will become a stage, and The Dome will transform into a buzzing entertainment venue brimming with Miami South Beach vibes. State-of-the-art lighting and aerial capabilities mean the space will be able to host some of our most ambitious shows yet.

Next-level suite and staterooms

With 2,157 total staterooms, including 50 suites and 100 connecting rooms, the 21-deck Sun Princess will accommodate 4,300 guests.

All balcony staterooms will have increased outside space, while inside all will feature a sofa. Launching exclusively on Sun Princess will be the Signature Collection, a new range of suite accommodation. In addition to premium stateroom amenities, Signature Collection suites will include access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge and Signature Sun Deck, a private area of The Sanctuary.

Club Class staterooms on Sun Princess, as well all other Princess ships, will be called the Reserve Collection, which are the best-located mini suite staterooms onboard. Within the Reserve Collection will be Reserve Collection Cabana rooms (see below), resort-style staterooms that offer a balcony and a large outdoor private cabana. Residents of our Reserve Collection will also have access to the new and exclusive Reserve Collection Restaurant.

Reserve Collection Cabana Room on Sun Princess render

One of the luxurious Reserve Collection Cabana Rooms © Princess

MedallionClass technology continues

Like the rest of our fleet, Sun Princess will have Princess' exclusive MedallionClass technology, offering guests all of our current Medallion services and features such as OceanNow and Dine My Way. With our MedallionClass innovation, we're able to deliver incredible, first-class onboard facilities typical of the largest ships in the world, all the while delivering a bespoke and personalised service found on the industry’s smallest ships. It's the best of both!

Bookings are open now for Sun Princess' initial Mediterranean sailings. A second, next-generation Sphere-class ship is also on order, slated to be delivered by Fincantieri in spring 2025.

Excited to sail onboard Sun Princess?

See all Sun Princess itineraries at princess.com

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About the Author

Liz Darke

Liz Darke

Liz is the editor of Journey. She's a seasoned journalist, who specialises in travel, food and lifestyle. Always on the hunt for a hit of sunshine and fantastic regional cuisine, she's heading to Barcelona, Puglia in southern Italy and Mexico next. Oh, and bring on the local wine, too!