Why This Ship Is Perfect for Families

On board the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess, Princess Cruises’ new and largest ship, I ate superb sushi, stayed in a suite I’d rank among the best-designed at sea, and got a stark reminder of how much I dislike crowds.

One thing’s for sure: This is not your grandmother’s cruise. The Sun Princess is a fancier and livelier Love Boat for people who like their ships big and their days packed with activities.

The 21-deck ship has it all: Princess has beefed up the architectural features, culinary options, and creative entertainment. This is a fun ship with plenty of amusements on its upper decks and countless other things to do, including stage performances and magic shows. (It also runs on liquified natural gas, a cleaner fuel source than is typical in the industry.)

Sun Princess certainly delivers some breathtaking moments. The Dome is a ship-topping glass dome which houses a lush, tiered lounge inspired by the Greek island of Santorini, with an indoor-outdoor pool. At night, this space turns into an intimate hot spot with a 250-seat theater for watching acrobats and aerialists whirl through the space. It’s a wow.

On my cruise, a six-night sailing from Rome to Barcelona in April, the weather was still a bit cool and sometimes rainy, which resulted in people spending more time indoors than out. (It didn’t help that the ship’s marquee family amusement attractions — including a ride that mimics the feel of hang gliding — weren’t yet up and running.) I noticed the crowds at several venues, including while trying to find a seat in the theater, comedy club, and the Dome, as well as at the Eatery, a bountiful buffet-style restaurant where the crew serves guests.

That being said, travelers can find moments of privacy on board: There’s an array of suites and other premium staterooms and some come with access to their own private restaurants and lounging areas.

I must admit some disappointment in this ship’s three-deck Piazza, another gathering spot. On earlier Princess ships, this venue felt like an Italian town square, surrounded by cafes, bars, and restaurants — it’s a place I enjoyed so much that I got married in the Piazza of Regal Princess. On Sun Princess, though, the space is encased in a glass bubble, which seems to trap the noise from game shows, parties, and other live entertainment in nearby areas. For me, it was a mood killer as my husband and I enjoyed the fabulous omakase menu at Makoto Ocean in the Piazza. But for many other guests on board, the party kept going.

Here’s a closer look at the many features and amenities of Sun Princess and my review of the ship.

Staterooms and Suites

Sun Princess has 2,157 staterooms, including 100 connecting rooms for families or friends looking to stay close. The vast majority of rooms are small, as is typical on ships of this size, with affordable options like the 215-square-foot oceanview or 136- to 145-square foot interior cabins; all have understated, contemporary décor.

At the other end of the spectrum are four categories of suites — 80 of them in total. The best of the best are the Signature Sky Suites that sleep up to five guests in two bedrooms, plus a sofa, and have two full bathrooms. At 1,262 square feet, including the balcony, they afford the luxury of space, particularly for those who want to avoid crowds around the ship. Other Signature Suites range from 304 to 636 square feet, inclusive of balcony space. All suites unlock perks such as exclusive lounging and dining.

I was particularly taken by my Cabana Mini Suite, which was slightly bigger than 300 square feet, all in, but which felt roomy. These and other rooms such as standard Mini Suites and Premium Deluxe Balcony cabins make up the Reserve Collection, which also has its own private restaurant and outdoor lounge area.

Beginning in October 2024, guests in all these categories will have included in their fare access to the Sanctuary, an area previously open to anyone willing to pay a day-use fee. Princess aims to rebrand the space as a private Sanctuary Club, open only to Signature Suites and Reserve Collection guests.

Bars and Restaurants

Sun Princess has 30 bars and restaurants, many of them in partnership with food-world celebrities and other big names. In addition to Makoto, other collaborations onboard include the Butcher’s Block by Dario, a wild beef-focused concept from famed Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, where the multi-course menus are served family-style; and one with Romero Britto, the Brazilian artist, who has lent his name and graffiti-inspired aesthetic to a high-end tasting menu experience. (It was, disappointingly, not yet open when I was on board.) Then there’s SMiZE Cream, the ice cream outlet from supermodel Tyra Banks; Royal Afternoon Tea created by actual royal chef Darren McGrady; and a “master winemaker” tasting with a seal of approval from Gérard Bertrand, the vintner. All of these high-end options come at extra charge.

But Princess doesn’t skimp when it comes to included options. The multi-level Horizon dining room, designed to maximize ocean views, has select dishes created with the Culinary Institute of America. Deck 6 is reserved for traditional early- and late-seating dining where you are assigned a table; deck 7 has anytime dining, though reservations are recommended. There’s also a casual concept, American Diner, where you can get breakfast all day or order burgers, shakes, fried chicken, and other comfort-food favorites.

The Eatery takes the place of a traditional buffet, with crew dishing up Asian, Mexican, salads, Mongolian BBQ, Italian, tapas, and other options. There’s also free fast food including burgers and pizza on the Promenade and Lido Deck.

Princess regulars will be happy to find familiar venues including the nautically inspired Wheelhouse Bar and Crown Grill steakhouse.

Where Sun Princess Sails

The ship follows the sun to the Mediterranean in spring and summer and the Caribbean in fall and winter. In Europe, cruises from Athens, Barcelona, and Southampton, England range from seven to 14 nights, with a few longer options. In the Caribbean, weeklong sailings are from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean (either Turks & Caicos and Dominican Republic or San Juan and St. Thomas) with a stop at the private Princess Cays in the Bahamas. Western Caribbean cruises include Cozumel, Mexico.

Shore Excursions

In addition to the typical lineup of bus, walking, and biking tours in and around most port cities, Princess has an exclusive partnership with TV’s Discovery Channel, to produce various historical, family friendly, and wildlife tours. The company has also recently introduced some excursions created by National Geographic. During a visit to Gibraltar, my husband took one of the “Discovery Recommended” tours, which explored the World War II–era tunnels of “The Rock,” and came back raving about it. Princess also has a range of Local Connections tours, which aim to connect passengers with, for instance, the owners of a family horse farm or a chef who can guide travelers through a market, both in Cartagena, Spain, a place I visited on my recent trip.

Amenities and Entertainment

There’s a ton to do on Sun Princess. The hot entertainment ticket — and, really, there should be a ticketing system — is for the circus shows in the Dome, with seating for 250 guests. The main theater, Princess Arena, is a new concept that’s adaptable to different stage styles including theater-in-the-round. Here, I saw a pirate-themed show enhanced by high-tech special effects, with singers and dancers performing hits such as the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” It was a complete blast.

Keeping with the 1980s theme, “Dirty Dancing” played along with other hits on the giant, outdoor Movies Under the Stars screen in the Lido pool area. The Laugh Lounge, in the Princess Live! entertainment venue, played host to visiting comedians; it was another hot spot on my cruise. The Piazza also has entertainment, including live music, DJ sets, and game shows.

Spellbound by Magic Castle starts with a magic-themed dinner, then proceeds through a secret black door to rooms where visiting pros wow onlookers and stage shows in an intimate theater. Check out the vintage photos and posters from the real Magic Castle in L.A., or try to crack the secret of card tricks over dramatic drinks such as Escape from Houdini’s Chest, a cinnamon vodka concoction that arrives in a smoking chest with handcuffs.

At the top the ship, Park19 is an activity wonderland for the family, with features such as the Splash Zone, a hammock area, and a feature called Infinite Horizon, with walls that tilt beyond the deck, offering sweeping views of the sea.

Sun Princess has five pools and nine hot tubs. On my voyage, I found the “hidden” Wake View Terrace pool on Deck 8 to be far less crowded than the two Lido deck options.

Elsewhere, both the casino and the Lotus Spa on the ship have been enlarged compared to similar facilities on other Princess ships.

Family-friendly Offerings

Sun Princess is a great choice for those with kids, and the ship has youth and teen centers with counselors supervising age-appropriate activities for ages 6 months to 17 years. Firefly Park Kids Club is for ages 3 to 7 (and younger, as long as parents are present with their children). Neon Grove is the place for kids aged 8 to 12, and the Underground is for teens. Activities for the younger kids include an outdoor play area with tricycles, while older kids get PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, plus skee-ball.

Accessibility

Sun Princess has more accessible cabins, 51, than other ships in the brand’s fleet, and they span most categories, including suites. There’s even one accessible Signature Sky Suite. The upper-deck amusement ride, Sea Breeze, is accessible, as are many other areas of the vessel. The Princess website has lots of details about accessibility features, including provisions for those who use mobility devices and people with other specific needs.